ICE: European emission contracts trading volume up

By The Associated Press

IntercontinentalExchange Inc. on Thursday reported a 25 percent year-over-year increase in trading volume for European emissions futures and options contracts.

IntercontinentalExchange operates futures and over-the-counter markets. Last month, the company bought Climate Exchange PLC, the parent company of the European Climate Exchange, which lists futures and options contracts.

IntercontinentalExchange said a record 12,000 ECX Certified Emissions Reductions contracts traded on ICE Futures Europe on Aug. 19.

ECX CER and EU Allowances futures and options contracts currently stands at just over 1 million contracts.

ICE Futures Europe's ECX EUA and CER contracts let users lock in prices for EU Allowances and Certified Emissions Reduction units.