StoneX Group (Nasdaq: SNEX), the owner of Forex.com and City Index, published its financials for the first quarter of the fiscal year 2023, which ended on 31 December, reporting an operating revenue of $48.8 million from forex Forex Foreign exchange or forex is the act of converting one nation’s currency into another nation’s currency (that possesses a different currency); for example, the converting of British Pounds into US Dollars, and vice versa. The exchange of currencies can be done over a physical counter, such as at a Bureau de Change, or over the internet via broker platforms, where currency speculation takes place, known as forex trading.The foreign exchange market, by its very nature, is the world’s largest tradi Foreign exchange or forex is the act of converting one nation’s currency into another nation’s currency (that possesses a different currency); for example, the converting of British Pounds into US Dollars, and vice versa. The exchange of currencies can be done over a physical counter, such as at a Bureau de Change, or over the internet via broker platforms, where currency speculation takes place, known as forex trading.The foreign exchange market, by its very nature, is the world’s largest tradi Read this Term and contracts for differences (CFDs) contracts.

FX/CFDs Revenues Decline for StoneX

The quarter between October and November turned out to be dull for the company’s FX/CFDs business, as the operating revenue declined by 32 percent year-over-year. The figure also tanked by more than 40 percent from Q4 FY22.

The acquisition of GAIN Capital in mid-2020 for $236 million gives StoneX control over the two retail FX/CFDs broker brands, Forex.com and City Index.

The company highlighted a 27 percent decline in FX/CFD contracts RPM behind the significant drop in revenue from the division. On top of that, retail demand dragged the numbers down as institutional FX contracts revenue on StoneX showed an uptick of 74 percent to $9.2 million, with a 24 percent jump in FX average daily volume (ADV).

However, the operating revenue from retail FX/CFDs contracts came in at $39.6 million, which is 41 percent lower than the comparable quarter of the previous fiscal year. In addition, the ADV with retail FX/CFDs contracts dropped 10 percent to $7.96 billion, and there was also a 29 percent decline in retail contracts.

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Overall Performance of StoneX

StoneX is a large financial services group with offerings beyond FX/CFDs contracts. The overall total revenue of the larger group came in 9 percent lower at $13 billion. However, its net operating revenue jumped by 22 percent to $382 million.

The group ended the quarter with a net income of $76.6 million, which is an 84 percent increase from the first quarter of the previous fiscal year. The basic earnings per share (EPS) jumped 79 percent to $3.75, while the diluted EPS came in 84 percent higher at $3.62.

“We achieved very strong results in the fiscal first quarter 2023, delivering increases in operating revenues and net income,” said the CEO of StoneX, Sean O’Connor. “While trading conditions moderated towards the end of the first quarter, the multiple drivers of our results, including our disciplined approach to acquisitions, the strong growth in client assets and our core operating performance, exemplify the diversity in our operating model. We believe that these multiple drivers and our ongoing investments position us to continue to empower our clients, drive growth and deliver shareholder value.”