CME Group sees record global volumes in first quarter

CME Group saw a record 22.2 million contracts per day on average globally in the first quarter this year.

US futures exchange operator CME Group reached a quarterly record for average daily volumes (ADV) globally and across several regions.

Globally, CME saw an ADV of 22.2 million contracts in the first quarter this year, a 30% year-on-year increase.

Quarterly ADV in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) peaked at a record 3.7 million contracts per day in the first three-months of the year, driven by a strong performance in commodities, with agriculture and metals ADVs up 53% and 49% respectively.

“With CME Group’s broad array of futures and options products available virtually round the clock, our EMEA-based customers are increasingly realising the benefits of trading on our exchanges as they look to hedge their risks,” said William Knottenbelt, senior managing director and head of international at CME Group.

Similarly, CME reported an Asia Pacific ADV record of 923,000 contracts per day in the first quarter, a 41% rise compared to the same period last year. CME explained this record was largely driven by its financial and commodities product suite, with equity index volumes up 117% and FX up 56%.

“Record quarterly volumes from our franchise in Asia Pacific in the first quarter of the year signal that market participants in the region are realising the benefits of managing their risks on a robust, liquid and regulated marketplace like ours,” said Christopher Fix, managing director and head of Asia Pacific at CME Group. 

The exchange operator also saw record options volumes, which increased 31% compared to the first three months of last year, averaging 4.9 million contracts per day. Electronic options averaged 3.1 million record per day in the first quarter, up 45% from last year.

Earlier this year CME reached an agreement with UK FinTech firm NEX Group to acquire it for £3.9 billion. The move will add new trading opportunities across spot and future FX products, as well as cash, repo and futures products in US treasuries.

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