CME’s FX futures volumes made a favorable increase in March compared to February’s results
CME Group, the world’s leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace, today announced that March 2014 volume averaged 14.1 million contracts per day, up 13 percent compared with March 2013. Total volume for March 2014 was more than 295 million contracts, of which 86 percent was traded electronically.
Forex volumes were down for March year over year and for the 1st quarter year over year around 20%. Forex contracts average daily volume was up 11.1% from March 2014 compared with February 2014, a 855,000 contracts per day average compared to 769,000 contracts per day. Last year, the Japanese Yen was driving a lot of volumes in the FX market, with the major volatility behind us now it is natural to see a bit of a drop off as things have been quite calm for the year with no major central bank interventions or economic crisis.
CME Group interest rate volume averaged 7.0 million contracts per day in March, up 35 percent from March 2013. Eurodollar futures volume averaged 2.8 million contracts per day, up 47 percent from the same period a year ago. Eurodollar options volume averaged 916,000 contracts per day, up 132 percent from March last year. Treasury futures volume averaged 2.7 million contracts per day, up 10 percent compared with March 2013. Treasury options volume averaged 604,000 contracts per day, up 33 percent from the same period last year.
CME Group equity index volume in March 2014 averaged 3.2 million contracts per day, up 5 percent from the same period last year. CME Group foreign exchange (FX) volume averaged 855,000 contracts per day, down 20 percent from March 2013. The average daily notional value of FX contracts traded in March was $104 billion.
CME Group agricultural commodities volume averaged 1.1 million contracts per day, up 12 percent compared with the prior-year period, and included a monthly volume record for the Lean Hog contract. CME Group metals volume in March 2014 averaged 382,000 contracts per day, up 4 percent from March 2013. CME Group energy volume averaged 1.5 million contracts per day in March 2014, down 18 percent compared with the prior March.
In March 2014, CME Group cleared a record $132 billion average daily notional value of OTC interest rate swaps. During the month, OTC interest rate swap open interest increased 9 percent from the end of February to $12.9 trillion, which represents 53 percent of clients’ total cleared OTC interest rate swap open interest.
First-quarter 2014 volume averaged 13.7 million contracts per day, up 9 percent from first-quarter 2013. The main highlights included quarterly records for Lean Hogs, Ultra Treasury Bonds, Eurodollar Midcurve options and Eurodollar futures associated with the third consecutive four quarterly contracts across the curve, as well as 19 percent growth in interest rates volume compared with first-quarter 2013, and 11 percent growth in equities volume.
To view the press release and full breakdown of the numbers click here.
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