A cash offer to buy London's historic Baltic Exchange will be a springboard to expand the range and scope of freight market indices and derivatives to the benefit of global shipping markets, a senior executive of Singapore Exchange (SGX) argued today.

Michael Syn, head of derivatives at SGX, said its takeover bid to the Baltic's 380 shareholders was based on a positive view of potential growth of freight derivatives markets and synergies between London's maritime skills and Singapore's financial services expertise.

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