Profits at the CME Group, the world’s biggest futures exchange, fell less than analysts had expected in the second quarter, although the effect of deleveraging by the financial sector continued to take its toll on the company.

On a pro-forma basis - which accounts for the CME’s purchase of Nymex, the New York energy exchange, last year - the CME’s profit dropped to $224m or $3.37 per share, down from $264m or $3.93 per share in the same period a year earlier but ahead of average Wall Street forecasts of about $3.23 per share.