Exchanges across Europe have suffered a difficult December 2016, amid lower trading volumes and transaction values compared to the same period in 2015.
Spanish stock exchange, Bolsas y Mercados Españoles (BME), revealed one of the largest declines as equity trading volumes plummeted over 27% in December 2016 compared to 2015, to €48.9 billion.
The number of trades in December at BME stood at 4 million, down almost 12% compared to the same period in 2015.
The exchange explained in its quarterly review the declines are “in line with the generalised downward trend in trading volumes across world stock markets.”
In Germany, Deutsche Borse reported its order book turnover in December 2016 fell 5% to €116 billion compared to December 2015.
On Xetra average daily turnover fell to €5 billion in December 2016, compared to €5.6 billion in the same period in 2015.
At pan-European exchange Euronext, average daily transaction value on its cash order book for December totalled €7.2 billion, relatively flat compared to December 2015.
On a year-to-date basis, overall average daily transaction value on Euronext’s cash order book has declined 15% to just over €7 billion.
The London Stock Exchange (LSE) confirmed this week it has accepted Euronext’s bid of €510 million to acquire its LCH.Clearnet SA business, following news the two trading venues were in ‘exclusive’ talks.
LSE has sold its clearing unit to ease regulatory and competition concerns ahead of its merger with Deutsche Borse.