Press

Annual trading volumes on Eurex, the European derivatives exchange, hit yet another world record in 2000. Preliminary figures (based on estimated volumes for the last exchange trading day of the year) indicate total turnover of 454 million contracts, up approximately 20 percent on the previous year’s level of 379 million. Eurex therefore held on to the number one slot as the world’s largest derivatives exchange by a clear margin.

The strongest performing product was the Euro Bund Future, with 151 million contracts traded (1999: 144 million), with the Euro Bobl Future (62.5 million contracts versus 52 million in 1999) and the DAX® Option (32 million contracts as in 1999) on places 2 and 3, respectively. The strongest growth rates were seen in the Euro Schatz Future and the Dow Jones Euro STOXXSM 50 Future. Approximately 43 million Euro Bobl Futures contracts were traded, up 120 percent on the previous year (19,6 million contracts), while volumes in the Euro STOXXSM 50 Future exceeded a level of 14 million contracts, up 170 percent on the 5,3 million contracts traded in 1999.

With 288 million contracts (1999: 246 million), capital market products account for the biggest share of Eurex turnover, followed by equity options (approximately 90 million contracts versus 65 million in 1999) and index derivatives (76 million contracts versus 65 million in 1999). The successful launch of 40 new option products on German and international shares in the year 2000 was a major contributor for outstanding growth rates of 40 percent seen in equity options. This development also highlights the popularity of these products with private investors.