CME Group noted high activity in the derivatives market
2025 has been a fairly successful year for the stock market. In the second quarter, CME Group (Chicago Mercantile Exchange) reported record international trading volumes. Additionally, the number of transactions involving currency products increased significantly in Latin America.
The volume of international trading exceeded 9 million contracts per day. This was 18% higher than in the same period in 2024. However, data for the United States was not included in the calculations.
Of particular note is the activity on the foreign exchange (Forex) market in Latin America. Daily trading volumes increased by 30% compared to last year. The region set a quarterly record for the volume of currency transactions.
International trading
Growth has also been observed in other regions:
1. Europe, Africa, and the Middle East together account for 6.7 million contracts per day. This figure is 15% higher than in the second quarter of 2024.
2. Growth rates in the Asia-Pacific region are even higher. The volume of daily contracts has reached more than 2 million, which is 30% higher than in 2024.
Julie Winkler of CME Group has noted the positive dynamics of the current year. Despite the increased volatility of the main markets, she says that participants are returning to the exchange. An increasing number of participants are choosing the Chicago platform for risk management and working with different asset classes.
Reasons for increased activity
One of the key factors driving growth was the launch of the new CME platform, FX Spot+, in April 2025. It quickly gained popularity among institutional investors seeking high returns.
In its first month of operation, the platform’s daily trading volumes reached US$1.4 million. FX Spot+ attracted new clients, primarily banks that had not previously engaged in currency futures trading. This demonstrates the demand for an instrument that combines the capabilities of the traditional spot and futures markets.
Platform features
1. It uses implicit matching technology to connect traders via a central order book.
2. Traders are provided with access to over US$100 billion of daily currency futures liquidity.
3. Funds can be obtained on terms inherent to the spot market.
4. This approach is popular among clients focused on increasing liquidity without altering their current trading processes.
Overall, CME representatives have noted an increase in interest in energy contracts. This is particularly noticeable in the Asia-Pacific region, where the volume has grown by 67%. In Europe, analysts recorded a 15% rise.
