Financial-futures exchanges take hit from slowdown

Trading volumes at CME Group and rival Eurex dropped at the end of 2008 as the economic downturn and seasonal slowdown hit. Interest-rate contracts, which plunged by nearly 50%, were among CME's worst-hit contracts. IntercontinentalExchange, meanwhile, posted a 36% increase in volume in December, helped by energy and commodity futures.

more at

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e88bac36-db84-11dd-be53-000077b07658.html