Derivatives exchange CME registered double-digit profit growth in the second quarter thanks to higher trading volumes and transaction fees.

The Chicago-based options and futures house saw profit rise to $320m in the period, a 20% increase from $265m a year earlier.

Average daily volume was 15.1m contracts, up 13% from the second-quarter 2015, and included a quarterly record for agricultural commodities. 

Clearing and transaction fee revenue also ticked up by 13% to $768m while market data revenue was flat as $103m.

Total expenses in the six months to June 

The group became the first exchange to offer swaptions clearing earlier this year.

S&P 500 Total Return Index futures and 10-Year Treasury futures have also been launched of late. 

The new products come in advance of the uncleared swap margin rules scheduled to go into effect in September.

In a statement, CME Group chief executive Phupinder Gill said he views the rules as a “catalyst for developing more specialized products going forward” – particularly in our interest rate, foreign exchange and equity lines.

Click here to read our recent interview with Gill after CME’s was voted as exchange of the year in Global Investor/ISF’s awards.