CME Group, owner of the world’s largest derivatives exchange, on Tuesday announced profits for the second quarter of the year that exceeded expectations, even as growth in trading volumes has slowed as the credit crisis prompts continued deleveraging.

The CME’s net income rose to $215m or $3.93 per share, up from $194m or $3.52 per share a year before, once costs from its purchase last year of the Chicago Board of Trade and other special items are stripped out. That was ahead of analysts’ expectations of about $3.85 per share.