CME Group first quarter profit up

CME Group Inc. announced on its website Thursday that its net profit grew 13 percent year on year in the first quarter of this year, thanks to increase in trading volume. The Chicago-based derivatives marketplace posted its net profit in the first quarter at 266.8 million dollars, or 79 cents a share, up from 235.8 million dollars or 71 cents a share a year ago; revenue at 777.4 million dollars, up from 718.6 million dollars; and operating income at 454.5 million dollars, up from 405.5 million dollars last year. Excluding the items noted in the reconciliation, adjusted earnings per share in first quarter would have been 83.1 cents. CME Group Inc., the world's largest futures market operator, owns the Chicago Board of Trade, Chicago Mercantile Exchange and other exchanges.