Derivatives marketplace, CME Group, has released its trading volume metrics for 2018, showing healthy 18.8% Y-o-Y growth in average daily volume (ADV), reaching 19.2 million contracts. The company showcased some of the achievements of 2018 in their report that included:
- Record Interest Rate ADV, increased 22 per cent Y-o-Y to 9.95 million contracts
- Record Metals ADV, increased 12 per cent Y-o-Y to 638,000 contracts
- Record FX ADV, up by 9 per cent Y-o-Y to 1 million contracts
- Record options ADV, up by 14 per cent to 3.9 million contracts.
In the fourth quarter, volumes averaged 20.8 million contracts per day, a growth of 31 per cent from the same period a year ago. The December 2018 volumes averaged 20.2 million contracts per day, up by 36 per cent from December 2017. Following is the segment-wise performance for the month of December 2018:
Equity Index
The equity index volume averaged 5.1 million contracts per day in December 2018, up by 73 per cent compared to December 2017 volumes. Highlights include
- Record growth in E-mini Nasdaq-100 futures and options ADV by 121 per cent to 743,000 contracts
- Record growth in E-mini Russell 2000 futures by 38 per cent to 245,000 contracts
- Record increase in E-mini S&P Select Sector Index F&O ADV by 91 per cent to 32,000 contracts
Interest Rate
Interest Rate volume averaged 10.2 million contracts per day in December 2018, which 48 per cent higher compared to December 2017 volume figure. Key highlights during the month are:
- Record, 174 per cent growth in Fed Fund futures ADV to 400,000 contracts
- U.S. Treasury F&O ADV increased by 46 per cent to 4.8 million contract
- Weekly Treasury options ADV registered a growth of 50 per cent to 155,000 contracts
Foreign Exchange
The forex volume averaged 1 million contracts per day in December 2018, which is flat as compared to the December 2017 volume. Key highlights for the month are:
- JPY F&O ADV grew 7 per cent to 177,000 contracts
- AUD F&O ADV grew 11 per cent to 113,000 contracts
- CAD F&O ADV grew 10 per cent to 105,000 contracts
Energy
The energy volume averaged 2.3 million contracts per day in December 2018, slightly lower compared to the December 2017 figures. Key metrics are:
- WTI Crude Oil F&O ADV increased 18 per cent to 1.5 million contracts
- Gasoline F&O ADV increased 18 per cent to 174,000 contracts
- Brent Crude Oil F&O ADV grew 27 per cent to 94,000 contracts
Options
Options volume during the month averaged 4 million contracts per day, up by 32 per cent from December 2017. Key highlights for the month include:
- Electronic options ADV increased by 39 per cent to 2.7 million contracts
- Interest Rate options ADV increased by 40 per cent to 2.4 million contracts
- Equity Index options ADV rose 48 per cent to 974,000 contracts
Metal
Metals contract averaged 439,000 contracts per day in December 2018, down by 17 per cent from December 2017.
- Precious Metal options ADV increased 28 per cent to 58,000 contracts
- Gold Options ADV grew 32 per cent to 52,000 contracts
- Silver options ADV grew by 5 per cent to 6,000 contracts
