Growth in Americas helps derivatives market offset declines in EMEA & Asia-Pacific - new WFE derivatives report out today

London, Tuesday 17 April 2018 – The World Federation of Exchanges ("WFE"), the global industry group for exchanges and central counterparties (CCPs), published its annual WFE IOMA Derivatives Market Report  today, which shows the total volume of derivatives traded in 2017 declined by 0.2%.

Stock markets worldwide and the global economy ended 2017 on a strong note. Benchmark market indices soared to record-high levels across many markets. There was a synchronised recovery in growth rates of GDP, low levels of inflation, low market volatility, a continuation of accommodative monetary policy in many regions, and a recovery in commodity prices. The report focused on trends in derivatives markets against this backdrop, and examined how market participants have responded to shifts in the underlying market.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• Derivative volumes were down slightly (0.2%) on 2016 with a total of 25.0 billion contracts traded.
• This was made up of 10.5 billion options and 14.5 billion futures.
• An increase in the volume traded in the Americas (up 5.8%) was offset by declines in Asia-Pacific and EMEA (down 3.5% and 5.3%) respectively.
• While volumes of equity and interest rate derivatives increased on 2016 (up 5.4% and 13.1%), volumes of currency, commodity and other derivatives were down 3.2%, 14.5% and 4.3% respectively on 2016.
• Over 3.9 billion interest rate derivative contracts were traded in 2017 - the largest number in the time period examined (since 2005).
• The fall in volumes of commodity derivatives traded was the first year-on-year decline in volumes in the 13-year period under review, and was driven by falls in volumes traded of agriculture and non-precious metals derivatives.
• As total volumes traded in 2017 were largely in line with 2016, the overall share of volumes traded has shifted with equity and interest rate derivatives now making up 48% and 16% of the total respectively, and commodity derivatives accounting for 24%.

ASSET BREAKDOWN

• Equity derivatives remained the most actively traded exchange traded derivative product category, at 48% of total volumes, but this was the second consecutive year in which they accounted for less than 50% of the total derivatives volume traded. While in the Americas and Asia-Pacific regions (where nearly 80% of equity derivatives volumes are traded) the numbers of contracts traded were up 2.4% and 23.9% respectively, there was a 10.9% decline in the volumes traded in the EMEA region.
• Interest rate derivatives accounted for 16% of total derivatives contracts traded in 2017, with over 3.9 billion contracts traded in 2017. This was the largest number of interest rate derivatives contracts traded in the time period examined (since 2005). Volumes traded were up 13.1% on 2016 driven by increases in volumes of both STIR and LTIR options and futures. The Americas and EMEA regions, which accounted for nearly 94% of total interest rate derivatives volumes, saw an 11.7% and 18% increase in number of contracts on 2016.
• Currency derivatives volumes traded (11% of the total derivatives volume traded) fell by 3.2% vs 2016, largely due to a 19.9% drop in the volumes traded in the EMEA region, which accounts for 32% of total volumes. The Americas and Asia-Pacific saw an uptick in volumes traded, up 18.8% and 3.8% respectively on 2016.
• Commodity derivatives saw a year-on-year decline in volumes traded, down 14.5% on 2016, for the first time in the period under review. This was due to a sharp fall in the Asia-Pacific region (down 25.3%) where 56% of the volumes were traded. The Americas and EMEA regions recorded increases in volumes traded (up 3.5% and 6% respectively). However, commodity derivatives remain the second most actively traded product type, accounting for 24% of total exchange traded derivatives volumes.
• Other derivatives in the survey included index volatility options and futures, REIT derivatives, dividend index derivatives, CFDs, and inflation indexed futures and options. Volumes in this category dropped by 4.3% on 2016, driven by the decline in volumes traded on Johannesburg Stock Exchange and Japan Exchange Group – down 36% and 6% respectively on 2016.

Nandini Sukumar, Chief Executive Officer, WFE said: "While the overall global derivatives market was broadly flat in 2017, it is interesting to note the growth in volumes in the Americas, helping to offset declines in both EMEA and Asia-Pacific. Indeed, the Americas posted a very strong year across the board, with upticks across most asset classes. It was also interesting to see - for the second consecutive year - volumes of equity derivatives hover below 50% of total volumes."

Siobhan Cleary, Head of Research & Public Policy, WFE added: "This year we are pleased to have been able to incorporate more granular data on commodity derivatives by the underlying, such as agriculture, non-precious and precious metals, and energy. In 2017, for the first time since 2005, we saw commodity derivatives post a year-on-year decline in volumes traded, sharply affected by falls in Asia-Pacific. They remain, however, one of the most actively traded product lines."

Read the full 2017 WFE IOMA Derivatives Market Report here. Forty-eight exchanges responded to the survey, a mixture of WFE members, affiliates and other exchanges that voluntarily submit data. The report covers the period from January to December 2017.

The WFE's IOMA Clearing & Derivatives conference was held last week in Chicago (11-13 April). Hosted by OCC, the event gathers the leaders of the derivatives and post-trade world on an annual basis.

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