LONDON, October 20, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- IntercontinentalExchange , a leading operator of global regulated futures exchanges, clearing houses and over-the-counter (OTC) markets, today announced the launch of two German natural gas futures (https://www.theice.com/publicdocs/circulars/10071.pdf) on ICE Futures Europe on 17 November, pending regulatory approval. The contracts are for physical delivery at NetConnect Germany (NCG) and GASPOOL.

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The German natural gas futures contracts will trade alongside ICE's U.K. NBP Natural Gas futures contract and its Dutch TTF Natural Gas futures contract, bringing together for the first time Europe's three largest traded gas markets on a single trading and clearing platform. The ICE NBP Natural Gas futures contract is the leading benchmark for U.K. natural gas, with year-to-date trading volume of 3.2 million contracts through 30 September, up 59% from the same period in 2009. Dutch TTF futures have traded more than 70 thousand contracts following their introduction in March 2010.

ICE Futures Europe is leading the integration of European natural gas markets, said David Peniket, President and COO of ICE Futures Europe. With the addition of these two German natural gas futures contracts to our successful Dutch TTF natural gas future, ICE Futures Europe will build upon the depth of liquidity we have established in the U.K. natural gas market and continental Europe. This product suite maximizes capital efficiency by offering margin offsets between German, Dutch and UK gas, as well as our energy complex, including coal and emissions.

Both the NCG and GASPOOL contracts will consist of a series of twelve consecutive months, six quarters, eight seasons and four years settled by way of physical delivery through the transfer of rights at their respective hubs, and both will be priced in Euros and Euro cents per megawatt hour. At launch, margin offsets will be available against ICE's NBP Natural Gas futures, Dutch TTF futures and cleared Henry Hub swaps.

About IntercontinentalExchange

IntercontinentalExchange(R) is a leading operator of regulated futures exchanges and over-the-counter markets for agricultural, credit, currency, emissions, energy and equity index contracts. ICE Futures Europe(R) hosts trade in half of the world's crude and refined oil futures. ICE Futures U.S.(R) and ICE Futures Canada(R) list agricultural, currencies and Russell Index markets. ICE(R) is also a leading operator of central clearing services for the futures and over-the-counter markets, with five regulated clearing houses across North America and Europe. ICE serves customers in more than 70 countries. http://www.theice.com

The following are trademarks of IntercontinentalExchange, Inc. and/or its affiliated companies: IntercontinentalExchange, IntercontinentalExchange Design, ICE, ICE and block design ICE Futures Europe, ICE Clear Europe, and European Climate Exchange (ECX). All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. For more information regarding registered trademarks owned by IntercontinentalExchange, Inc. and/or its affiliated companies, see https://www.theice.com/terms.jhtml

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 - Statements in this press release regarding IntercontinentalExchange's business that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of additional risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see ICE's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, including, but not limited to, the risk factors in ICE's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, as filed with the SEC on February 10, 2010.

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SOURCE: IntercontinentalExchange

CONTACT: Media, Brookly McLaughlin, Corporate Communications,+1-312-836-6728, brookly.mclaughlin@theice.com, or Lee Underwood, Director,Communications, +1-770-857-0342, lee.underwood@theice.com; or Investor,Kelly Loeffler, VP Investor Relations Corp. Communications,+1-770-857-4726, kelly.loeffler@theice.com, all of IntercontinentalExchange