NYBOT's Futures And Options Volume Jumps Thirty-Nine Percent Over October Last Year - New Records In Coffee And Cotton As Well As Significant Volume Increases

The markets of the New York Board of Trade® (NYBOT®) continued their record-setting climb for 2003. Cotton and Coffee led the way, recording several new open interest marks with overall NYBOT volume running 17% ahead of the first ten months of last year.

The combined futures and options volume for all the NYBOT products in the month of October 2003 increased 39% over October 2002 (2,556,449 vs. 1,839,277). The 17% overall increase year-to-date puts the NYBOT volume for 2003 at 20,612,563 contracts vs. 17,663,952 through October of 2002.

Total futures volume at the exchange is up 14% YTD (2003 = 15,698,436 vs. 2002 = 13,787,941). Ag futures increased 14% YTD (2003 = 13,703,153 vs. 2002 = 11,997,744), and currency futures are up 32% YTD (2003 = 1,420,473 vs. 2002 = 1,074,622).

Total options volume saw a 27% increase YTD (2003 = 4,914,127 vs. 2002 = 3,876,011). Ag options are up 28% YTD (2003 = 4,808,262 vs. 3,767,065).

After setting new open interest marks in October, cotton options added yet another daily open interest record on November 3, 2003, with 392,578 contracts. The previous OI record was 388,537 contracts set on October 31, 2003. Cotton options volume is now 75% ahead of the same period in 2002 with the October 2003 cotton options volume (908,425) 429% ahead of October 2002 (556,824).

Additionally, coffee futures broke an open interest record on November 3, 2003, of 85,592 contracts, replacing the previous record of 84,799 contracts set on October 31, 2003. Coffee options also broke an open interest record on November 3, 2003, with 106,216 contracts, breaking the old record of 105,258 contracts set on October 31, 2003.

Other significant year-to-date performance numbers include:

Futures volume increases

Cotton futures (symbol CT) saw a 35% increase YTD (2003 = 2,531,630 vs. 2002 = 1,873,360)
Coffee futures (symbol KC) had a 16% increase YTD (2003 = 2,677,254 vs. 2002 = 2,303,473)
Sugar #11 futures (symbol SB) had a 12% increase YTD (2003 = 6,063,278 vs. 2002 = 5,401,098)
FCOJ futures (symbol OJ) increased 8% (2003 = 532,626 vs. 2002 = 492,203)
US Dollar Index (symbol DX) saw a 37% increase (2003 = 436,727 vs. 2002 = 318,744)
Reuters CRB Index (symbol CR) contract rose 57% YTD (2003 = 18,340 vs. 2002 = 11,712)

Options volume increases

Cotton options rose 75% YTD (2003 = 1,712,933 vs. 2002 = 981,518)
Coffee options jumped 36% (2003 = 1,151,238 vs. 2002 = 844,522)
Sugar #11 options rose 14% (2003 = 1,355,127 vs. 2002 = 1,193,501)
Russell 1000® options experienced a 3,636% increase (2003 = 47,041 vs. 2002 = 1,259)
Reuters CRB saw an 89% increase YTD (2003 = 1,203 vs. 2002 = 636)

The full NYBOT Monthly Volume and Open Interest Report is available at www.nybot.com

The New York Board of Trade (NYBOT) is the parent company of the Coffee, Sugar and Cocoa Exchange, Inc. (CSCE) and the New York Cotton Exchange (NYCE). Through its two exchanges, NYBOT offers an expanding range of agricultural and financial products. Information about the New York Board of Trade can be found at www.nybot.com and www.nybotlive.com .