The exchange as a whole traded 5.1 percent more volume in August 2003 versus August 2002, setting a new August record of 361,442 contracts. The wheat options contract set a new August record also, at 58,830 contracts, besting the 2002 record by 49.6 percent.
When compared to July, wheat futures volume grew 7.4 percent, wheat options grew 10.3 percent, Value Line‚ volume increased 232.6 percent and the exchange as a whole increased 7.9 percent.
Wheat options volume traded thus far in 2003 continues to run ahead of 2002 year-to-date volume. At the end of August, wheat options volume was 9.8 percent ahead of 2002 year-to-date. At the close of July, this increase was only 3.8 percent.
Wheat futures year-to-date volume has lessened the gap from 2.3 percent to 2 percent, while the exchange as a whole decreased the deficit from 1.9 percent to a mere 0.7 percent.
The Kansas City Board of Trade, chartered in 1876, is the world's largest futures market for hard red winter wheat.
