Broker Solutions

Seamless Chinese Market Access

BANDS Financial offers international brokerage firms the option to seamlessly connect to the Chinese market and offer internationalised futures and options directly to their end clients.

Unlocking China's Futures Market: Direct Access Through BANDS

China's futures market is undergoing a rapid transformation - expanding in both breadth and depth. With increasing volumes, growing open interest, and deep liquidity across a wide range of contracts, the market is becoming a vital destination for futures traders. Contracts like crude oil, copper, and rubber offer arbitrage opportunities, while others are unique to the Chinese market, making access increasingly valuable.

Since the launch of the first internationalised contracts in 2018, China has steadily opened its futures markets to global investors. BANDS Financial is proud to be at the forefront of this evolution. As the first and only international futures broker to be granted Overseas Special Brokerage Participant (OSBP) status by the Shanghai International Energy Exchange (INE), BANDS is uniquely positioned to help international brokerage firms connect to the Chinese futures markets.

Currently, BANDS offers international brokers access to all INE-listed futures and options. However, with the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) recently revising its rules to allow OSBPs, BANDS is actively working with the exchange to extend access to its base & precious metals, industrial, and ferrous contracts to overseas brokers - starting with nickel in Q4 2025. We are also in discussions with other Chinese exchanges to expand our OSBP footprint as soon as regulatory and technical conditions permit.

Seamless Integration: How Our OSBP Model Works

As an OSBP, BANDS is a trading member of the Chinese futures exchange. This status allows us to onboard international brokerage firms as clients - effectively making them Overseas Intermediaries (OIs) in their own right, without requiring them to establish a physical or legal presence in China.

Each OI operates through an omnibus account with BANDS. This structure ensures that BANDS only sees aggregated order flow and margin activity, while the end clients remain fully anonymous to us. All client-facing responsibilities, including onboarding, compliance, and relationship management, remain with the OI.

BANDS handles all upstream order routing, margin transfers, and exchange connectivity, providing a clean and efficient channel for brokers to offer Chinese futures products to their clients without operational complexity.

Why Partner with BANDS: Your Gateway to China

Choosing BANDS as your carrying broker in China offers a range of strategic advantages:

  • Proven Track Record: As the only international broker with OSBP status, BANDS is uniquely positioned to provide direct access to Chinese futures markets. We've been active in China since the market first opened to international participants, with our clients among the earliest to trade onshore.
  • No Local Setup Required: Brokers do not need to establish a presence in China. BANDS manages all cross-border fund transfers and exchange connectivity.
  • Bilingual End-to-End Support: We support brokers through the entire setup process, including the critical trading code application process. Our team offers guidance in both English and Chinese, and all agreements with BANDS are in English and governed by Hong Kong law.
  • Dedicated Relationship Management: Our experienced team acts as an intermediary between brokers, exchanges, and regulators - ensuring smooth communication and fast resolution of any issues.

With BANDS, international brokers can expand their product offering and tap into one of the world's most dynamic and increasingly accessible futures markets - all through a single, streamlined connection.

BANDS Staff

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