KCBT Volume Second Largest In Exchange History For Month Of May

Kansas City Board of Trade total exchange volume for the month of May was the second largest in exchange history for the calendar month, second only to 2006.

Hard Red Winter wheat futures volume for the month totaled 304,301 contracts, which for the calendar month was second only to May 2006 volume of 365,497 contracts. May volume posted a 32.6 percent gain compared to May 2009. For the calendar month of May, total exchange volume of 308,268 contracts was second only to 2006, which tallied 425,682 contracts. Total exchange volume exceeded May 2009 volume by 27.2 percent.

Open interest continued to grow dramatically during the month of May and is closing in on an all-time record. Wheat futures open interest at month’s end stood at 164,650 contracts, up 99 percent compared to the end of last May and up 10.6 percent compared to the end of last month. All-time high open interest in the contract is 172,936 contracts, set on July 12, 2006. Wheat options open interest posted a 15.7 percent gain when compared to the end of last month.

Year-to-date trading volume for HRW wheat futures and the exchange continues to post gains compared to last year. Total exchange volume is running 23.2 percent ahead of last year at this time, with wheat futures trading volume up 25.1 percent compared to 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.