Trends in single stock options and futures

In this article, we analyse the trends in single stock options and futures contracts traded observed over the past three years. The data is available on the WFE Statistics Portal, while the indicators are defined in our Definitions Manual. For questions or feedback about this article, please contact the WFE Statistics Team at [email protected]

The number of single stock options and futures contracts traded in 2024 amounted to 16.44 billion, which represented a 19.4% rise from 2023. This is due to options and futures volumes going up 7.2% and 15.5%, respectively. Regionally, volumes in the Americas and APAC increased 14.4% and 55.6%, respectively, while in EMEA region declined 2.3%.

Options account for 66% of the single stock derivatives contracts traded, while futures account for the rest of 34%. Regionally, the Americas account for 61% share of single stock derivatives volumes, followed by APAC (25%) and EMEA region (14%).

The growth continued in Q1 2025, making this the third consecutive quarter of growth, with options volumes rising 2.5% and futures going up 7.4% compared to Q4 2024. Volumes of each product rose in each region, except futures remaining constant in APAC region. This translates as an increased need of investors across the globe to hedge against market uncertainty.

Figure 1: Number of single stock options contracts traded between January 2022 and March 2025

Figure 2: Number of single stock futures contracts traded between January 2022 and March 2025

The peak in August and September 2022 was due mostly to Borsa Istanbul, Deutsche Boerse, ICE Futures Europe and Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

Figures 3 – 5 show the single stock options and futures contracts traded by region. While on markets in the Americas region investors prefer options and in EMEA futures, in the APAC region the number of options contracts traded is almost equal to that of futures.

Figure 3: Number of single stock derivatives contracts traded in the Americas region between January 2022 and March 2025

Figure 4: Number of single stock derivatives contracts traded in the APAC region between January 2022 and March 2025

Figure 5: Number of single stock derivatives contracts traded in the EMEA region between January 2022 and March 2025