MKTX MarketAxess Holdings Inc

MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: MKTX), the operator of a leading electronic trading platform for fixed-income securities, today announced trading volume and preliminary variable transaction fees per million (“FPM”) for January 2025.1

Chris Concannon, CEO of MarketAxess, commented:

“Our investments in protocols and workflow tools across the client-initiated, portfolio trading and dealer-initiated channels are beginning to show early signs of progress. While we are disappointed with our U.S. credit market share in January, in the client-initiated channel, we generated record block trading ADV in emerging markets hard currency. In the portfolio trading channel, we are continuing to build momentum after our launch of global portfolio trading on X-Pro in November 2024. Portfolio trading volume in Eurobonds increased 219% from January 2024 levels and increased 26% from December 2024. Additionally, we launched benchmark pricing for portfolio trading in Europe at the end of January, which is an important enhancement for our clients. Last, in the dealer-initiated channel, we generated record ADV in Dealer RFQ of $1.5 billion, up 23% from the prior year, and up 45% from December 2024 levels. We believe that the enhancements we have made will continue to show progress in the coming quarters and enhance our market share.”

Select January 2025 Highlights

• Total average daily volume (“ADV”) of $38.9 billion increased 22% compared to the prior year, and increased 22% compared to December 2024 levels. Total rates ADV of $24.5 billion increased 45% compared to the prior year, and increased 24% compared to December 2024. Total credit ADV of $14.5 billion was down 3% compared to the prior year, but increased 18% compared to December 2024.

U.S. Credit2

• U.S. high-grade ADV of $6.9 billion decreased 8% compared to the prior year, but increased 17% compared to December 2024. Estimated market ADV increased 0.2% compared to the prior year, and increased 29% compared to December 2024. Estimated market share was 17.7%, down from 19.1% in the prior year, and down from 19.5% in December 2024. Including the impact of single-dealer portfolio trades, estimated market share was 17.9%, down from 19.7% in the prior year, and down from 19.6% in December 2024.
• U.S. high-yield ADV of $1.3 billion decreased 8% compared to the prior year, but increased 5% compared to December 2024. Estimated market ADV decreased 0.4% compared to the prior year, and increased 29% compared to December 2024. Estimated market share was 12.0%, down from 13.0% in the prior year, and down from 14.7% in December 2024. Including the impact of single-dealer portfolio trades, estimated market share was 12.3%, down from 13.1% in the prior year, and down from 14.7% in December 2024.

Other Credit

• Emerging markets ADV of $3.6 billion decreased 2% compared to the prior year, but increased 27% compared to December 2024. The year-over-year decrease was driven by an 11% decrease in local currency ADV, offset by a 1% increase in hard currency ADV.
• Eurobonds ADV of $2.1 billion increased 8% compared to the prior year, and increased 30% compared to December 2024.
• Municipal bond ADV of $535 million increased 32% compared to the prior year, but decreased 18% compared to December 2024. Estimated market ADV increased 40% compared to the prior year, but decreased 5% compared to December 2024. Estimated market share was 5.8%, down from 6.2% in the prior year, and down from 6.8% in December 2024.

Strategic Priority Related Protocols & Workflow Tools

• $0.9 billion in total portfolio trading ADV increased 1% compared to the prior year, but decreased 12% compared to December 2024. 77% of portfolio trading volume was executed over X-Pro.
  • Estimated U.S. high-grade and U.S. high-yield TRACE portfolio trading market ADV decreased 7% compared to December 2024.
• Our estimated market share of U.S. high-grade and U.S. high-yield TRACE portfolio trading was 14.7% in January 2025, down from 16.7% in December 2024.
  • Portfolio trading represented approximately 9% of U.S. high-grade and U.S. high-yield TRACE in January 2025, down from 13% in December 2024.
• Open Trading ADV of $4.2 billion decreased 8% compared to the prior year, but increased 16% compared to December 2024. Open Trading share3 of total credit trading volume was 34%, down from 35% in the prior year, and down from 36% in December 2024.
• Record Dealer RFQ ADV of $1.5 billion across all credit products increased 23% compared to the prior year, and increased 45% compared to December 2024.
• AxessIQ, the order and execution workflow solution designed for wealth management and private banking clients, achieved ADV of $145 million, up 9% compared to the prior year, and up 8% compared to December 2024.

Rates

• Total rates ADV of $24.5 billion increased 45% compared to the prior year, and increased 24% compared to December 2024.

Variable Transaction Fees Per Million (FPM)1

• The preliminary FPM for total credit for January 2025 was approximately $141, down from $156 in the prior year, and down from $148 in December 2024. The decline in total credit FPM year-over-year was due to product and protocol mix, principally the lower duration of bonds traded in U.S. high-grade, driven by a decrease in the weighted average years to maturity. The decrease in total credit FPM month-over-month was due to product mix, principally the lower duration of bonds traded in U.S. high-grade, driven by a decrease in the weighted average years to maturity, as well as less U.S. high-yield activity. The preliminary FPM for total rates for January 2025 was approximately $4.25, down from $5.39 in the prior year, but up from $4.14 in December 2024. The decline in total rates FPM year-over-year was driven by the impact of product mix within our rates business.

Table 1: January 2025 ADV

 

 

CREDIT

 

RATES

 

$ in millions

(unaudited)

US/UK

Trading Days4

Total

ADV

Total

Credit

High-Grade

High-Yield

Emerging

Markets

Eurobonds

Municipal Bonds

Total

Rates

US Govt.

Bonds

Agcy./Other

Govt. Bonds

Jan-25

21/22

$38,926

$14,473

$6,912

$1,284

$3,638

$2,100

$535

$24,453

$23,374

$1,079

Dec-24

21/20

$32,037

$12,285

$5,921

$1,219

$2,869

$1,619

$656

$19,752

$18,735

$1,017

Jan-24

21/22

$31,855

$14,964

$7,481

$1,397

$3,726

$1,943

$405

$16,891

$16,406

$485

YoY % Change

 

22%

(3%)

(8%)

(8%)

(2%)

8%

32%

45%

42%

122%

MoM % Change

 

22%

18%

17%

5%

27%

30%

(18%)

24%

25%

6%

Table 1A: January 2025 estimated market share

CREDIT

RATES

(unaudited)

High-Grade

High-Yield

High-Grade/High-Yield

Combined

Municipals

US Govt.

Bonds

Jan-25

17.7%

12.0%

16.4%

5.8%

2.6%

Dec-24

19.5%

14.7%

18.5%

6.8%

2.3%

Jan-24

19.1%

13.0%

17.8%

6.2%

1.8%

YoY Bps Change

(140) bps

(100) bps

(140) bps

(40) bps

+80 bps

MoM Bps Change

(180) bps

(270) bps

(210) bps

(100) bps

+30 bps

1 The FPM for total credit and total rates for January 2025 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.

2 The Company is currently highlighting the impact of single-dealer portfolio trading volume on U.S. high-grade and U.S. high-yield trading volume and estimated market share, but will continue to exclude single-dealer portfolio trading activity from each product’s aggregated trading volume and estimated market share and the total credit FPM calculation.

3 Open Trading share of total credit trading volume is derived by taking total Open Trading volume across all credit products where Open Trading is offered and dividing by total credit trading volume across all credit products where Open Trading is offered.

4 The number of U.S. trading days is based on the SIFMA holiday recommendation calendar and the number of U.K. trading days is based primarily on the U.K. Bank holiday schedule.

General Notes Regarding the Data Presented

Reported MarketAxess volume in all product categories includes only fully electronic trading volume. MarketAxess trading volumes and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine (“TRACE”) reported volumes are available on the Company’s website at investor.marketaxess.com/volume.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including statements about the outlook and prospects for the Company, market conditions 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; 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; risks related to sanctions levied against states or individuals that could expose us to operational or regulatory risks; 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, products or services; our vulnerability to malicious cyber-attacks and attempted cybersecurity breaches; 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; risks related to the divergence of U.K. and European Union legal and regulatory requirements following the U.K.’s exit from the European Union; our exposure to costs and penalties related to our extensive regulation; our risks of litigation and securities laws liability; adverse effects as a result of climate change or other ESG risks that could affect our reputation; our future capital needs and our ability to obtain capital when needed; limitations on our operating flexibility contained in our credit agreement; our exposure to financial institutions by holding cash in excess of federally insured limits; 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 (Nasdaq: MKTX) operates a leading electronic trading platform that delivers greater trading efficiency, a diversified pool of liquidity and significant cost savings to institutional investors and broker-dealers across the global fixed-income markets. Over 2,000 firms leverage MarketAxess’ patented technology to efficiently trade fixed-income securities. Our automated and algorithmic trading solutions, combined with our integrated and actionable data offerings, help our clients make faster, better-informed decisions on when and how to trade on our platform. MarketAxess’ award-winning Open Trading® marketplace is widely regarded as the preferred all-to-all trading solution in the global credit markets. Founded in 2000, MarketAxess connects a robust network of market participants through an advanced full trading lifecycle solution that includes automated trading solutions, intelligent data and index products and a range of post-trade services. Learn more at www.marketaxess.com and on X @MarketAxess.

Table 2: Trading Volume Detail

 

 

 

 

 

Month Ended January 31,

 

 

In millions (unaudited)

 

 

2025

 

 

2024

 

 

% Change

 

 

 

 

 

Volume

 

 

ADV

 

 

Volume

 

 

 

ADV

 

 

Volume

 

 

ADV

 

 

Credit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High-grade

 

 

$

145,152

 

 

$

6,912

 

 

$

157,093

 

 

 

$

7,481

 

 

 

(8

)

%

 

(8

)

%

High-yield

 

 

 

26,958

 

 

 

1,284

 

 

 

29,330

 

 

 

 

1,397

 

 

 

(8

)

 

 

(8

)

 

Emerging markets

 

 

 

76,402

 

 

 

3,638

 

 

 

78,249

 

 

 

 

3,726

 

 

 

(2

)

 

 

(2

)

 

Eurobonds

 

 

 

46,207

 

 

 

2,100

 

 

 

42,755

 

 

 

 

1,943

 

 

 

8

 

 

 

8

 

 

Other credit

 

 

 

11,333

 

 

 

539

 

 

 

8,767

 

 

 

 

417

 

 

 

29

 

 

 

29

 

 

Total credit trading1

 

 

 

306,052

 

 

 

14,473

 

 

 

316,194

 

 

 

 

14,964

 

 

 

(3

)

 

 

(3

)

 

Rates

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government bonds2

 

 

 

490,852

 

 

 

23,374

 

 

 

344,527

 

 

 

 

16,406

 

 

 

42

 

 

 

42

 

 

Agency and other government bonds1

 

 

 

23,681

 

 

 

1,079

 

 

 

10,516

 

 

 

 

485

 

 

 

125

 

 

 

122

 

 

Total rates trading

 

 

 

514,533

 

 

 

24,453

 

 

 

355,043

 

 

 

 

16,891

 

 

 

45

 

 

 

45

 

 

Total trading

 

 

$

820,585

 

 

$

38,926

 

 

$

671,237

 

 

 

$

31,855

 

 

 

22

 

 

 

22

 

 

Number of U.S. Trading Days3

 

 

 

 

 

 

21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of U.K. Trading Days4

 

 

 

 

 

 

22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 primarily on the U.K. Bank holiday schedule.

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250204834643/en/

INVESTOR RELATIONS

Stephen Davidson MarketAxess Holdings Inc. +1 212 813 6313 sdavidson2@marketaxess.com

MEDIA RELATIONS

Marisha Mistry MarketAxess Holdings Inc. +1 917 267 1232 mmistry@marketaxess.com