CME Reports Only a 4% Comeback in Revenues for Q3 despite Record Options Volume

Chicago-based operator of commodity futures marketplaces, CME Group, with some of the biggest commodities exchanges across the globe, including the Chicago Mercantile Exchange as its subsidiaries, today reported its financial results for the third-quarter (Q3) of 2014. The group’s report reflects a weak bounce back for revenues and earnings compared to the abysmal previous quarter.

The CME reported revenues of $762 million and an operating income of $430 million for the third-quarter of 2014. Net income attributable to CME Group was $290 million and diluted earnings per share was $0.86. Excluding the items noted in the reconciliation, adjusted earnings per share would have been $0.84.

On a quarter to quarter basis, today’s figures reveal a 4% rise in revenues, a 4.4% increase in operating income and a nice 9.8% jump in net income from Q2 2014. Additionally, diluted earnings per share increased by 8.9% and excluding items noted in the reconciliation, adjusted earnings per share went up by 9%.

In the previous quarter, the CME reported revenues of $732 million and an operating income of $412 million for the second quarter of 2014. Net income attributable to CME Group was $264 million and diluted earnings per share was $0.79. Excluding the items noted in the reconciliation, adjusted earnings per share would have been $0.77.

"Our core business performed very well during the third-quarter, with our record overall options volume and record volume from outside the United States accounting for 60 percent of the quarterly volume growth," said CME Group Executive Chairman and President, Terry Duffy. "In addition, the momentum has continued, and October is on track to have the highest monthly volume in our history. In particular, on October 15 we set an all-time daily record with volume approaching 40 million contracts. This reflects the significant client demand during a more volatile period, supported by the company's unmatched Liquidity Liquidity The term liquidity refers to the process, speed, and ease of which a given asset or security can be converted into cash. Notably, liquidity surmises a retention in market price, with the most liquid assets representing cash.The most liquid asset of all is cash itself.· In economics, liquidity is defined by how efficiently and quickly an asset can be converted into usable cash without materially affecting its market price. · Nothing is more liquid than cash, while other assets represent The term liquidity refers to the process, speed, and ease of which a given asset or security can be converted into cash. Notably, liquidity surmises a retention in market price, with the most liquid assets representing cash.The most liquid asset of all is cash itself.· In economics, liquidity is defined by how efficiently and quickly an asset can be converted into usable cash without materially affecting its market price. · Nothing is more liquid than cash, while other assets represent Read this Term, tight bid-ask spreads, system reliability and capital efficiency. Bottom line, with nearly 9 million contracts traded that day from Europe, Asia and Latin America, we truly are the place where the world comes to manage risk."

"During the third quarter, we streamlined our organizational structure to better meet the needs of our global client base and accelerate future earnings growth and cash flow," said CME Group Chief Executive Officer, Phupinder Gill. "With increased agility from an operational perspective, we are aggressively focused on improving Execution Execution Execution is the process during which a client submits an order to the brokerage, which consequently executes it resulting in an open position in a given asset. The execution of the order occurs only when it is filled. There is typically a time delay between the placement of the order and the execution which is called latency.In the retail FX space, reliable brokers always strive to deliver best execution to their clients in order to maintain a solid business relationship with them. This is a co Execution is the process during which a client submits an order to the brokerage, which consequently executes it resulting in an open position in a given asset. The execution of the order occurs only when it is filled. There is typically a time delay between the placement of the order and the execution which is called latency.In the retail FX space, reliable brokers always strive to deliver best execution to their clients in order to maintain a solid business relationship with them. This is a co Read this Term, enhancing efficiency and increasing our speed to market throughout the world. If we are successful, revenues will increase and expenses decrease, and our shareholders will be rewarded as we further strengthen our position in the evolving global marketplace. Based on our current plans, we expect to keep operating expenses essentially flat in 2015 relative to this year."

Third-quarter 2014 average daily volume was 13.5 million contracts, up 12% from third-quarter 2013. Clearing and transaction fee revenues were $641.8 million, up 7% compared with third-quarter 2013. Third-quarter 2014 total average rate per contract was 72.5 cents, down from 74.9 cents in second-quarter 2014, driven primarily by the 7% growth in total volume made up of a higher proportion of lower priced financial products.

As of September 30, 2014, CME had $1.2 billion of cash and marketable securities and $2.1 billion of long-term debt.