Kansas City Board Of Trade To Expand Listings Of Wheat Options Strike Prices

The board of directors of the Kansas City Board of Trade has approved plans to expand the exchange's listings of wheat options strike prices. Effective Monday, January 3, 2000, the KCBT will list wheat options strike prices of 30 above and 30 below the at-the-money strike price, in integral multiples of 10 cents per bushel. Currently, strikes are listed to maintain 10 above and 10 below the at-the-money strike price. The change is being made as a result of requests from market participants. Activity in Kansas City Board of Trade wheat options has experienced healthy growth in recent years. The exchange surpassed its previous wheat options annual trading volume record in September of this year, marking the third year in a row that the KCBT has set a new annual record in wheat options. "KCBT wheat options are an excellent hedging vehicle for the agribusiness community," said Michael Braude, KCBT president. "We are pleased to see their volume growth."