CME Group Inc.'s (CME) second-quarter profit improved 8.5% due to a strong performance from interest rates, metals and agricultural commodities, although trading volume was flat.

The derivatives exchange operator has benefited from escalating debt concerns that are facing several euro-zone nations, which lured more firms to hedge interest-rate risk in CME's futures markets over the second quarter.

CME reported earnings of $293.7 million, or $4.38 a share, up from $270.7 million, or $4.11 a share, a year earlier. Revenue climbed 3% to $838.3 million.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected a per-share profit of $4.17 on revenue of $821 million.

Operating margin improved to 63.8% from 63.3%.

Earlier this month, CME said its daily trading volume was flat year-to-year at 13.5 million contracts. Results last year included a "flash crash" on May 6 that stoked market fears.

Class A shares closed Wednesday at $278.51 and were inactive premarket.

-By John Kell, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2480; john.kell@dowjones.com

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