CME's Nasdaq 100®, Russell 2000® Futures Notch Record Open Interest - as Russell 2000 Trades Record Daily Volume

Open interest in two equity indexes traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) reached new highs at the close of trading yesterday following record daily trading volume in one of the indexes. Russell 2000 index futures set new records in both measurements, with open interest standing at 17,624 as volume reached a record 5,878. Nasdaq 100 Index futures set a new open interest high at 26,574. "Equity index futures and options are among the Merc's most successful and popular product lines, with daily volume now averaging more than 200,000 contracts," CME Chairman Scott Gordon said. "These new volume and open interest records indicate just how great is the demand for CME stock index products covering specific market segments." The previous single-day volume record for Russell 2000 futures was 5,840 set on March 18, 1998. June's average daily volume in Nasdaq 100 futures is 9,867, with year-to-date average daily volume running 7,766. Average daily volume in Russell 2000 futures has reached 2,665 in June and 1,487 year-to-date. The Merc recently announced plans to trade E-mini Nasdaq 100 futures contracts, beginning June 21. Sized at one-fifth the standard Nasdaq 100 contract and traded electronically on the Merc's GLOBEX®2 system, the E-mini Nasdaq 100 will provide a smaller, cost effective way to participate in the exciting technology and Internet sectors of the equity market. The CME is the world's leading exchange for equity index futures, offering futures and options on the S&P 500®, S&P MidCap 400, S&P 500/BARRA Growth and Value Indexes and Nikkei 225 in addition to the Nasdaq 100 and Russell 2000.