Options ADV for 2018 saw a record 3.9 million contracts, up 14%. This included electronic options ADV rising 20% to 2.6 million contracts.
In the fourth quarter of 2018, the average volume soared 31% to 20.8 million contracts per day.
December 2018 volume averaged 20.2 contracts per day, up 36%. Electronic options ADV grew 39% to 2.7 million contracts in the month, while interest rate options ADV jumped 40% to 2.4 million contracts. Equity Index options ADV soared 48% to 974,000 contracts, while agricultural options ADV inched 2% to 169,000 contracts. Metals options ADV rose 28% to 59,000 contracts.
Foreign exchange volume averaged a million contracts per day in December 2018, with Canadian dollar futures and options ADV rising 10% to 105,000 contracts, and Japanese yen futures and options inching 7% up to 177,000 contracts.
However, energy volume fell 2% as it averaged 2.3 million contracts per day in December 2018. Even though WTI Crude Oil futures and options ADV jumped 18% to 1.5 million contracts, Gasoline futures and options ADV trailed — inching just 1% higher to 174,000 contracts.