Euronext’s March Volumes Mixed as ETFs and Equities Activity Stalls

Euronext, one of Europe’s largest exchanges, has reported its latest monthly total trading volumes for March 2017, having secured a second consecutive monthly growth in its figures, which helped erase a sluggish start to the calendar year for the group.

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March’s volumes increase was largely attributed to more active market trading, which included higher volatility compared to the month prior. While there were no definitive market drivers, March 2017 did see more activity with help from the US Federal Reserve’s decision and other episodic factors.

During March 2017, Euronext’s average daily cash orders came in at $7,885 million (€7,394 million), rising 4.7 percent month-over-month from $7,533 million (€7,065 million) in February 2017. This reading was however lower over a yearly timeframe, falling by -3.1 percent year-over-year from March 2016.

Volumes Growth Stalls in March

In terms of other segments at Euronext, the group’s exchange-traded-funds (ETFs) were unable to register any growth in trading activity during March 2017. This segment fell to $545.1 million (€511.0 million) in March 2017, compared to $572.6 million (€537.0 million) just one month ago, or -4.8 percent lower month-over-month.

Looking at these figures relative to the year prior, March 2017’s performance was much lower, coming in at -17.1 percent year-over-year from March 2016. Euronext’s equity index derivatives also retreated in March 2017, a decline to 227,450 contracts, or -2.4 percent lower month-over-month from 232,932 contracts in February 2017.

Additionally, the ADV of individual equity derivatives were pointed lower in March 2017 to 255,795, relative to 282,365 contracts in February 2017 or -9.4 percent lower month-over-month.

Finally, precious metal prices finally also recorded losses in its volumes over the past month. Euronext saw its ADV in its commodities derivatives come in at 55,225 contracts for March 2017, or -4.7 percent lower month-over-month from just 57,935 contracts in February 2017.