MarketAxess Announces Trading Volume Statistics for April 2026
MKTX
Published on 05/06/2026 at 06:31 am EDT
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 April 2026.1
Select April 2026 Highlights* (See tables 1-1C and table 2)
Elevated market volatility in April of last year, combined with a return to low volatility and tighter credit spreads in April 2026, were key drivers of the year-over-year declines in trading volumes.
The Company estimates that duplicate trade reports inflated U.S. high-grade TRACE volumes by up to 8% in April 2026. Adjusting for these duplicates, consistent with FINRA’s recent proposal to suppress duplicate reporting, we believe our estimated U.S. high-grade market share would have been approximately 160 basis points higher in April 2026. April’s strong new issuance calendar further reduced our estimated U.S. high-grade market share.
Despite the challenging April, we continued to make progress with our new initiatives across the client-initiated, portfolio trading and dealer-initiated channels.
Client-Initiated Channel
Portfolio Trading Channel
Dealer-Initiated Channel
April 2026 Variable Transaction Fees Per Million1 (See table 1D)
*All comparisons versus April 2025 unless noted.
Table 1: MarketAxess ADV
Month
% Change
Apr-26
Mar-26
Apr-25
MoM
YoY
MKTX ADV ($ millions)
Credit
U.S. High-Grade (incl. SD PT)2
$
7,202
$
9,627
$
8,663
(25
)
%
(17
)
%
U.S. High-Grade (excl. SD PT)2
6,802
9,159
8,595
(26
)
(21
)
U.S. High-Yield (incl. SD PT)2
1,852
2,110
2,051
(12
)
(10
)
U.S. High-Yield (excl. SD PT)2
1,541
1,839
1,968
(16
)
(22
)
Emerging Markets
4,374
5,194
4,273
(16
)
2
Eurobonds
2,549
2,992
2,785
(15
)
(8
)
Other Credit Products3
621
675
739
(8
)
(16
)
Municipal Bonds
621
675
737
(8
)
(16
)
Total MKTX Credit ADV (excl. SD PT)2
$
15,887
$
19,859
$
18,360
(20
)
(13
)
Rates
U.S. Government Bonds
$
23,338
$
32,879
$
37,935
(29
)
%
(38
)
%
Agencies and Other Government Bonds
2,394
2,582
1,141
(7
)
110
Total MKTX Rates ADV
$
25,732
$
35,461
$
39,076
(27
)
(34
)
Total MKTX Trading ADV
$
41,619
$
55,320
$
57,436
(25
)
(28
)
U.S. Trading Days4
21
22
21
U.K. Trading Days4
20
22
20
Table 1A: Market ADV
Month
% Change
Apr-26
Mar-26
Apr-25
MoM
YoY
MARKET ADV ($ millions)
Credit
U.S. High-Grade TRACE
$
42,891
$
51,422
$
44,647
(17
)
%
(4
)
%
U.S. High-Yield TRACE
13,603
13,742
14,565
(1
)
(7
)
Total U.S. Credit TRACE
56,494
65,164
59,212
(13
)
(5
)
Municipal Bonds MSRB
10,090
9,527
15,427
6
(35
)
Rates
U.S. Government Bonds TRACE
$
1,078,186
$
1,448,791
$
1,354,981
(26
)
%
(20
)
%
Agency TRACE
2,785
3,681
4,064
(24
)
(31
)
U.S. Trading Days4
21
22
21
U.K. Trading Days4
20
22
20
Table 1B: Estimated Market Share
Month
Bps Change
Apr-26
Mar-26
Apr-25
MoM
YoY
MKTX ESTIMATED MARKET SHARE (%)
U.S. High-Grade
% of U.S. High-Grade TRACE2,5
16.8
%
2,5
18.7%
19.4
%
(190)
bps
(260)
bps
U.S. High-Yield
% of U.S. High-Yield TRACE2
13.6
%
2
15.4%
14.1
%
(180)
bps
(50)
bps
Other Credit Products
% of Municipal Bonds MSRB
6.2
%
7.1%
4.8
%
(90)
bps
+140
bps
Rates
% of U.S. Government Bonds TRACE
2.2
%
2.3%
2.8
%
(10)
bps
(60)
bps
Table 1C: Strategic Priorities ADV
Month
% Change
Apr-26
Mar-26
Apr-25
MoM
YoY
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES ADV ($ millions)
Client-Initiated Channel
U.S. Credit Block Trading
$
2,981
$
4,112
$
3,751
(28
)
%
(21
)
%
Emerging Markets Block Trading
1,784
2,300
1,579
(22
)
13
Eurobonds Block Trading
376
546
497
(31
)
(24
)
Portfolio Trading Channel
Total MKTX Portfolio Trading
$
1,739
$
2,254
$
1,790
(23
)
%
(3
)
%
Total MKTX U.S. Credit Portfolio Trading
1,453
1,859
1,441
(22
)
1
Total U.S. Credit TRACE Portfolio Trading
7,207
8,478
7,349
(15
)
(2
)
Dealer-Initiated Channel
Total Dealer Initiated (DRFQ & Mid-X)
$
1,706
$
2,081
$
1,916
(18
)
%
(11
)
%
Other
Open Trading
$
4,944
$
6,222
$
5,739
(21
)
%
(14
)
%
AxessIQ
173
212
181
(18
)
(4
)
U.S. Trading Days4
21
22
21
U.K. Trading Days4
20
22
20
Table 1D: Variable Transaction Fees Per Million (FPM)1
Month
% Change
Apr-26
Mar-26
Apr-25
MoM
YoY
AVG. VARIABLE TRANS. FEE PER MILLION (FPM)
Total Credit
$
134
$
131
$
138
2
%
(3
)
%
Total Rates
4.31
4.05
3.76
6
15
1
The FPM for total credit and total rates for April 2026 is 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
Effective with the release of our January 2026 trading volume statistics, the Company revised certain aspects of its reporting methodology for estimated market share to provide a more comprehensive view of platform activity and enhance comparability with industry peers. The Company now highlights estimated market share for U.S. high-grade and U.S. high-yield on an all-in basis, which includes single-dealer portfolio trading activity, and the Company will no longer report estimated market share on an "excluding single-dealer portfolio trading" basis. Single-dealer portfolio trading activity continues to be excluded from the “Total MKTX Credit ADV (excl. SD PT)” line in Table 1, the “Total Credit” FPM calculation in Table 1D and the “Total Credit Trading” line in Table 2. “SD PT” is defined as single-dealer portfolio trades. As used in Table 1 to highlight the effect of single dealer portfolio trading on U.S. high-grade and U.S. high yield ADVs, “SD PT” means single-dealer portfolio trades.
3
“Other Credit Products” includes municipal bonds, leveraged loans, convertible bonds and structured products.
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.
5
The Company estimates that duplicate reports increased reported monthly TRACE volumes by up to 8% of U.S. high-grade TRACE in April 2026. Adjusting for these duplicates, consistent with FINRA’s recent proposal to suppress duplicate reporting, the Company believes its estimated U.S. high-grade market share would have been approximately 160 basis points higher in April 2026.
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 MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (the “Company” or “MarketAxess”), 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; our dependence on third-party suppliers for key products and services; 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; risks related to sanctions levied against states or individuals that could expose us to operational or regulatory risks; the effects of climate change or other sustainability risks that could affect our operations or reputation; the effect of rapid market or technological changes on us and the users of our technology; issues related to the development and use of artificial intelligence; 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 use of open-source software; limitations on our flexibility because we operate in a highly regulated industry; the increasing government regulation of us and our clients; our exposure to costs and penalties related to our extensive regulation; our risks of litigation and securities laws liability; our tax filing positions; 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 and other markets. Approximately 2,100 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 April 30,
In millions (unaudited)
2026
2025
% Change
Volume
ADV
Volume
ADV
Volume
ADV
Credit
High-grade
$
142,843
$
6,802
$
180,504
$
8,595
(21
)
%
(21
)
%
High-yield
32,352
1,541
41,319
1,968
(22
)
(22
)
Emerging markets
91,858
4,374
89,728
4,273
2
2
Eurobonds
50,981
2,549
55,703
2,785
(8
)
(8
)
Other credit
13,053
621
15,516
739
(16
)
(16
)
Total credit trading1
331,087
15,887
382,770
18,360
(14
)
(13
)
Rates
U.S. government bonds2
490,094
23,338
796,645
37,935
(38
)
(38
)
Agency and other government bonds1
47,949
2,394
22,936
1,141
109
110
Total rates trading
538,043
25,732
819,581
39,076
(34
)
(34
)
Total trading
$
869,130
$
41,619
$
1,202,351
$
57,436
(28
)
(28
)
Number of U.S. Trading Days3
21
21
Number of U.K. Trading Days4
20
20
Year-to-Date Ended April 30,
In millions (unaudited)
2026
2025
% Change
Volume
ADV
Volume
ADV
Volume
ADV
Credit
High-grade
$
654,335
$
7,980
$
641,812
$
7,827
2
%
2
%
High-yield
132,761
1,619
131,316
1,601
1
1
Emerging markets
403,783
4,924
330,013
4,025
22
22
Eurobonds
229,143
2,761
203,620
2,453
13
13
Other credit
53,239
649
51,998
634
2
2
Total credit trading1
1,473,261
17,933
1,358,759
16,540
8
8
Rates
U.S. government bonds2
2,290,244
27,930
2,378,726
29,009
(4
)
(4
)
Agency and other government bonds1
152,325
1,836
88,761
1,070
72
72
Total rates trading
2,442,569
29,766
2,467,487
30,079
(1
)
(1
)
Total trading
$
3,915,830
$
47,699
$
3,826,246
$
46,619
2
2
Number of U.S. Trading Days3
82
82
Number of U.K. Trading Days4
83
83
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.
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