Following a turbulent January that saw the CHF Volatility envelop markets, February 2015’s average daily volumes proved to be materially lower, coming in at 755,000 contracts, a decline of -2.0% YoY from 769,000 contracts in February 2014 and a 21% decline from January.
The average daily notional value of FX contracts traded during February 2015 yielded $78 billion.
In terms of overall contracts, CME’s volume averaged 15.8 million per day in February 2015, up 13% YoY from February 2014 – this figure was the highest February average daily volume ever recorded at CME.
Total volume during the month ending February 2015 was more than 300 million contracts. More specifically, options volume in February 2015 averaged 2.8 million contracts per day, up 14% YoY relative February 2014.
Last month, January FX volumes dropped 1% at the CME compared to December 2014, but options trading buoyed by speculation in euro rose steadily from December's levels.
Furthermore, the CME saw its Q4 revenues increase 22%, its Q4 diluted earnings per share increased more than 50%. Additionally, its annual average daily trading volume crossed 13.7 million contracts in 2014, with records seen in its interest rates and options segment, as reported in February.
The second month of the year led to declining volumes primarily due to lower foreign exchange volatility. Earlier today, inter-dealer broker, ICAP, reported that volumes on its electronic foreign exchange Trading Platform EBS declined by 27 percent.
