Regulators in France have given their backing to Eurex US, the Chicago-based arm of the Swiss-German derivatives exchange. Eurex's fourth largest national client base will now be able to trade directly on the exchange.

Eurex US has now been recognised as a foreign exchange following a decree from the French minister of economy, finance and industry, and after clearance by the regulator, the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF). The step is an important one for Eurex, which is seeking to build liquidity in its fledgling US exchange against established rival the Chicago Board of Trade. France is the fourth most important market for Eurex behind Germany, the UK and US.