CME · 10-Q · 2026Q2 · Full report

Market Demand Trends

CME GROUP INC. · 2026-07-24 · Importance 48 · Surprise 40

Aggregate average daily contract volume was 29.843 million in the second quarter of 2026, down 1% year over year, while six-month volume increased 10% to 33.011 million. Second-quarter interest-rate volume declined 6%, energy declined 13% and foreign exchange declined 10%, while equity-index volume increased 8% and agricultural-commodity volume increased 6%. Six-month volume growth was supported by higher interest-rate, equity-index, energy, agricultural-commodity and metals activity, including increased adoption of precious-metals micro contracts among retail clients. The average rate per contract declined 2% in the quarter and 3% for the six months, primarily because of higher micro-contract volume and a greater proportion of member trading.

Key facts

• Total contract volume for futures and options in the quarter ended June 30, 2026: 1,850.2 million contracts. source
• Aggregate average daily volume for the quarter ended June 30, 2026: 29,843 (amounts in thousands). source
• Average daily volume for interest rates for the quarter ended June 30, 2026: 14,532 (amounts in thousands). source
• Average daily volume for equity indexes for the quarter ended June 30, 2026: 8,634 (amounts in thousands). source
• CME Globex average daily volume for the quarter ended June 30, 2026: 27,935 (amounts in thousands). source
• In the second quarter and first six months of 2026, overall metals contract volumes increased compared to 2025, driven primarily by heightened market volatility and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East; increased adoption of precious metals micro contracts among retail clients further supported sustained gold volume growth. source
• Energy contract volumes decreased in Q2 2026 versus Q2 2025 due to lower overall volatility, despite ongoing Middle East conflict; energy volumes increased in first six months 2026 versus 2025 due to earlier conflict-driven disruptions. source