SGX Singapore News Update

SGX sees volume growth year-on-year in February

Singapore Exchange (SGX) reported year-on-year growth in trading volumes and market activities for February.  Volumes were down month-on-month as February 2015 had 18 trading days compared to 21 trading days in January 2015 and 20 days in February 2014.
Securities

• Securities average daily trading value was $1.17 billion in February, up by 12% year-on-year though down 3% month-on-month.  Total trading value was up 1% year-on-year and down 17% to $21 billion from a month earlier.  
• Bond listings totalled 29 raising $8.7 billion.  This amount was down by 2% year-on-year and 44% lower month-on-month.

Derivatives

• Derivatives average daily trading volume rose by 31% year-on-year but down about 20% month-on-month. Total derivatives volume in February 2015 was 9.7 million contracts, up 21% year-on-year and down about 34% month-on-month. Open interest rose 1% to 3.3 million contracts year-on-year and 5% month-on-month. 
• SGX FX futures volume continued to improve from a year earlier.  In February, SGX FX futures traded a total of 207, 618 contracts, which is more than 18 times the volume a year earlier but down by 13% month-on-month.
• Volume of cleared OTC SGD Interest Rate Swaps was $9.8 billion, up 84% year-on-year but 6% lower month-on-month, as market rates continued to remain volatile.  

Commodities

• SICOM rubber futures, the world’s benchmark for physical rubber pricing, traded a total of 53,353 contracts in February. This was an increase of 78% year-on-year and up 13% month-on-month.
• Total AsiaClear volume was 342,942 contracts;  rose by three times the volume a year before though it was down 36% month-on-month.

S&P Market News Update

U.S. stocks declined for a second consecutive session on Wednesday, sending the S&P 500 to its lowest level in two weeks.

The lackluster economic indicators did little to lift stocks. The S&P 500 SPX, -0.44%  saw broad-based declines across the board, with nine of its 10 main sectors trading lower. The benchmark index closed 9.24 points, or 0.4%, lower at 2,098.54.

Forex Market Update

The U.S. dollar hit an 11-year high against the euro Wednesday after pushing through a key technical threshold, shrugging off a weaker-than-expected ADP jobs report and strong eurozone reports.

The euro EURUSD, -0.16%   tumbled to $1.1073, its lowest level since late 2003.

The dollar USDJPY, +0.15%  inched higher against the yen after a measure of February service-sector activity in the U.S. came in higher than analysts had expected. The dollar traded at ¥119.70, compared with ¥119.67 late Tuesday.

The pound GBPUSD, -0.10%  traded at $1.5258, compared with $1.5362 Tuesday.

The ICE U.S. Dollar Index DXY, +0.18% a measure of the dollar’s strength against six of its largest trading partners’ currencies, was 0.62% higher at 95.9750.