The contracts will be listed for the current calendar year plus the next five calendar years for a maximum of 72 consecutive months. A new sixth year will be listed at the termination of trading in the December contract of the current year. Previously, the Exchange added months on a rolling basis each month, except for natural gas options which were added on a quarterly basis after the 12th consecutive month.
Currently, the natural gas futures and options contracts are listed through December 2010. At the termination of trading in the December 2005 contract, all months for calendar year 2011 will be available for trading. The new listing schedule does not apply to natural gas basis, index, or swing swap futures or to calendar spread options contracts.
Exchange President James E. Newsome said, "The suite of natural gas futures, swap futures, and options contracts offer market participants a comprehensive array of risk management instruments. The new schedule is expected to encourage greater liquidity in the farther–dated months, enhancing trading and risk management opportunities."
