Singapore Exchange (SGX) today said securities and commodities trading remained strong in April 2010.

In the Securities Market, total securities trading value rose 34% year-on-year to $35.3 billion, as investor interest and confidence remained buoyant. Exchange traded funds trading increased 65% from a year earlier to $486 million while six mainboard IPOs raised a total of $839 million in April as market sentiment improved.

In the Derivatives and Commodities Market, overall volume improved 2% with equity index options activity rising 22% year-on- year to 16,264 contracts.

Trading on SICOM increased to 108,193 contracts, five times that of a year earlier as investor interest increased with the launch of the Gold and Coffee contracts.

AsiaClear volume was 11,205 contracts, four times the volume of a year earlier. Iron ore swaps volume hit a record-high 4,436 contracts, up 60% from 2,772 contracts a month earlier, and 52% higher than the previous high of 2,910 contracts in November 2009.