German derivatives exchange Eurex saw its net revenue rise 18% year-on-year in the first quarter as a result of what it called a ‘more favourable’ derivatives market environment than in 2014.
Equity market volatility and rising confidence in the European capital markets attributed to an uptick in trading volumes according to Deutsche Boerse.
Eurex’s equity derivatives volumes saw a boost in Q1, in both single stock futures and options and on its STOXX and DAX indices.
Persistently low European interest rates have seen equity derivatives become Eurex’s most active segment. Trading in interest rates across ICE Futures Europe – previously Liffe – and Eurex have both declined over the year, following record activity back in 2013.
Along with its equity derivatives segment, some of Eurex’s newer asset classes have also seen a spike in activity. Volatility products and derivatives on French and Italian government bonds both had strong quarters, posting year-on-year increases of 27% and 63% respectively.
The only exeption to Eurex’s succesful quarter was its US options business – the International Securities Exchange – which saw activity drop by a fifth.