Exchange To Begin Offering Coal Futures Contract On NYMEX ClearPort<SUP>sm</SUP> Trading Platform

The New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc., announced today that it will move its NYMEX Division coal futures contract from open outcry trading to its NYMEX ClearPort^sm electronic trading platform starting the afternoon of April 3 for the April 4 trading session.

Trading hours will be the same as all other commodities traded on NYMEX ClearPort^sm, from 7:00 PM, Sunday, until 2:30 PM the following day and from 3:15 PM, Monday through Thursday, to 2:30 PM the following day.

The contract is currently traded via open outcry from 10:30 AM to 2:00 PM Mondays through Fridays.

Exchange President J. Robert Collins, Jr., said, "We are optimistic about the opportunities this will create for our coal futures contract by increasing its hours of availability and offering it on the same platform as other energy futures contracts based on commonly traded over-the-counter products."