Trading volumes in Asia experienced a considerable increase in May, after a substantial drop between March and April.
According to data from Thomson Reuters, overall trading volumes grew 17% to US$1,360.08 billion in May from US$1,166.19 billion in April. But last month’s total was still down 6% on May 2011’s total of US$1,445.12 billion.
The boost can largely be explained by a 30% jump in volumes in China to US$587.85 billion from US$451.34 billion in April.
Volumes in Australia also saw some of the most impressive upticks in the region, increasing 37% to US$96.36 billion in May from $US70.49 billion in April (historically a weak month). But volumes were still down over the same time last year, when the markets recorded US$106.46 billion in volumes.
Turnover in Japan inched 1.7% higher to US$322.02 billion from US$316.38 billion the previous month, while Korea suffered a month-on-month 3.4% dip in volumes to US$120.85 billion from US$126.38 billion in April.
After two months of free-fall from a February 12-month high of US$79.59 billion, Indian volumes increased marginally to US$47.31 billion from US$45.94 billion in April, while in Hong Kong volumes increased 25.5% to US$33.68 billion in May from US$25.09 billion in April, bringing the market close to the same level it was at the same time last year – US$35.06 billion.