NYSE Euronext said trading activity on its derivatives and stock exchanges fell more than 17 percent in January, compared to a year ago. But volume was up from December.

Volume on its options and futures markets was down 17.3 percent worldwide, at 7.5 million contracts a day in January. Equity options in the United States were down 4.1 percent – but European derivatives fell 31.3%, from a year ago.

Stock trading also fell. European volume was down 14.6 percent and U.S. volume was down 23.5 percent, from a year ago.

Activity was up slightly from what NYSE Euronext called “seasonally slower December 2011. “

Derivatives volume was up 0.3 percent, worldwide, compared to December.

U.S. stock trading was up 1.1 percent, from December.

Here are some highlights:

• European derivatives: Average daily volume in January 2012 of 3.2 million contracts decreased 31.3% compared to January 2011 and decreased 6.3% from December 2011 levels.

• U.S. equity options: Average daily volume of 4.2 million contracts in January 2012 decreased 4.1% compared to January 2011 levels, but increased 6.0% from December 2011.

• NYSE Liffe U.S.: Average daily volume of 94,900 contracts increased from 13,500 contracts in January 2011 and increased from 89,600 contracts in December 2011.

• European stock trading: Average daily volume of 1.5 million transactions in January 2012 decreased 14.6% compared to January 2011, but increased 12.9% from December 2011 levels.

• U.S. stock trading: Average daily volume of 1.8 billion shares in January 2012 decreased 23.5% compared to January 2011, but increased 1.1% compared to December 2011.

• Tape A market share: NYSE Euronext’s matched market share of Tape A trading in NYSE-listed stocks in January 2012 was 30.3%, down from 33.9% in January 2011 and down from 33.4% in December 2011.

Trade Reporting Facility (“TRF”) market share in Tape A securities, a measure of off-exchange trading, increased to 34.1% of consolidated U.S. cash equity trading in Tape A securities in January 2012, the highest level since January 2010, and up from 31.1% in December 2011 and 33.1% in January 2011.

Tom Steinert-Threlkeld writes for Securities Technology Monitor.

Tom Steinert-Threlkeld is editorial director of the Money Management Group at SourceMedia. He oversees the Web and print operations of Money Management Executive, Mandate Pipeline, and Securities Technology Monitor. He also advises the Web operations of FInancial Planning, On Wall Street and Bank Investment Consultant. He was vice president of the Enterprise Group of Ziff Davis Media, where he founded Baseline magazine and was editor of Interactive Week. He also has extensive background in metropolitan daily news at The Dallas Morning News and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram in Texas. More recently, he served as editorial director of Broadcasting and Cable as well as Multichannel News magazines for Reed Business Information.