The international derivatives exchange Eurex traded 179 million contracts in February, an increase of 32 percent from 136 million contracts in the same month of 2007.

The international derivatives exchange Eurex traded 179 million contracts in February, an increase of 32 percent from 136 million contracts in the same month of 2007. The average daily turnover in February was 8.5 million contracts, compared with 6.7 million a year earlier.

Open interest increased further to reach 134.4 million contracts at the end of February, compared with 128 million at the end of the previous month.

Equity index derivatives continued to be the largest segment, with the number of contracts traded up by 63 percent year on year from 46.6 million in February 2007 to 76 million. The option on the Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50 index enjoyed its second-best month with some 32 million contracts, compared with 18 million a year earlier.

Turnover for the equity derivatives segment, consisting of equity options and single stock futures, rose by 18 per cent to 30.3 million contracts from 25.6 million in February 2007. Trading in Spanish equity options grew by 65 percent from the previous month to reach some 150,000 contracts. Single stock futures rose from 2.4 million in February 2007 to 3.6 million.

The fixed-income derivatives segment improved both in comparison with January and year on year, with 72 million contracts traded, up from 70 million in January and 63 million contracts in February 2007.

Around 28 million contracts were traded on the Euro-Bund Future, 19.5 million on the Euro-Schatz Future and 16.8 million on the Euro-Bobl Future. The International Securities Exchange, a subsidiary of Eurex since December last year, saw turnover of 73.3 million contracts in February, an increase of 44
percent year on year and representing an average daily volume of 3.6 million contracts.