The Bank for International Settlements released its latest half-yearly derivatives volumes this month and, bucking the recent trend, use of these instruments appears to be picking up again.

Overall notional principal outstanding of derivatives across equities, bonds, commodities and foreign exchange increased from $547 trillion at the end of last year to $604 trillion at the end of June this year, which represented the biggest number since the $683 trillion recorded at the end of June last year.