Deutsche Börse is planning to launch a new platform for trading European blue chips by the end of the year, in a move that will put the German exchange in direct competition with other European markets.

At Deutsche Börse's annual conference in Frankfurt last week, Dr Werner Seifert, chief executive, said the exchange was working on developing a European blue chip trading platform, but declined to give any details on the nature of the system or the timing of its launch. However, one senior source said the system would be up and running 'by the end of the year'. This would coincide with Deutsche Börse's plans to launch a central counterparty for equities trading, which would add to its attraction as an international trading platform.