Equity trading volumes ease in Q2

Data from CIRO shows that trading volume and value was down, but higher than 2025

Little bumps

Equity trading activity on the markets overseen by the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization declined in the second quarter, but remained elevated compared with the same period a year ago.

According to data from the industry self-regulatory organization, the total value of trading across the various exchanges and alternative trading systems it regulates declined by 3.5% in the second quarter, compared to the first quarter.

At the same time, the number of trades was down 7.7% on a quarter-over-quarter basis, and the total volume dropped by 16.7%.

While total trading activity declined on a quarterly basis, it remained much higher than it was in the second quarter a year ago.

On a year-over-year basis, total trading volume was still up 19.5% in the second quarter, and the value traded was up 39% from $1.6 trillion in Q2 2025 to $2.2 trillion in the quarter this year.