During March, volume at CFE totaled 23,318 contracts, an increase of 34% over March 2005. At month's end, open interest reached, what was then, the all-time high of 27,603 contracts, which was up 25% from February 2006 and 145% from March 2005. Trading volume in VIX futures totaled 21,367 contracts, rising 21% above February 2006, while open interest was 26,393 contracts at month's end.
"The sustained growth in volume and open interest demonstrates that CFE, now two years old, has reached a mature level," said Patrick Fay, Managing Director, CBOE Futures Exchange. "This building liquidity, combined with our unique product offerings, particularly in the volatility arena, is proving to be an attractive combination to many investors."
CFE offers futures on 26 different contracts, including: the CBOE Volatility Index, CBOE S&P 500 Three-Month and Twelve-Month Variance, CBOE DJIA Volatility Index, CBOE China Index, full and mini-size Russell 1000 Index, Mini-Russell 2000 Index, (12) "PowerPacks" sector indexes, and (6) "Gas at the Pump" contracts. Additionally, CFE recently announced the listing of National Association of Realtors Existing-Home Sales Media Price futures contracts, expected to launch in the second quarter of 2006, pending regulatory approval.
CFE, launched in March 2004, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated, offering an all-electronic, open access market model, with traders providing liquidity and making markets. CFE, the newest futures exchange in the world, is regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and its trades are cleared by the triple-A rated Options Clearing Corporation (OCC). More information on CFE and its products, including contract specifications, can be found at: www.cboe.com/CFE.
