FXCM August Retail Volumes Trade in the Green - up 14% MoM

The summer rally of low-Volatility was challenged by retail investors with promising metrics reported in August by financial derivatives brokers. FXCM, a listed brokerage firm, reported trading volumes for the month of August. Volumes at its retail division were significantly higher both on a monthly and annual basis.

August 2014 Retail Trading Metrics

Retail customer trading volume (1) of $300 billion in August 2014, 14% higher than July 2014 and 2% lower than August 2013.

Average retail customer trading volume (1) per day of $14.3 billion in August 2014, 25% higher than July 2014 and 2% higher than August 2013.

An average of 392,322 retail client trades per day in August 2014, 14% higher than July 2014 and 5% lower than August 2013.

Tradable accounts (2) of 199,377 as of August 31, 2014, a decrease of 2,417 accounts, or 1% from July 2014, and an increase of 14,254 accounts, or 8% from August 2013.

August 2014 Institutional Trading Metrics

Institutional customer trading volume (1) of $257 billion in August 2014, 2% lower than July 2014 and 22% higher than August 2013.

Average institutional trading volume (1) per day of $12.2 billion in August 2014, 7% higher than July 2014 and 28% higher than August 2013.

An average of 35,387 institutional client trades per day in August 2014, 22% lower than July 2014 and 38% lower than August.

FXCM has managed to weather the difficult storm troubling the margin derivatives sector, which has seen operators report a slump in volumes and activity. Furthermore, the slowdown has triggered M&A activity.

FXCM recently reported that it has extended its number of clients, the firm acquired the retail trading accounts of IBFX's US and Australian operations, a significant number of the 13,000 clients it adds to its books will be from Asia, a stronghold for the broker.

Financial markets are expected to continue the trend of positivity heading into the new year, the splatter of volatility thanks to the ECB, saw record daily volumes at a number of trading venues, the CME reported record FX Options trading.

(1) Volume that FXCM customers traded in period translated into US dollars.

(2) An account that has sufficient funds to place a trade in accordance with FXCM trading policies.