CME Open Interest Reached Record 29.9 Million Positions

Open interest on Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) reached a record 29.9 million positions on Sept. 11, prior to regular September quarterly interest rate contract expirations. During the month, CME set eight consecutive open interest records before reaching this all-time high, which also represents a world open interest record for futures and options on futures.

Since the June quarterly expiration cycle, CME's open interest grew from a record 25.4 million contracts set on June 12 to more than 28 million positions at the end of July and nearly 29 million open positions at the end of August.

Included in the overall open interest record was a record 12.2 million open positions in Eurodollar options, surpassing the record of 12.1 million positions set the previous day, Sept. 10. The current expiration cycle represents the first time Eurodollar options have surpassed 12 million open positions; in the September 2002 expiration cycle, open interest reached 11.98 million positions on Sept. 11. 2002.

Also included current 29.9 million record was a record 11.22 million positions in stock index products, which was surpassed Friday, Sept. 12, by a new record of 11.26 million open positions.

Open interest and volume records set in recent days include:

Product	Record	Date	Previous Record	Date
Total exchange	29,883,576 Open Int.	9/11/03	29,619,981	9/10/03
Eurodollar options	12,165,281 Open Int.	9/11/03	12,062,895	9/10/03
Index products	11,255,295 Open Int.	9/12/03	11,219,284	9/11/03
Japanese yen futures	179,544 Open Int.	9/5/03	172,454	12/12/01
E-mini™ Russell 2000	46,626 Open Int.	9/12/03	45,483	6/17/03
E-mini Russell 2000	45,158 Volume	9/10/03	21,321	6/30/03
Mexican peso futures	56,713 Open Int.	9/8/03	55,834	6/3/03
Mexican peso futures	38,054 Volume	9/9/03	29,704	10/28/97
Nikkei 225 futures	26,020 Volume	9/9/03	24,376	6/11/03

Open interest, representing the number of positions outstanding at the close of trading, is a widely recognized indicator of the level of customer interest in an exchange's products. Open interest in CME's products typically trends higher prior to monthly and quarterly contract expirations, before customers exit those positions or roll them into subsequent contract expirations. September 2003 Eurodollar Mid-curve options expired on Sept. 12, while September Eurodollar futures and regular quarterly options expire today, Sept. 15. Most September 2003 stock index products expire on Sept. 19. CME's complete product calendar is available at www.cme.com.

Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. (www.cme.com) is the largest futures exchange in the United States. As an international marketplace, CME brings together buyers and sellers on its trading floors and GLOBEX® electronic trading platform. CME offers futures and options on futures primarily in four product areas: interest rates, stock indexes, foreign exchange and commodities. The exchange moved about $1.5 billion per day in settlement payments in the first half of 2003 and managed $29.1 billion in collateral deposits at June 30, 2003. CME is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Holdings Inc. (NYSE: CME), which is part of the Russell 1000® Index.