ICE Posts Trading Metrics for August, FX Up 60% YoY

IntercontinentalExchange (ICE), a US listed commodities exchange has posted trading volumes for the month of August. The multi asset exchange saw trading metrics increase in energy and FX products. The firm reported a 2% rise in trading volumes for August 2013, from a year earlier, average daily volume (ADV) for futures and options was 2,971,139 contracts. The exchanges total volume for August reached 65 million contracts, 1.5% lower than July figures.

Among its popular contracts is the Brent energy contract. The ICE exchange offers futures and options on the benchmark Brent contract. The UK oil contract saw trading volumes increase from a year earlier, in light of the uncertainty in the Middle East region. Brent futures traded 663,116 in August 2013, a 13% increase from 588,143 from a year earlier. Year to date the average daily volume has increased 8% from a year earlier, the oil markets have been affected by the on-going dispute in Syria however the recent issues in Egypt have an effect on the markets as the Suez Canal is used to transport a significant amount of oil between the Middle East and Europe.

Strong gains and continued Volatility Volatility In finance, volatility refers to the amount of change in the rate of a financial instrument, such as commodities, currencies, stocks, over a given time period. Essentially, volatility describes the nature of an instrument’s fluctuation; a highly volatile security equates to large fluctuations in price, and a low volatile security equates to timid fluctuations in price. Volatility is an important statistical indicator used by financial traders to assist them in developing trading systems. Traders In finance, volatility refers to the amount of change in the rate of a financial instrument, such as commodities, currencies, stocks, over a given time period. Essentially, volatility describes the nature of an instrument’s fluctuation; a highly volatile security equates to large fluctuations in price, and a low volatile security equates to timid fluctuations in price. Volatility is an important statistical indicator used by financial traders to assist them in developing trading systems. Traders Read this Term in the FX markets have been driving volumes at ICE’s FX segment. Volumes are up 60% from a year earlier, with average daily volume reaching 34,109 for August 2013, volumes for 2012 in the same month were 21,270. The firm operates regulated exchanges and clearing houses for energy, agricultural, credit, currency, emissions, and equity index products.

ICE has recently been in the headlines after the SEC sanctioned its proposed merger with NYSE Euronext. ICE put a bid for the US based exchange that runs New York Stock Exchange Stock Exchange A stock exchange, also known as a securities exchange or bourse represents is a facility where stockbrokers and traders can buy and sell securities.This includes shares of stock, bonds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), or other financial instruments. By extension, stock exchanges can also provide facilities for the issue and redemption of such securities and instruments and capital events including the payment of income and dividendsStock exchanges have developed into a permanent fixture in the fin A stock exchange, also known as a securities exchange or bourse represents is a facility where stockbrokers and traders can buy and sell securities.This includes shares of stock, bonds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), or other financial instruments. By extension, stock exchanges can also provide facilities for the issue and redemption of such securities and instruments and capital events including the payment of income and dividendsStock exchanges have developed into a permanent fixture in the fin Read this Term, the all-electronic NYSE Arca platform and NYSE MKT. ICE placed a bid of $8.2 billion.

ICE has made several notable acquisitions over the last decade, including; the International Petroleum Exchange (IPE) in 2001 and the Winnipeg Commodity Exchange (WCE) in 2007 to name a few.

ICE's share price is trading at 180.29 in New York.