CME Group Volume Averaged 9.9 Million Contracts Per Day In October 2012

CME Group, the world's leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace, today announced that October 2012 volume averaged 9.9 million contracts per day, down 20 percent from October 2011. Total volume for October 2012 was more than 227 million contracts, of which 87 percent was traded electronically. In coordination with other financial markets, some CME Group contract markets were closed, either partially or entirely, on October 29 and 30. Excluding those two days, October average daily volume would have been approximately 10.4 million contracts.

In October 2012, CME Group interest rate volume averaged 4.0 million contracts per day, down 16 percent from October 2011. Treasury futures volume averaged 1.7 million contracts per day, down 23 percent compared with the same period a year ago. Treasury options volume averaged 355,000 contracts per day, up 22 percent from October 2011. Eurodollar futures volume averaged 1.6 million contracts per day, down 5 percent from October 2011. Eurodollar options volume averaged 417,000 contracts per day, down 34 percent from October last year.

CME Group equity index volume in October 2012 averaged 2.3 million contracts per day, down 34 percent from the same period last year. CME Group foreign exchange (FX) volume averaged 709,000 contracts per day, down 23 percent from October 2011.

CME Group energy volume averaged 1.6 million contracts per day in October 2012, down 14 percent compared with the same period in 2011. CME Group metals volume averaged 275,000 contracts per day, down 9 percent from the same period last year. CME Group agricultural commodities volume in October 2012 averaged 973,000 contracts per day, down 9 percent compared with the prior-year period.

Electronic volume averaged 8.6 million contracts per day in October 2012, down 19 percent compared with October 2011. Privately negotiated volume decreased 11 percent to 188,000 contracts per day from the prior October. Average daily volume cleared through CME ClearPort was 335,000 contracts in October 2012, down 32 percent compared with October 2011. Open outcry volume averaged 798,000 contracts per day, down 34 percent versus the prior-year period.