IntercontinentalExchange reported its second consecutive month of record volume in its futures business segment and an increase of 73.2% in trading commissions in its over-the-counter (OTC) business segment for the month of February.
Volume at ICE Futures, the company’s futures business segment, increased 81.8% over last February.
Fueling the growth again were the entry of new participants into ICE’s electronic markets and expanded levels of trading in futures and OTC markets by existing customers.
ICE also reported solid volume in the newest product at ICE Futures, with average daily volume in the new ICE WTI Crude futures contract of 41,858 from the February 3 launch through the end of the month.
In ICE’s OTC business segment, average daily commissions reflect daily trading activity in the company’s OTC markets. ICE’s average daily commissions increased to $421,205 in February, up 73.2% compared to $243,231 in February 2005.
Growth in average daily commissions was driven primarily by the continued expansion of ICE’s cleared OTC product volumes, particularly in natural gas and power. On February 3, 2006, ICE transitioned its cleared OTC WTI crude oil bullet swap contract into the new ICE WTI Crude futures contract.