Volatile commodity markets helped to drive trading volumes in exchange-traded products to record highs, according to ETF Securities, a UK firm.

ETF Securities said its exchange traded commodities – a form of listed product tracking commodity prices – clocked up a total trading volume of $1.4 billion last week, a record high.

At a time when crude oil prices have fallen from recent record highs, the ETF Securities Short Crude Oil product – which enables investors to profit when oil prices drop – was the most liquid product of its type on the London Stock Exchange.

In total, trading volumes of exchange traded commodities skyrocketed by 1,000 per cent during the first half of this year to $11 billion, ETF Securities said.

Exchange-listed funds and products like ETCs enable investors to punt on moves in different market indices without having to own the underlying physical assets.

A number of investment firms have rolled out commodity-themed funds, including hedge funds and listed products, in recent months to capture strong price increases in sectors such as oil, metals and agricultural products. Some analysts have cautioned that if, as many economists expect, the global economy continues to slow, prices could be vulnerable to a sharp correction.