CME Group's metals trading volume averaged 523,000 contracts/day in February, off a marginal 2,000 contracts/day from January but up 7% from 487,000 contracts/day February 2016, the US exchange group said Thursday.
Base metals daily trading volume rose by a hefty 41% year on year.
CME's suite of metals products includes precious metals (gold, silver, platinum and palladium), base metals (copper, aluminum, aluminum alloy, alumina, zinc and lead) and ferrous metals (iron ore, ferrous scrap, hot rolled coil and steel billet).
Copper futures and options average volume in February was up 41% year on year at 124,000 contracts/day, CME said, adding that open interest reached a record of more than 300,000 copper futures contracts on February 13.
Silver futures average volume was up 9% year on year at 100,000 contracts/day.
