Volumes across most exchanges hit record levels in March as the start of the Iraqi conflict compounded already nervous and volatile markets. Record days followed record days as exchanges and their member firms saw new levels of activity, often substantially up on previous highs.
As usual, Eurex led the way, trading a huge 106m contracts during the month, beating the previous monthly record of 86.6m contracts set in October
2002. Year-on-year, March's volume was up 69%, bringing Q1 volume for the exchange to more than 265m contracts.
Three of Eurex's fixed-income futures hit new highs - with the Euro-Bund reaching volumes of 24.2m; the Euro-Bobl beating its previous record of 12.4m with 15.2m contracts traded; and the Euro-Schatz seeing its highest monthly volume of 13.2m.
The exchange's equity-based contracts totalled 47.8m, comprising a record 32.8m in equity index derivatives and 14.9m in equity options....