CME Posts December Volumes – FX Higher

The CME Group has just posted its December average daily volume (ADV) figures. For the month, average volume was 9.6 million contracts which was 1.0% higher than the same period in 2011. The figures compare to 11 million ADV in November. However, due to the end of the year and holiday season, December volumes traditionally are below November. For the full year, the CME Group a 15% drop in volumes as average daily trading was 11.4 million contracts. Also, for the fourth quarter, overall CME volumes dropped by 13% to an average daily volume of 10.18 million contracts.

In FX, December figures were the CME Group’s best performer as the segment saw ADV of 826,000 contracts traded versus 724,000 in the same period for 2011. The figures were also higher then November’s 775,000 ADV figure. Last month we noted that the CME’s FX division received a boost from a surge in Yen trading as Volatility Volatility In finance, volatility refers to the amount of change in the rate of a financial instrument, such as commodities, currencies, or stocks, over a given time period. Essentially, volatility describes the nature of an instrument’s fluctuation; a highly volatile security equates to large fluctuations in price, and a low volatile security equates to timid fluctuations in price. Volatility is an important statistical indicator used by financial traders to assist them in developing trading systems. Trad In finance, volatility refers to the amount of change in the rate of a financial instrument, such as commodities, currencies, or stocks, over a given time period. Essentially, volatility describes the nature of an instrument’s fluctuation; a highly volatile security equates to large fluctuations in price, and a low volatile security equates to timid fluctuations in price. Volatility is an important statistical indicator used by financial traders to assist them in developing trading systems. Trad Read this Term had increased in Yen crosses. As of publishing time, individual contract details have yet to be released by the CME. Therefore, it will be important to see what drove FX volumes higher and whether the Yen continued to see increases take place.

In any event, the CME’s figures bode well for the entire industry which may have gotten a late 2012 boost from December’s trading activity.

Also of note, although the Metals segment had experienced higher trade volumes for December 2012 versus 2011, the ADV of 284,000 contracts was well below November's 415,000 figure. After seeing record volume in Gold products in November, trading in the metal has cooled down as prices fell during December.

CME Group Volume Averaged 9.6 Million Contracts per Day in December 2012, Up 1 Percent from December 2011, and 11.4 Million Contracts per Day in 2012 CHICAGO, Jan. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- CME Group, the world's leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace, today announced that December 2012 volume averaged 9.6 million contracts per day, up 1 percent from December 2011. Total volume for December 2012 was more than 192 million contracts, of which a record 88 percent was traded electronically. Full-year 2012 volume averaged 11.4 million contracts per day, down 15 percent from 2011. In December 2012, CME Group interest rate volume averaged 3.6 million contracts per day, up 3 percent from December 2011. Treasury futures volume averaged 1.7 million contracts per day, up 17 percent compared with the same period a year ago. Treasury options volume averaged 323,000 contracts per day, up 48 percent from December 2011. Eurodollar futures volume averaged 1.3 million contracts per day, down 5 percent from the same period a year ago, while Eurodollar options volume averaged 270,000 contracts per day, down 42 percent from December last year. CME Group equity index volume in December 2012 averaged 2.7 million contracts per day, down 5 percent from the same period last year. CME Group foreign Exchange Exchange An exchange is known as a marketplace that supports the trading of derivatives, commodities, securities, and other financial instruments.Generally, an exchange is accessible through a digital platform or sometimes at a tangible address where investors organize to perform trading. Among the chief responsibilities of an exchange would be to uphold honest and fair-trading practices. These are instrumental in making sure that the distribution of supported security rates on that exchange are effectiv An exchange is known as a marketplace that supports the trading of derivatives, commodities, securities, and other financial instruments.Generally, an exchange is accessible through a digital platform or sometimes at a tangible address where investors organize to perform trading. Among the chief responsibilities of an exchange would be to uphold honest and fair-trading practices. These are instrumental in making sure that the distribution of supported security rates on that exchange are effectiv Read this Term (FX) volume averaged 826,000 contracts per day, up 14 percent from December 2011. CME Group energy volume averaged 1.3 million contracts per day in December 2012, down 6 percent compared with the same period in 2011. CME Group metals volume averaged 284,000 contracts per day, up 6 percent from the same period last year. CME Group agricultural commodities volume in December 2012 averaged 878,000 contracts per day, up 7 percent compared with the prior-year period. Electronic volume averaged 8.5 million contracts per day in December 2012, up 4 percent compared with December 2011. Privately negotiated volume increased 22 percent to 214,000 contracts per day from the prior December. Average daily volume cleared through CME ClearPort was 300,000 contracts in December 2012, down 24 percent compared with December 2011. Open outcry volume averaged 649,000 contracts per day, down 27 percent versus the prior-year period.