CME Group, the world's largest and most diverse derivatives exchange, announced January volume averaged 9.5 million contracts per day, down 41 percent from January 2008, which was the second-highest monthly volume ever on a combined basis.

Total volume was 190 million contracts for the month, of which 78 percent was traded electronically. Total electronic volume averaged 7.4 million contracts per day, down 40 percent from the prior January. Average daily volume cleared on CME ClearPort was 603,000 contracts for the month, up 50 percent compared with January 2008, continuing to highlight market participants' increased interest in the safety and soundness of CME Group's regulated, transparent and centrally cleared markets. Total exchange volume during the second half of January averaged 10.1 million contracts per day, up 14 percent from average daily volume of 8.9 million contracts during the first half of January and up 23 percent from average daily volume of 8.1 million contracts for the full month of December 2008.

CME Group January interest rate volume averaged 3.6 million contracts per day, down 59 percent compared with the same period in 2008. E-mini equity index volume averaged 2.9 million contracts per day, down 26 percent compared with January 2008. Equity standard volume averaged 122,000 contracts per day in January, down 36 percent compared with the same year-ago period. CME Group foreign exchange (FX) contracts volume averaged 460,000 contracts per day, down 23 percent, and represented an average daily notional value of $59 billion. CME Group commodities and alternative investments volume averaged 655,000 contracts per day, down 28 percent from January 2008.

Total NYMEX volume in January averaged 1.8 million contracts, up 4 percent compared with the same prior year period. Annual NYMEX energy futures and options volume averaged 948,000 contracts per day, down 5 percent from January 2008. COMEX metals volume averaged 203,000 contracts per day for January, down 23 percent. Average daily volume cleared on CME ClearPort was 603,000 contracts for the month, up 50 percent compared with January 2008. The remaining NYMEX volume of 48,000 trades per day consisted of other transactions, which include position transfers and exchanges.