Kansas City--September 1, 2006--Trading volume in August at the Kansas City Board of Trade was the largest ever in the history of the exchange, topping 600,000 contracts for the first time.
A total of 612,113 contracts were traded at the exchange in August, breaking the previous monthly total exchange record of 566,272 set in June 2006 by 8.1 percent.
The hard red winter wheat futures contract also set a new monthly volume record of 559,282 contracts, exceeding the previous record of 514,595 contracts set in June 2002 by 8.7 percent.
Wheat options volume continues to surge, posting a gain of 118.1 percent compared to last August and 24.4 percent compared to last month.
Annual volume at the exchange is running 53.9 percent ahead of last year at this time and is very close to setting a new record. A total of 104,790 contracts are needed to set a new exchange annual volume record; a total of 235,563 contracts are needed to set a new wheat futures volume record.
Open interest continues to post gains in both wheat futures and wheat options contracts. Wheat futures open interest is up 68.5 percent compared to last year. Wheat options open interest posted an increase of 167.3 percent compared to last year.
The Kansas City Board of Trade, founded in 1856, is the world's largest futures market for hard red winter wheat. This year, the exchange is celebrating its 150-year anniversary.
(in contracts)
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