Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) Monthly Activity Report For February 2008

February 2008 was a month of continued high volume trading activity across the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), influenced by ongoing market volatility due to global credit concerns and the expectation of rising interest rates in Australia.

Throughout the month ASX systems – including trading, clearing and settlement, and company announcements – operated normally. ASX continues to invest in its systems to meet the capacity needs of the market.

Cash markets (including equities, interest rates and warrants trades):

Total cash markets trades for February 2008 were 8.0 million, up 80% on the previous corresponding period (pcp). Average daily trades of 378,889 were 72% up on pcp.
Total cash market traded value was $132.9 billion in February 2008, up 10% on pcp, with a daily average value of $6.3 billion, up 5% on pcp.

Derivatives markets:

Equity derivatives volume (excluding SPI 200) for February 2008 was 1.7 million contracts, down 20% on pcp, with a daily average of 81,321 contracts, down 24% on pcp.
Total futures and options on futures contracts volume (excluding equity derivatives and CFDs) for February 2008 was 7.0 million, up 13% on the pcp, with a notional value of $4.0 trillion. Average daily contracts volume during February 2008 of 333,666 was up 8% on the pcp.
A total of 5,987 ASX CFD trades were transacted in February 2008 comprising a volume of 7.6 million contracts. The total notional value of all CFD trades for February was $196.4 million, and the value of CFD open interest at the end of February was $66.8 million.

Listings and capital raisings:

In February 2008, 15 new entities¹ were listed, up 7% on the pcp, bringing total listed entities to 2,223 up 10% on the 2,020 for the pcp.
Total capital raised in February 2008 amounted to $2.7 billion, down 35% on the pcp but up 7% on a financial year-to-date basis. Capital raisings year-to-date comprise initial raisings of $10.7 billion, up 2% on pcp, and secondary raisings of $36.0 billion, up 8% on pcp.

¹Entities include companies and trusts with quoted equities (including individual entities that trade as stapled securities) and also other entities with debt securities only.

A detailed activity statement for ASX group markets for February 2008 is attached.