[LME Plans to Introduce Automatic Expiry of Options in the Second Half of Next Year] On December 22, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) announced in its 2025 review that Hong Kong officially became a recognized delivery location of the London Metal Exchange (LME) this year, a significant milestone for both the LME's global network and coverage, and the development of Hong Kong's commodity market. As of December this year, Hong Kong has 13 LME-recognized delivery warehouses, reflecting Hong Kong's commitment to developing into a global commodity trading center. The LME has also performed strongly this year, with average daily trading volume from the beginning of the year to November 30 increasing by 6% compared to the same period last year. Following the launch of the new trading platform LMEselect v10 in March, the LME also released a modernization plan for the options market aimed at improving liquidity and transparency. The LME plans to introduce automatic expiry of options in the second half of 2026, with electronic options trading expected to be implemented by the end of the year.
