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%).

The World Federation of Exchanges conducts an annual survey of the derivatives markets operated by its members, affiliates and other exchanges that voluntarily submit data for this survey.