US Dollar Index Volume on Thin ‘ICE’, down 12.44% in February

The operator of multiple exchanges and business lines under the Intercontinental Exchange Group structure today reported February results across its main exchanges, showing year-over-year improvements, but a decline from January’s volumes within some of its product lines showing mixed figures for February (compared to the previous month).

Trading in the US Dollar Index (USDX) at ICE declined to 600,078 contracts in February, lower by 85,288 from the 685,366 reported in January, a MoM drop of 12.44%.

However, the financials segment overall which includes the FX totals, as well as interest rates, equity indices, and other products, saw total volume increase to 53,399,632 or 7.4% higher for that segment, when compared with 49,708,468 reported in January.

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Growth over February 2015 volumes

Ice said that its futures daily volume was up 12% when compared year-over-year (YoY) to February 2015. In addition, cash equities volume rose 32% YoY, and interest rates volumes in February grew 38% when compared to the same period last year, along with equity indices volumes climbing up 37% YoY. Finance Magnates reported on the company’s two new appointments to its futures and clearing businesses earlier this week.

The company reported 33,562,291 in volume traded across oil related contract within its energy segment, which came in lower from 37,410,555 in January, a 10% decrease or lower by 3,848,264  MoM, despite the extra trading day in February over January and the volatility in oil markets.

Yotal volume across all energy products totaled 57,735,842 and was lower by 3.8% from 60,027,605 from the prior month.

Mixed results Month over Month

Trading in equity indices volumes came in at 8,411,500 for February, lower from 9,140,440 from January, a nearly 8% drop as investor uncertainty of the stock market’s recovery still lingered for much of the month.

However, total volumes across metals and agriculture products rose to 10,389,995 in February from 8,840,031 in the previous month, a month-over-month (MoM) rise of 17.5%.

Total futures and options volumes rose in February by 2.5% to 121,525,469 from 118,576,104 in January. Trading in interest rates rose from 39,823,079 in January to 44,323,737 in February, an 11% increase MoM – as uncertainty over US monetary policy direction coupled with stock market volatility brought in the higher volumes.

The company posted a press release on Monday that it is “considering” a bid for the London Stock Exchange (LSE) as Deutsche Börse also posted that it’s looking at the LSE for a potential merger, and as per the UK Takeover Rule process.