CBOT Experiences Second Highest Trading Day Volume - CBOT's Electronic Trading Platform Sets New Record

The Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) announced today that on Friday, November 5, 2004, the exchange traded 4,324,024 contracts, the second highest total volume for a single trading session in exchange history. Of that total, 2,909,227 contracts were traded electronically, a new electronic volume record that surpassed the previous high of 2,473,584 contracts set on August 31, 2004. In addition, CBOT futures and options each set electronic trading volume records.

CBOT President and CEO Bernard Dan said, "The volume records achieved at the CBOT on Friday demonstrate that in times of uncertainty and volatility, customers around the world turn to the CBOT for the transparency and depth of liquidity that are its hallmarks. Market users globally have come to depend on the CBOT?s diverse product offerings to meet their risk management needs and on the efficiency and cost effectiveness provided by our innovative clearing platform."

Electronic trading volume in CBOT futures rose to a new record at 2,847,050 contracts, compared with the previous record of 2,451,679 contracts on August 31, 2004. Electronic trading volume in CBOT options rose to a new high of 62,177 contracts, versus the old high of 44,403 contracts set on May 7, 2004.

Total volume in CBOT financial futures and options rose to a new record of 2,773,346 contracts, exceeding the prior record of 2,389,494 contracts set on August 31, 2004. Thirty-Day Fed Fund futures experienced a new electronic volume record at 152,501 contracts, surpassing the previous peak of 111,355 contracts seen on September 21, 2004.

The CBOT's Precious Metals complex, which is composed of mini-sized and full-sized Gold and Silver futures contracts, also experienced records. CBOT full-sized Gold futures saw new highs in volume and open interest, at 3,262 contracts and 2,350 contracts, respectively. These figures exceeded the old volume record of 2,812 contracts and the old open interest record of 2,313 contracts set the previous day.