(Adds ICE data in the final two paragraphs, updates share
prices)
CME Group Inc.'s (CME) daily trading volume rose 17% in
February, while IntercontinentalExchange Inc. (ICE) set a monthly
record climbing 27%, as turmoil in the Middle East continued to
fuel increased activity.
Investors' increased focus on unrest in the Middle East and
North Africa has boosted activity of late. Exchange operators have
also been seeing traders gradually return to markets in recent
quarters as the financial crisis has receded further into the
past.
In February, CME's daily volume averaged 14.7 million contracts,
which was a 19% increase from January. About 83% of last month's
total of 279 million contracts were traded electronically.
The world's biggest futures exchange said interest-rate futures
volume--its biggest product by contract volume--jumped 30% from a
year earlier in February to 7.4 million contracts a day, the
highest monthly average since May.
Energy and commodities contract volumes jumped 26% and 44%,
respectively, to record levels. Equity index volume slid 14% while
metals had a 4% increase.
Meanwhile, ICE said its daily average volume climbed to 1.74
million contracts last month, up 10% from January and 27% from a
year ago.
Year-on-year, its biggest product, Brent crude futures and
options, saw volume climb 38%. Contract volume for Gasoil futures
and options jumped 40% while WTI Crude saw a 44% gain.
CME shares closed Tuesday at $306.50 while ICE finished at
$127.10. Neither was active premarket.
-By Matt Jarzemsky, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2240;
matthew.jarzemsky@dowjones.com