Nasdaq Reports April Metrics, US Equity Volumes Dive MoM

Nasdaq has reported its volumes for the month ending April 2015, having witnessed a downturn across US equity markets, according to a Nasdaq statement.

Nearly two weeks ago, Nasdaq OMX Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:NDAQ) released its metrics for Q1 2015, which also suffered from waning revenues. The primary culprit for this decline was attributed to the impact of foreign Exchange Exchange An exchange is known as a marketplace that supports the trading of derivatives, commodities, securities, and other financial instruments.Generally, an exchange is accessible through a digital platform or sometimes at a tangible address where investors organize to perform trading. Among the chief responsibilities of an exchange would be to uphold honest and fair-trading practices. These are instrumental in making sure that the distribution of supported security rates on that exchange are effectiv An exchange is known as a marketplace that supports the trading of derivatives, commodities, securities, and other financial instruments.Generally, an exchange is accessible through a digital platform or sometimes at a tangible address where investors organize to perform trading. Among the chief responsibilities of an exchange would be to uphold honest and fair-trading practices. These are instrumental in making sure that the distribution of supported security rates on that exchange are effectiv Read this Term (FX) rates weighing on the index.

Across equity derivatives, Nasdaq saw US equity options volumes of 72 million contracts in April 2015, falling -7.7% MoM from 78 million contracts in March 2015. Alternatively, European options and futures volumes were reported at 9.1 million contracts in April 2015, rising 4.6% MoM from 8.7 million contracts March 2015.

Cash Equities Equities Equities can be characterized as stocks or shares in a company that investors can buy or sell. When you buy a stock, you are in essence buying an equity, becoming a partial owner of shares in a specific company or fund.However, equities do not pay a fixed interest rate, and as such are not considered guaranteed income. As such, equity markets are often associated with risk.When a company issues bonds, it’s taking loans from buyers. When a company offers shares, on the other hand, it’s selling pa Equities can be characterized as stocks or shares in a company that investors can buy or sell. When you buy a stock, you are in essence buying an equity, becoming a partial owner of shares in a specific company or fund.However, equities do not pay a fixed interest rate, and as such are not considered guaranteed income. As such, equity markets are often associated with risk.When a company issues bonds, it’s taking loans from buyers. When a company offers shares, on the other hand, it’s selling pa Read this Term were also marked by lackluster figures, with US matched equity volume (in millions of shares) coming in at just 25,003 in April 2015, down -11.3% from 28,217 in March 2015.

FICC Metrics Slump in April

Another area of weakness was Nasdaq’s Fixed Income, Currencies, and Commodities (FICC) realm – US fixed income yielded just $2,350 billion in April 2015, down -14.9% MoM from $2,762 billion in March 2015. Over a yearly timeframe, volumes also plunged -26.4% YoY from $3,194 billion in April 2014.

European fixed income was also unable to escape the specter of decline, reporting just 1.5 million contacts in April 2015, down -42.3% MoM from 2.6 million contracts in March 2015. Over the past year, the figure is not quite as gloomy, suffering a decline of -31.8% YoY from 2.2 million contracts in April 2014.