NYSE Volumes Drop - August 2012

NYSE Euronext announced trading volumes for its global derivatives and cash equities exchanges for August 2012. Trading volumes in August 2012 declined year-over-year and month-over-month due to a decrease in Volatility Volatility In finance, volatility refers to the amount of change in the rate of a financial instrument, such as commodities, currencies, or 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. Trad In finance, volatility refers to the amount of change in the rate of a financial instrument, such as commodities, currencies, or 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. Trad Read this Term compared to August 2011 and the seasonally slower summer period. In August 2011, trading volumes benefited from extreme market volatility in the U.S. and Europe.

Highlights

NYSE Euronext global derivatives ADV in August 2012 of 6.4 million contracts decreased 38.4% compared to August 2011 and decreased 8.6% from July 2012 levels.

• NYSE Euronext European derivatives products ADV in August 2012 of 3.2 million contracts decreased 27.8% compared to August 2011 and decreased 6.2% from July 2012.
• NYSE Euronext U.S. equity options ADV of 3.1 million contracts in August 2012 decreased 46.3% compared to August 2011 levels and decreased 11.4% from July 2012.
• NYSE Euronext’s U.S. options exchanges accounted for 24.8% of total U.S. consolidated equity options trading in August 2012, down from 26.4% in August 2011 and down from 25.9% in July 2012.
• NYSE Liffe U.S. ADV of approximately 63,200 contracts decreased 53.9% from 137,100 contracts in August 2011, but increased from 53,400 contracts in July 2012.
• NYSE Euronext European cash products ADV of 1.1 million transactions in August 2012 decreased 50.1% compared to August 2011 and decreased 25.7% from July 2012 levels.
• NYSE Euronext U.S. cash products handled ADV of 1.4 billion shares in August 2012 decreased 54.6% compared to August 2011 and decreased 12.6% compared to July 2012. NYSE Euronext’s Tape A matched market share in August 2012 was 31.6%, down from 36.2% in August 2011 and down from 32.1% in July 2012.

Derivatives Trading

European Derivatives

NYSE Euronext European derivatives products ADV in August 2012 of 3.2 million contracts decreased 27.8% compared to August 2011 and decreased 6.2% from July 2012 levels.

The 3.2 million in European derivatives futures and options contracts ADV in August 2012 consisted of 2.2 million contracts executed through our full-service LIFFE CONNECT Trading Platform Trading Platform In the FX space, a currency trading platform is a software provided by brokers to their respective client base, garnering access as traders in the broader market. Most commonly, this reflects an online interface or mobile app, complete with tools for order processing.Every broker needs one or more trading platforms to accommodate the needs of different clients. Being the backbone of the company’s offering, a trading platform provides clients with quotes, a selection of instruments to trade, real In the FX space, a currency trading platform is a software provided by brokers to their respective client base, garnering access as traders in the broader market. Most commonly, this reflects an online interface or mobile app, complete with tools for order processing.Every broker needs one or more trading platforms to accommodate the needs of different clients. Being the backbone of the company’s offering, a trading platform provides clients with quotes, a selection of instruments to trade, real Read this Term and 1.0 million contracts, or 32.3%, executed through Bclear, NYSE Liffe's trade administration and clearing service for OTC products.

Year-to-date, European derivatives products ADV of 3.8 million contracts was 19.5% below prior year levels. The 3.8 million in futures and options contracts ADV year-to-date consisted of 2.7 million contracts executed through LIFFE CONNECT trading platform and 1.1 million contracts, or 29.6%, executed through Bclear.

Total fixed income products ADV of 1.4 million contracts in August 2012 decreased 44.6% from August 2011 and decreased 20.5% from July 2012. Year-to-date, total fixed income products ADV of 1.8 million contracts was 24.5% below prior year levels.

Total equity products (including Bclear) ADV of 1.7 million contracts in August 2012 decreased 6.4% compared to August 2011, but increased 12.0% from July 2012. The 1.7 million contracts in equity products ADV in August 2012 consisted of 1.3 million contracts in individual equity products ADV and 0.4 million contracts in equity index products ADV. The 1.3 million contracts in individual equity products ADV consisted of 1.0 million in futures contracts, which represented a 167.9% increase compared to August 2011 and 0.3 million in options contracts, which represented a 48.3% decrease compared to August 2011. The average net rate per contract for individual equity futures contracts is significantly lower than other European derivatives products. Year-to-date, total equity products ADV of 1.9 million contracts was 15.2% below prior year levels.

Total commodities products ADV of approximately 89,000 contracts in August 2012 increased 32.1% compared to August 2011 and decreased 25.0% compared to July 2012. Year-to-date, total commodities product ADV of 86,000 contracts was 4.2% above prior year levels.

U.S. Derivatives

NYSE Euronext U.S. equity options ADV of 3.1 million contracts in August 2012 decreased 46.3% compared to August 2011 and decreased 11.4% compared to July 2012. Year-to-date, U.S. equity options ADV of 3.8 million contracts was 13.6% below prior year levels.

Total U.S. consolidated equity options ADV decreased 43.0% to 12.4 million contracts in August 2012 compared to August 2011 and decreased 7.6% compared to July 2012. Year-to-date, U.S. consolidated equity options ADV of 14.8 million contracts was 14.2% below prior year levels.

NYSE Euronext’s U.S. options exchanges accounted for 24.8% of total U.S. consolidated equity options trading in August 2012, down from 26.4% in August 2011 and down from 25.9% in July 2012.

NYSE Liffe U.S. ADV of approximately 63,200 contracts decreased 53.9% from 137,100 contracts in August 2011, but increased from 53,400 contracts in July 2012. Year-to-date, U.S. futures and futures options ADV of 77,900 contracts was 6.3% above prior year levels.

Cash Trading

European Cash

NYSE Euronext European cash products ADV of 1.1 million transactions in August 2012 decreased 50.1% compared to August 2011 and decreased 25.7% compared to July 2012.

Year-to-date, European cash products ADV of 1.5 million transactions was 10.9% below prior year levels.

U.S. Cash

NYSE Euronext U.S. cash products handled ADV in August 2012 decreased 54.6% to 1.4 billion shares compared to August 2011 and decreased 12.6% from July 2012. Year-to-date, U.S. cash products handled ADV was 1.7 billion shares, down 24.6% from prior year levels. NYSE Euronext’s Tape A matched market share in August 2012 was 31.6%, down from 36.2% in August 2011 and down from 32.1% in July 2012.

Exchange Traded Funds

NYSE Euronext U.S. matched exchange-traded funds ADV (included in volumes for Tape B and Tape C) of 168 million shares in August 2012 decreased 67.6% compared to August 2011 and decreased 13.9% compared to July 2012.

Year-to-date, NYSE Euronext U.S. matched exchange-traded funds ADV of 217 million shares was 30.5% below prior year levels.