The Montreal Exchange (MX) reported today that its total trading volume increased 41.3% in 2006, compared to the previous year, to reach a record 40.5 million contracts.

“Trading activity on the Canadian financial derivatives market reached exceptional levels in 2006,” said Luc Bertrand, president and CEO. “We registered a record increase in trading volume of 41%. As a result, the annual compound growth rate in total contracts traded on the MX reached 26% over the last five years. This performance demonstrates clearly that the Montreal Exchange is offering Canadian and foreign investors access to a dynamic, world-class financial derivatives market.”

The MX’s two flagship futures contracts – the Three-Month Canadian Bankers’ Acceptance Futures (BAX) and the Ten-Year Government of Canada Bond Futures (CGB) – registered increases on trading volume of 50% and 64% respectively in 2006. This performance placed both the BAX and the CGB among the fastest growing futures contracts in the world, for the second year in a row.

Trading in the SXF, the S&P Canada 60 Index Future contract also grew rapidly, with volume increasing 37% compared with the level for 2005. Trading volume in options and ETF increased by 22%, the fastest rate since 2003.