MarketAxess Announces Monthly Volume Statistics for December 2021


NEW YORK, Jan. 05, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: MKTX), the operator of a leading electronic trading platform for fixed-income securities, and the provider of market data and post-trade services for the global fixed-income markets, today announced monthly trading volume for December 2021 of $538.1 billion consisting of $183.6 billion in credit volume and $354.5 billion in rates volume.

The Company also reported preliminary variable transaction fees per million (“FPM”) for the quarter ended December 31, 2021 of $165 for U.S. high-grade, $192 for other credit, $180 for total credit and $3.90 for rates. The FPM for the quarter ended December 31, 2021 are preliminary and may be revised in subsequent updates and public filings. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any fee information in future press releases.

December and fourth quarter highlights included:

  • Estimated U.S. high grade market share reached the second-best month ever at 23.6%, up from 20.9% in November, despite tightening credit spreads during the month; estimated market volume down 12% year-over-year.

  • Record estimated U.S. high yield market share of 18.3%, up from 14.6% in November; increased ETF client activity contributed to the share gains; estimated market volume down 18% year-over-year.

  • Emerging markets trading volume up 12% year-over-year; estimated market volume down 11% year-over-year.

  • Record estimated Eurobond market share of 14.4%, up from 13.3% in November; estimated market volume down 25% year-over-year.

  • U.S. Treasury bond volume of $349.4 billion, up 32% year-over-year; estimated market volume up 18% year-over-year.

  • MarketAxess municipal bond volume of $1.8 billion, up 17% year-over-year; estimated market volume down 17% year-over-year.

  • Record quarterly portfolio trading volume of $13.1 billion, up from $8.9 billion in the third quarter.

  • 92% of total credit volume during the quarter was conducted with institutional investors.

Reported MarketAxess volume in all product categories includes only fully electronic trading volume. MarketAxess trading volumes, TRACE reported volumes and MarketAxess Post-Trade processed volumes are available on the Company’s website at investor.marketaxess.com/volume.cfm

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including statements about the outlook and prospects for Company and industry growth, as well as statements about the Company’s future financial and operating performance.  These and other statements that relate to future results and events are based on MarketAxess’ current expectations.  The Company’s actual results in future periods may differ materially from those currently expected or desired because of a number of risks and uncertainties, including: global economic, political and market factors; risks relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the possible effects of the economic conditions worldwide resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic; risks related to the U.K. exit from the European Union; the level of trading volume transacted on the MarketAxess platform; the rapidly evolving nature of the electronic financial services industry; the level and intensity of competition in the fixed-income electronic trading industry and the pricing pressures that may result; the variability of our growth rate; our ability to introduce new fee plans and our clients’ response; our ability to attract clients or adapt our technology and marketing strategy to new markets; risks related to our growing international operations; our dependence on our broker-dealer clients; the loss of any of our significant institutional investor clients; our exposure to risks resulting from non-performance by counterparties to transactions executed between our clients in which we act as an intermediary in matched principal trades; risks related to self-clearing; the effect of rapid market or technological changes on us and the users of our technology; our dependence on third-party suppliers for key products and services; our ability to successfully maintain the integrity of our trading platform and our response to system failures, capacity constraints and business interruptions; the occurrence of design defects, errors, failures or delays with our platforms; our vulnerability to cyber security risks; our actual or perceived failure to comply with privacy and data protection laws; our ability to protect our intellectual property rights or technology and defend against intellectual property infringement or other claims; our ability to enter into strategic alliances and to acquire other businesses and successfully integrate them with our business; our dependence on our management team and our ability to attract and retain talent; limitations on our flexibility because we operate in a highly regulated industry; the increasing government regulation of us and our clients; our exposure to costs and penalties related to our extensive regulation; our risks of litigation and securities laws liability; our future capital needs and our ability to obtain capital when needed; limitations on our operating flexibility contained in our credit agreement; and other factors.  The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  More information about these and other factors affecting MarketAxess’ business and prospects is contained in MarketAxess’ periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and can be accessed at www.marketaxess.com.

About MarketAxess

MarketAxess operates a leading, institutional electronic trading platform delivering expanded liquidity opportunities, improved execution quality and significant cost savings across global fixed-income markets. A global network of over 1,800 firms, including the world’s leading asset managers and institutional broker-dealers, leverages MarketAxess’ patented trading technology to efficiently trade bonds. MarketAxess’ award-winning Open Trading® marketplace is regarded as the preferred all-to-all trading solution in the global credit markets, creating a unique liquidity pool for a broad range of credit market participants. Drawing on its deep data and analytical resources, MarketAxess provides automated trading solutions, market data products and a range of pre- and post-trade services. For more information, please visit www.marketaxess.com.

Investor Relations Contact:Media Relations Contacts:
David Cresci
MarketAxess Holdings Inc.
+1-212-813-6027

Kyle White
MarketAxess Holdings Inc.
+1-212-813-6355

 William McBride
RF | Binder
+1-917-239-6726

MarketAxess Holdings Inc.
Monthly Volume Statistics

 Average Daily Volume Total Trading Volume  
 Dec-21 Dec-20 % Change
 Dec-21 Dec-20 % Change 
 ($ in millions)  
              
U.S High-Grade             
Fixed Rate$3,865 $4,636 -16.6% $85,023 $102,001 -16.6%  
Floating Rate 159  205 -22.4%  3,500  4,502 -22.3%  
Total U.S. High-Grade 4,024- 4,841 -16.9%  88,523  106,503 -16.9%  
Other Credit             
U.S. High-Yield 1,248  1,386 -10.0%  27,466  30,488 -9.9%  
Emerging Markets 2,151  1,922 11.9%  47,324  42,288 11.9%  
Eurobonds 867  1,074 -19.3%  18,199  22,560 -19.3%  
Other Credit Products 96  77 24.7%  2,102  1,686 24.7%  
Total Other Credit 4,362  4,459 -2.2%  95,091  97,022 -2.0%  
Total Credit1 8,386  9,300 -9.8%  183,614  203,525 -9.8%  
Rates             
U.S. Government Bonds 2 15,882  12,054 31.8%  349,408  265,188 31.8%  
Agencies and Other Government Bonds 1 237  162 46.3%  5,103  3,561 43.3%  
Total Rates 16,119  12,216 31.9%  354,511  268,749 31.9%  
              
              
Number of U.S. Trading Days 3 22  22          
Number of U.K. Trading Days 4 21  21          
              
NOTES:             
1 Consistent with FINRA TRACE reporting standards, both sides of trades are included in the Company's reported volumes when the Company executes trades on a matched principal basis between two counterparties.  
2 Consistent with industry standards, U.S. Government Bond trades are single-counted.  
3 The number of U.S. trading days is based on the SIFMA holiday recommendation calendar.  
4 The number of U.K. trading days is based on the U.K. Bank holiday schedule.  
              


MarketAxess Holdings Inc.
Quarterly Volume Statistics

 Average Daily Volume Total Trading Volume 
 4Q21 4Q20 % Change
 4Q21 4Q20 % Change 
 ($ in millions) 
             
U.S High-Grade            
Fixed Rate$4,293 $4,928 -12.9% $266,182 $305,537 -12.9% 
Floating Rate 189  209 -9.6%  11,709  12,956 -9.6% 
Total U.S. High-Grade 4,482  5,137 -12.8%  277,891  318,493 -12.7% 
Other Credit            
U.S. High-Yield 1,355  1,576 -14.0%  84,004  97,691 -14.0% 
Emerging Markets 2,590  2,255 14.9%  160,560  139,827 14.8% 
Eurobonds 1,169  1,225 -4.6%  74,817  78,419 -4.6% 
Other Credit Products 115  84 36.9%  7,131  5,198 37.2% 
Total Other Credit 5,229  5,140 1.7%  326,512  321,135 1.7% 
Total Credit1 9,711  10,277 -5.5%  604,403  639,628 -5.5% 
Rates            
U.S. Government Bonds 2 19,087  13,128 45.4%  1,183,410  813,921 45.4% 
Agencies and Other Government Bonds 1 360  199 80.9%  22,685  12,355 83.6% 
Total Rates 19,447  13,327 45.9%  1,206,095  826,276 46.0% 
             
             
Number of U.S. Trading Days 3 62  62         
Number of U.K. Trading Days 4 64  64         
             
NOTES:            
1 Consistent with FINRA TRACE reporting standards, both sides of trades are included in the Company's reported volumes when the Company executes trades on a matched principal basis between two counterparties. 
2 Consistent with industry standards, U.S. Government Bond trades are single-counted. 
3 The number of U.S. trading days is based on the SIFMA holiday recommendation calendar. 
4 The number of U.K. trading days is based on the U.K. Bank holiday schedule.