CME Group, which runs the world’s largest derivatives marketplace, announced that FX contract volumes (mainly Eurodollar futures contracts) in its system were up by 11% in June from May levels, which in turn were up 25% from April.
This is the first indication that June FX volumes remained strong globally. May saw a return to more normal levels of FX trading, following a very slow six month period which began late last year — LeapRate’s Retail FX Volume Index, sponsored by Leverate, was up 10.5% in May to $190 billion (daily volume), the best month volume-wise so far in 2012. Based on the CME’s FX contracts volumes numbers we might see even more improvement in June.
We should learn more when Forex ECNs such as ICAP, Hotspot FX, Thomson Reuters and FXall release May numbers in the coming days and weeks. Stay tuned…
For more on the global Forex industry see the LeapRate-Dow Jones Forex Industry Report.