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                                                                   Exhibit 10.50


                                                                 [LOGO OF INDEX]
 
19th March 1996                                                    INDEX FX LTD.

                                                               37 Lombard Street
                                                                 London EC3V 9BQ

Mr. Charles Owen                                        TELEPHONE: 0171 929 4029
45 Waldegrave Gardens                                     DEALERS: 0171 929 4030
Strawberry Hill                                         Facsimile: 0171 929 4031
Twickenham                                                 Telex: 922664 Index G
Middlesex TW1 4PH                                           Reuters Dealing INFX


Dear Charlie

Further to our recent discussions, I am pleased to offer to you the position we
have discussed.

The contract will run for a period of two years from the commencement of
employment and in the event of the company terminating the employment, for any
reason other than gross misconduct or an inability to perform the duties
described, the balance of the two year contract will be paid in full.

If you would like to accept this position, please sign and return the attached
copy of this letter.

The following particulars are given to you pursuant to Part 1 of the Employment
Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 (as amended by subsequent legislation).

1. THE PARTIES ARE AS FOLLOWS: 
Your employer ("The Employer") is: 
Index FX Ltd.
37 Lombard Street 
London EC3V 9BQ.

Name and address of employee ("The Employee") is: 
As Above.

2. DESCRIPTION OF EMPLOYMENT: 
Your job title is Head Foreign Exchange Dealer.

3. PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT. 
The place of your employment is 37 Lombard Street, London EC3V 9BQ.

4. COMMENCEMENT OF EMPLOYMENT: 
(a) The date of commencement of employment will be [to be agreed]. 
(b) No employment with a previous employer counts as part of your period of 
continuous employment.

                     Chicago . New York . London . Zurich
     Index FX Ltd. Registered Office: 37 Lombard Street, London EC3V 9BQ.
                       Registered in England No.: 2876284

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5. THE FOLLOWING ARE THE PARTICULARS OF YOUR EMPLOYMENT AS AT THE DATE OF THIS
LETTER:

(a) Remuneration.

(i) The rate of your remuneration is (Pounds)70,000 per annum paid monthly in
arrears, in addition an amount equal to 10% ((Pounds)7,000) of your salary, will
be paid directly into a pension scheme of your choice.

(ii) Your remuneration will be reviewed in January of each year.

(iii) An end of year bonus may be paid entirely at the Employer's discretion.

(b) Hours.

Your working hours will be 7.OOam to 6.00pm, Mondays to Fridays inclusive,
although you may be required to work outside of these hours and days, when the
needs of the business so dictate.

(c) Holidays.

(i) You are entitled to bank and other public holidays, plus twenty (20) working
days holiday with pay in each year (until you have completed 3 years of service
when you will become entitled to 25 working days in each year).

(ii) The qualification year for holiday purposes is from 1st January to 31st
December inclusive and all holidays must be taken within this period and at a
time convenient to the Employer.

(d) Sickness and Injury.

(i) If you are absent from work due to sickness or injury you must inform Graham
Wellesley as soon as possible during the first working day.

(ii) For periods of sickness or injury between 4 and 6 days the Employee must
produce a self-certification certificate and a doctor's certificate covering
longer periods of absence from work. The Employer reserves the right to request
that the Employee presents doctors certificates for periods of less than 6 days
absence. Any expenses incurred by the Employee in compliance with such request
will be reimbursed by the Employer.

(iii) The Employer will pay the Employee's salary during periods of sickness or
illness for up to six (6) weeks in any period of twelve (12) months (thereby
discharging the Employer's liability to pay statutory sick pay) less any
sickness or injury benefits received by the Employee from the DHSS or monies
received under any health insurance schemes.

(iv) Should the Employee remain absent after the expiry of this period the
Employer will review individual cases and may continue to pay a proportion of
the salary for such period as it may determine.

(v) Absence due to maternity leave will not be subject to (iii) above and the
statutory regulations will apply.

(vi) If the Employee is absent through sickness or injury as a result of action
by a third party and a successful claim is made against the third party, the
Employer reserves the right to claim from the Employee a sum representing the
amount received as salary by the Employee during his or her absence.

(e) The Employer will provide private health insurance.

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(f) Notice. 

In the case of gross misconduct the Employer reserves the right to instant
dismissal.

(g) Confidentiality.

By acceptance of your employment with the Company you agree not at any time
whether during your employment or at any time after its termination:

(i) To divulge or communicate any trade secrets of the Employer to any person,
firm or company whatsoever; and

(ii) To divulge the names and addresses of any customers of the Employer; and

(iii) To take any steps which may prejudice or harm the business of the Employer
and you agree to use your best endeavours to prevent the publication or
disclosure of any information concerning matters of the Employer.

On termination of your employment you will procure that all papers, documents
and other property which may be in your possession relating to the Employer, its
business or affairs and any copies thereof shall be handed back to the Employer
on demand.

(h) Disciplinary Rules and Grievance Procedure.

If you have any grievance relating to your employment then you should raise it
direct with myself.

(i) Amendments. 

These particulars may be changed by written notice to the Employee.

Yours sincerely


/s/ GRAHAM WELLESLEY

For and on behalf of Index FX Ltd.
Graham Wellesley
Managing Director

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                       Acknowledgement by the Employee.
                       --------------------------------

I agree that the proceeding provisions, including those contained in the
documents referred to therein, (as varied from time to time) form the basis of
my contract of employment.

Dated this 10 day of April 1996.

/s/ CHARLES OWENS

Mr. Charles Owens.
(Employee)

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