Futures markets exist in almost all sophisticated and developed economies around the world. The proliferation of these markets indicate an underlying demand for the futures products offered which are used in financial planning for money managers, large corporations and even government bodies.

The largest futures and options exchange in the world by volume is the Eurex (Germany & Switzerland), home of the wildly popular Euro Bund and EuroStoxx50 futures contract.

In the US, the 2 main futures exchanges are the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME). The CBOT is well known for its US Treasury notes and bonds futures contracts while the CME is commonly associated with the S&P500, E-mini S&P500 and Eurodollar futures contracts.

Top 20 Derivatives Exchanges by Volume (2007)

• Korea Futures Exchange
• Eurex
• Chicago Mercantile Exchange
• Chicago Board of Trade
• Euronext.liffe
• Chicago Board Options Exchange
• International Securities Exchange
• Bolsa de Mercadorias & Futuros
• New York Mercantile Exchange
• Bolsa de Valores de Sao Paulo
• Philadelphia Stock Exchange
• NYSE Arca Options Exchange
• American Stock Exchange
• National Stock Exchange of India
• Mexican Derivatives Exchange
• OMX Exchanges
• Mexican Derivatives Exchange
• ICE Futures Exchange
• Dalian Commodity Exchange
• London Metal Exchange
• Boston Options Exchange