Liffe recorded substantial gains in overall activity during the first quarter of the year. The exchange recorded a 29% increase in total contracts traded year-to-date compared to the same period in 2007. In March, Liffe traded 87m futures and options contracts, representing an ADV of 4.6m, up 14% from the same month in 2007. Liffe’s strongest performing asset class was its short-term interest rate contracts which registered an impressive 40% gain on an ADV basis year-on-year. ADV on NYSE Arca options also increased, rising 67% in March while total volume rose by 41% compared to the same month last year. NYSE Arca Options accounted for approximately 14% percent of the trading in all options in March, including 17.9% of all trading in the SEC penny pilot programme.
Montréal Exchange’s ADV for the first quarter dropped 12% year-on-year. ADV totalled 164,686 contracts. Despite being a decrease on...