Asia tops regulated derivatives league table in 2010

Asia became the largest exchange-traded derivatives contracts market for the first time last year. It now holds top spots in terms of contracts volumes for equity, metals and foreign exchange products.

Total volume on Asia's derivatives exchanges reached 8.86 billion contracts last year, up 42.8% from the previous year, meaning Asia reinforced its position secured during the first half of 2010 as having the largest regional share of global volumes traded.

In North America 7.17 billion contracts changed hands in 2010, up 12.8% from the previous year, while traded contract volumes in Europe totalled 4.4 billion, according to Washington-based Futures Industry Association (FIA). North American and