IntercontinentalExchange (NYSE: ICE), a leading operator of regulated global futures exchanges, clearing houses and over-the-counter (OTC) markets, announced that ICE Futures Europe set an exchange-wide daily volume record of 1,703,446 on 6 May 2011. The new record surpassed the previous daily record of 1,698,258 contracts set on 24 February 2011.
The exchange also established a daily volume record for the benchmark Brent Crude futures contract. Volume in Brent Crude futures was 906,958 contracts, 9% higher than the previous record of 832,412 contracts, which was set on 5 May 2011. This is the fifth daily trading volume record for the Brent Crude futures contract in 2011.
Introduced in 1988, the ICE Brent Crude futures contract is the leading benchmark for pricing the world's crude oil, including grades in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. ICE Futures Europe has also listed the North American benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures contract since 2006. Both light sweet crude contracts have established daily volume records in 2011. ICE Futures Europe also offers the world's leading refined product benchmark, the ICE Gasoil futures contract.