/ 28 March 1999

EXCHANGE MERGER ON TRACK

THE Johannesburg Stock Exchange, Bond Exchange of South Africa and the South African Futures Exchange aim to complete their planned merger by the end of this year, JSE executive president Russell Loubser said on Thursday. Loubser said the marriage of the three exchanges, announced last August, could proceed once Parliament passes enabling legislation, likely to be in June or July. He added that the launch of a modern electronic settlement system to replace the outdated paper-based method is on track for a limited launch in July and will most likely be in place for the whole market by the end of next year.