CME CEO Terry Duffy announced that despite facing increasing competition, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) is in its most robust financial position ever.。CME's focus on trading and other business units has paid off, driven by increasing demand for hedging amid market volatility, with three consecutive years of revenue growth。

According to Reuters, Duffy said CME Group is well positioned to explore potential acquisitions.。The group has posted double-digit earnings growth for eight consecutive quarters。

CME's debt-to-earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) ratio is below 1, significantly lower than competitors such as ICE, NASDAQ and CBOE.。Duffy said the group's financial capabilities far outstripped those of its rivals.。AA- 's credit rating supports its solid financial position。

Acquisition ambition and sustainability

As of June 30, CME Group had $2 billion in cash reserves and $3.4 billion in debt.。In addition, stocks in the derivatives market have performed well, up 28% this year。The group outperformed the broader market, with the S & P 500 up 11%。

Reuters noted that while CME Group's future looks bright, analysts have questioned the sustainability of growth within the exchange.。Reuters noted that with interest rates stabilizing, volatility diminishing and competition in the exchange sector intensifying, doubts have arisen about CME's ability to maintain growth.。

CME's takeover ambitions have sparked speculation about potential targets, with CBOE a significant candidate。CBOE's shares rose 3% in September, boosted by trading speculation following the CEO's resignation。

CME Group's resilience in volatile markets

In September, CME continued its impressive performance, with average daily turnover (ADV) reaching 22.7 million contracts.。The figure marked the second-highest average daily turnover in September.。In the third quarter of this year, the group maintained a good momentum of development。Average daily trading volume (ADV) reached 22.3 million contracts in the third quarter, the second highest on record.。

To meet the growing expectations of investors, CME Group is committed to diversifying its revenue streams to ensure stability in the face of less volatile markets.。Currently, CME generates more than 80% of its revenue from transactions, and the company hopes to reduce this by expanding into other sources of revenue.。

In August, the CME reported an ADV of 24.2 million contracts.。A 14% surge compared to the same period last year, the second highest recorded for ADV in August。Interest rate ADV surges 22% to 13 million contracts。