Euronext NV, which the New York Stock Exchange and Deutsche Borse are courting for merger or acquisition, reported its busiest trading month ever in May.

The Euronext cash markets registered their busiest month ever in May, with 22 million transactions completed, up 97.5% on the same month last year. This represents a record daily average of one million transactions. In total, more than 96 million transactions have been registered since the beginning of the year, up 52.2% on the same period in 2005, representing a record level at this time of the year and a record daily average of 918,000. May 18 was the busiest trading day ever with almost 1.4 million transactions completed.

Euronext.liffe, the international derivatives business of Euronext, also had its busiest trading month ever as 77 million futures and options contracts were traded in May, up 53% on the same month last year. The exchange traded a total of 319 million contracts in the first five months of 2006, up 31% on the same period in 2005.

Short-term interest rate products also had their busiest month ever, trading over 36 million contracts, up 23% January to May. Interest rate products saw strong trading. 39 million contracts were traded in the month, up 33% on May last year. For the year-to-date, volumes were up 24%.

Euronext.liffe’s individual equity products were again the strongest performers. Over 24 million contracts were traded in May 2006, up 88% on May 2005 and up 48% year-to-date.

Commodity products traded 743,500 contracts in May 2006, up 43% on May 2005.

There were 12 IPOs on all Euronext markets in May, with €5.2 billion raised, both records for the month of May. This brings the total number of new listings so far this year to 42, with €7.2 billion raised. Again, both the total number and value of new listings so far this year are at their highest since 2001.