Strong October showing in SGX's derivatives and commodities segments

THE local bourse saw average daily value traded in securities fall 8 per cent in October from the previous month while on a year-on-year basis, it dipped 7 per cent.

Total traded value in October rose 4 per cent from a month ago to S$21.7 billion despite fewer trading days - 21 days in October versus September's 22 trading days, said the Singapore Exchange (SGX) in an announcement.

There were three new listings on the mainboard and Catalist last month which raised about S$85 million. The month also saw a total of 56 bond listings which raised over S$20 billion compared with 48 listings raising S$16.5 billion a year ago.

Total derivatives volume in October was 10.7 million contracts - higher by one per cent and 25 per cent from September and a year ago respectively. Average daily trading volume rose 7 per cent from a month ago and 32 per cent year-on-year.

Total volume of equity index futures remained flat at 9.7 million contracts on a month-on-month basis but was up 30 per cent from October 2013. Nearly three million contracts were traded on SGX Nikkei 225 Index Futures, 17 per cent and 25 per cent higher from a month and a year ago respectively. Several of the key SGX Asian index futures also experienced positive growth, said SGX.

SGX foreign exchange futures traded more than 93,000 contracts in October, a dip of 7 per cent from September. The exchange said the recently launched SGX Chinese Renminbi futures futures, namely USD/CNH and CNY/USD futures, garnered strong industry support and traded a total of 7,709 contracts in its first month.

As for commodities, total Asiaclear volume was 348,027 contracts - 3 per cent up from September and over five times higher than a year ago. Its rubber futures contract saw a record month with 74,110 contracts traded - up nearly 60 per cent from September and a three-fold increase in volume from a year ago. "Iron ore derivatives (cleared swaps, futures and options) also achieved another record month with a total of 332,863 contracts traded, 3 per cent up month-on-month and almost five times the volume the year before," said SGX.