Commission at a Glance: Industry Growth in Volume, Globalization and Complexity
Fundamental changes in the technology, products and platforms of U.S. futures trading have increased the Commission’s need for sophisticated technology, specialized skills and additional resources to keep pace.
In the futures industry, exchanges, in particular, have undergone a decade-long transition from geographically-defined trading pits to electronic platforms with global reach. From 2000 to 2010, electronic trading grew from approximately nine percent of volume to 78 percent on all U.S. designated contract markets (DCMs). Over the same time period, the number of actively-traded futures and options contracts listed on U.S. exchanges increased more than nine-fold, from approximately 266 contracts in 2000 to approximately 2,466 contracts in 2010. Total DCM futures and options trading volume rose from approximately 580 million contracts in 2000 to approximately 3.11 billion in 2010, an increase of more than 436 percent.
| Indicator | 2000 | 2010 | Percent Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| CFTC Staff1 | 556 | 605 | +9% |
| CFTC Overhead Expenses as a % of the Budget2 | 39% | 37% | -2% |
| Notional Value of Futures Market3 | $12 Trillion | $39 Trillion | +225% |
| Types of Contracts Traded3 | 266 | 2,466 | +827% |
| Total Contract Volume4 | 580 Million | 3.11 Billion | +436% |
| Volume of Electronic Trading on all U.S. DCMs5 | 9% | 78% | +69% |
| Customer Funds in FCM Accounts6 | $56.7 Billion | $177.4 Billion | +213% |
| Enforcement Actions Filed7 | 53 | 57 | +8% |
| Enforcement Investigations Opened7 | 117 | 419 | +258% |
| Designated Contract Markets8 | 13 | 17 | +31% |
| Derivative Clearing Organizations8 | 9 | 14 | +56% |
| Exempt Commercial Markets8 | 0 | 23 | N/A |
| Exempt Boards of Trade8 | 0 | 14 | N/A |
| New Product Filings Reviewed8 | 50 | 776 | +1,452% |
| Product Rule Certifications Reviewed8 | 96 | 49 | -49% |
| Market Rule Certifications Reviewed8 | 222 | 359 | +62% |
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