Derivatives Trade in Asia Eclipses North America for First Time

The Asia-Pacific has overtaken North America as the world’s biggest derivatives market amid increasing demand for futures and options contracts in the region’s fast-growing economies.

Derivatives contracts traded in Asia-Pacific accounted for 38 percent of the global total in the six months to June, according to data from the Washington-based Futures Industry Association. That compares with 33 percent in North America, it said.