In addition, LCH clears a broad range of asset classes including: commodities, securities, exchange traded derivatives, credit default swaps, energy contracts, freight derivatives, interest rate swaps, foreign exchange and Euro and Sterling denominated bonds and repos.

To mitigate the risks involved it imposes certain minimum requirements on its members and collects initial and variation margin (or collateral) from them for trades that have been executed.

It also clears over-the-counter products including gold, coal, steel and iron ore and fertilizer swaps.

The international CDSClear service provides full straight-through processing (STP) multilateral clearing, reduced counterparty risk and post-trade anonymity and encompasses the core requirements as determined by key industry and policy groups, including ISDA, CESR, the ECB and the European Commission.

This is either directly to the user community or by operating the clearing process on behalf of a third party via an insourcing arrangement, providing services to clients for Short Term Interest Rates (STIRs), Indexes and Equity derivatives.

LCH's centrally cleared CFD (ccCFD) service, in conjunction with Chi-X Europe, are an alternative to the traditionally over-the-counter traded CFDs.

LCH's RepoClear service was established in partnership with leading banks in 1999, for some 13 European government repo and cash bond markets, and a range of pan-European €GC Baskets.

Launched in 1999, SwapClear initially cleared plain vanilla interest rate swaps in four major currencies.