Stock markets across the globe saw a sell-off in Oct 2018 and benchmark indices fell to record low levels. In this article we examine market activity as reflected by value and volumes of trades in equities and ETFs against this backdrop.

Market performance in Q3 2018 was mixed. While in the Americas region strong economic results and growing corporate profits in the US boosted markets, in Europe, tensions with respect to a trade war with the US, banking sector exposure to vulnerable emerging markets and the uncertainty stemming from Brexit negotiations were among factors affecting market sentiment.

Globally equity markets have recorded a surge in trading activity since the beginning of 2018.

The first half of 2018 has been eventful for stock markets worldwide. While the year started on a high note with domestic market capitalisation and benchmark indices scaling record high levels in markets across the globe, February 2018 was marked by a global stock market correction and a return of volatility after a remarkably calm period over 2017.

The size of the ETFs market worldwide continued to grow, with the first five months of 2018 recording a pickup both in terms of ETF listings and trading activity when compared to the same period in 2017.

Interest rate derivatives volume traded in April 2018 recorded a sharp decline when compared to volumes in March 2018. An overall 28.9% decline in volumes traded was due to a fall in volumes across all three regions - Americas (-28.5%), Asia-Pacific (-40.6%) and EMEA region (-27.1%).