.markets

Status:	Proposed
Registry Provider:	Verisign
Type:	Generic
Category:	Commerce
Priority #:	950 - IG Group Holdings PLC
More information:

.markets is a proposed TLD in ICANN's New gTLD Program. The applicant is IG Group Holdings PLC. Portfolio applicant Donuts has applied for a similar string, .market.

Application Details

The following is excerpted from the applicant's response to question #18:

"The .markets gTLD will create a new generation gTLD serving the interests of end users by providing an authoritative Internet space for information, services and resources regarding financial derivative markets and trading via IG Group Holdings plc (IG Group). .markets will facilitate IG Group to offer its customers easy access to Pure Deal, its multiple-award-winning, browser-based dealer platform to trade on the markets quickly and securely. The majority of the anticipated domain name registrations in the .markets gTLD will be used in the promotion and communication of the diverse trading options (such as contracts for the difference (CFDs) trading and market trading) offered by IG Group, its affiliates and partners. A subset of domain names has the potential to be created and used for communication and marketing purposes, with internet users assured of the legitimacy of the trading options and products offered by IG Group.

IG Group is a world-leading provider of financial spread betting and contracts for difference trading. IG Group was established in 1974, has its headquarters in London and operates globally with 14 global offices in several European countries, Japan, Singapore and Australia. IG Group is listed on the London Stock Exchange, is a member of the FTSE 250 and has a market capital value of GBP 1.7 billion (as at October 2011). IG Group is a world-leading provider of financial derivatives. IG Markets, as part of the IG Group, offers CFDs to a global audience. In the year to May 2011, IG Group achieved a turnover of £320.4 million, and generated a record adjusted profit before tax of £163.0 million. IG Group’s online trading platform (IG Trader⁄Pure Deal) was named Best CFD Platform in 2008 and 2009 by the readers of Spanish weekly financial magazine Mi Cartera de Inversión. The .markets gTLD will increase customers’ trust in the financial derivatives markets as a transparent and viable investment opportunity offered in a secure and easily accessible environment by a world-leading provider. The .markets gTLD will allow IG Group to provide market and CFD resources and potential services to online customers in a secure, interactive and authoritative internet space.

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Given the restricted nature of the .markets gTLD, the projected number of registrations is likely to be limited. It is anticipated that only 5-15 domain names will be registered in the first few years. However, over the next few years, the number of registrations is likely to increase as IG Group develops and implements new services and marketing campaigns. As the new .markets gTLD expands and evolves, IG Group may consider offering the use of second level domain names to its core trading customers at a later date, for use as a unique and personal login and access to IG Group’s trading tools and platform. In this endeavour, IG Group will continue to comply with all operational, technical and policy requirements, as well as maintaining consumer trust and the stability of the internet. IG Group will keep ICANN reasonably informed of any material developments relating to .markets gTLD including compliance with the continued operations instrument obligations as set out in Specification 8 of the Registry Agreement."