KCBT Wheat Futures Increase In Volume And Open Interest For The Month Of July

The Kansas City Board of Trade wheat futures contracts traded 12.3 percent more in the month of July compared to July of 2004 and showed a 16.1 percent increase in open interest compared to the end of July 2004. Open interest also showed a healthy gain of 18.2 percent compared to the end of June 2005, as wheat futures open interest was reported at 87,246 contracts as of July 29.

Wheat options also increased in open interest by 14.8 percent over the course of the month, climbing to 30,208 contracts compared to 26,318 contracts at the end of June.

Total exchange volume increased by 9.1 percent in the month of July compared to July 2004. Year-to-date volume for the exchange is currently 8 percent ahead of last year at this time, compared to 7.8 percent at the end of last month.

Value Line volume continues to increase compared to last year at this time with the addition of the market maker last month.

The Kansas City Board of Trade, chartered in 1876, is the world's largest futures market for hard red winter wheat.

Open interest measures the number of open trading positions in a market. Each KCBT® wheat futures contract represents 5,000 bushels of wheat.