London International Financial Futures and Options Exchange will add 25 stocks to its list of 40 universal futures. The contracts on individual stock futures will be available for trading May 14, exchange officials said in a news release. These futures have not been allowed in the United States, but new legislation allows institutional investors to start trading Aug. 21.
The new universal stock sectors include automobiles, media and retailers. The stocks listed will include DaimlerChrysler, AOL Time Warner and Wal-Mart Stores.