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FTSE Mondo Visione Exchanges Index:

KCBT Trading Volume Largest In History Of Exchange - Third Month In A Row That A New All-Time Monthly Volume Record Has Been Set

Date 02/09/2010

During August, the Kansas City Board of Trade broke all previous monthly exchange volume records, with Hard Red Winter Wheat futures volume leading the gains. This is the third month in a row that a new all-time monthly volume record has been set for the HRW wheat futures contract and the exchange as a whole.

KCBT exchange volume traded during the month of August totaled 765,357 contracts, breaking the previous monthly volume record of 650,626 contracts, set just last month, by 17.6 percent. Volume traded in August was more than double that of August 2009, in which 348,081 contracts were traded.

HRW wheat futures trading volume in August amounted to 752,383 contracts, breaking the previous monthly volume record of 635,546 contracts, also set last month, by 18.4 percent. Trading volume for the month was 120.3 percent higher than August 2009.

A combination of factors led to the record-breaking volume. Weather issues in Europe continue to help drive exports of U.S. wheat higher, according to KCBT traders. First there was the drought in Russia and now excessive rains in Germany are creating quality issues there.

Traders added that they are also watching weather developments in Argentina and Australia as we enter the important month of September.

Open interest in the HRW wheat futures contract is nearly double that of a year ago. Open interest at the end of Tuesday’s trading session stood at 201,159 contracts, a 99.2 percent increase from the end of August 2009. Wheat options open interest showed a 58.7 percent increase over the same time period.

Year-to-date volume for the HRW wheat futures contract is running 52.9 percent ahead of last year at this time. Exchange volume is running 51.1 percent ahead of last year at this time.

The Kansas City Board of Trade, founded in 1856, is the world's largest futures market for hard red winter wheat. Daily quotes, market commentary, historical data and charting services are available on our website at www.kcbt.com

VOLUME AND OPEN INTEREST SUMMARY
(in contracts)

Volume
Volume
%
Volume
%
Year-to-date
Year-to-date
%
CONTRACT
Aug 2010
Aug 2009
Change
July 2010
Change
2010 Volume
2009 Volume
Change
Wheat
752,383
341,471
120.3%
635,546
18.4%
3,626,657
2,372,226
52.9%
Wheat Options
12,974
6,610
96.3%
15,080
-14.0%
67,050
71,923
-6.8%
Value Line
0
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
0
0
0.0%
Total Exchange
765,357
348,081
119.9%
650,626
17.6%
3,693,707
2,444,149
51.1%
Open
Open
Open
Interest
Interest
%
Interest
%
8/31/2010
8/31/2009
Change
7/30/2010
Change
Wheat
201,159
100,994
99.2%
202,876
-0.8%
Wheat Options
16,113
10,152
58.7%
17,138
-6.0%
Value Line
0
0
0.0%
0
0.0%