NYMEX Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: NMX), the parent company of the New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc., the world's largest physical commodities futures and options exchange, announced today that average daily volume in September 2007 was 1.618 million contracts, a 13% increase from 1.438 million contracts per day in September 2006.
NYMEX electronic volume on the CME Globex® electronic trading platform was 768,111 contracts per day and represented a 178% increase over 276,568 contracts per day in September 2006 electronic volume on CME Globex. NYMEX launched side by side trading of physically delivered energy futures on CME Globex during open outcry hours on September 4, 2006. NYMEX floor-traded energy futures and options averaged 230,566 contracts per day for September 2007.
COMEX electronic volume on CME Globex averaged 121,034 contracts per day and represented a 1,396% increase over 8,090 contracts per day in September 2006 NYMEX ACCESS electronic volume. COMEX floor-traded average daily volume was 40,004 contracts for September 2007.
Average daily volume on NYMEX ClearPort® was 362,807 contracts for September 2007, compared to 479,589 for September 2006. The remaining volume of 95,567 trades per day consisted of other transactions which includes position transfers and exchanges.
Rolling Average Rate Per Contract -- The three month rolling gross average rate per contract for the period July through September 2007, was $1.54, while the net average rolling rate per contract, including direct transaction costs, for the same period was $1.28. September rates per contract and direct transaction costs are estimated (see Note below).
Final August Rate Per Contract -- The following represents the final August rates per contract after adjustments to the estimated rate per contract we provided last month. Gross average rate per contract across all venues in August 2007 was $1.56, while the net average rate per contract, including direct transaction costs, was $1.30. This is compared to gross average rate per contract of $1.48, and a net average rate per contract of $1.27 for August 2006. Direct transaction costs were $8.54 million for August 2007 versus $6.28 million for August 2006.
Estimated September Rate Per Contract -- The following September average rate per contract is estimated (see Note below). Gross average rate per contract across all venues in September 2007 was $1.56, while the net average rate per contract, including direct transaction costs, was $1.30. This is compared to gross average rate per contract of $1.36, and a net average rate per contract of $1.14 for September 2006. Direct transaction costs were an estimated $8.107 million for September 2007 versus $6.226 million for September 2006.
Note: Because we are providing an additional level of up-to-date information regarding our recent monthly rates per contract, our volumes and rates press releases will be issued within approximately seven to eight business days after the end of the month. The above figures are preliminary and may change due to the fact that the last days of the month have not been finalized and are thus subject to adjustments and corrections. Average daily volume is based on 19 trading days for September 2007 and 20 days for September 2006.
About NYMEX Holdings, Inc.
NYMEX Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: NMX) is the parent company of the New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc., the world's largest physical commodities futures and options exchange, offering futures and options trading in energy and metals contracts and clearing services for more than 320 off-exchange energy contracts. Through a hybrid model of open outcry floor trading and electronic trading on CME Globex® and NYMEX ClearPort®, NYMEX offers crude oil, petroleum products, natural gas, coal, electricity, gold, silver, copper, aluminum, platinum group metals, emissions, and soft commodities contracts for trading and clearing virtually 24 hours each day. Further information about NYMEX Holdings, Inc. and the New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. is available on the NYMEX website at http://www.nymex.com/.
Forward Looking and Cautionary Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, with respect to our future performance, operating results, strategy, and other future events. Such statements generally include words such as could, can, anticipate, believe, expect, seek, pursue, and similar words and terms, in connection with any discussion of future results. Forward-looking statements involve a number of assumptions, risks, and uncertainties, any of which may cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated, estimated, or projected results referenced in forward-looking statements. In particular, the forward-looking statements of NYMEX Holdings, Inc., and its subsidiaries are subject to the following risks and uncertainties: the success and timing of new futures contracts and products; changes in political, economic, or industry conditions; the unfavorable resolution of material legal proceedings; the impact and timing of technological changes and the adequacy of intellectual property protection; the impact of legislative and regulatory actions, including without limitation, actions by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission; and terrorist activities and international hostilities, which may affect the general economy as well as oil and other commodity markets. We assume no obligation to update or supplement our forward-looking statements.
-Tables Follow- SEPTEMBER AVERAGE DAILY VOLUMES Venue 2007 2006 NYMEX floor 230,566 519,965 NYMEX electronic 768,111 276,568 COMEX floor 40,004 85,739 COMEX electronic 121,034 8,090 NYMEX ClearPort® 362,807 479,589 Other 95,567 67,593 Total 1,618,089 1,437,544 THREE MONTH ROLLING AVERAGE DAILY VOLUME (For the period July through September) Venue 2007 2006 NYMEX floor 228,504 511,529 NYMEX electronic 686,916 191,273 COMEX floor 36,352 85,616 COMEX electronic 113,892 8,092 NYMEX ClearPort® 352,222 422,611 Other 73,910 63,046 Total 1,491,796 1,282,167 AUGUST 2007 AVERAGE RATES PER CONTRACT Venue Net RPC NYMEX floor $1.51 NYMEX electronic $0.95 COMEX floor $1.36 COMEX electronic $1.20 NYMEX ClearPort® $1.73 Other $2.06 Total Net Average Rate $1.30 Direct Transaction Cost $0.26 Total Gross Average Rate $1.56 THREE MONTH ROLLING AVERAGE RATES PER CONTRACT (For the period June through August 2007) Venue Net RPC NYMEX floor $1.37 NYMEX electronic $0.97 COMEX floor $1.26 COMEX electronic $1.18 NYMEX ClearPort® $1.68 Other $1.92 Total Net Average Rate $1.27 Direct Transaction Cost $0.26 Total Gross Average Rate $1.53 SEPTEMBER 2007 ESTIMATED AVERAGE RATES PER CONTRACT Venue Net RPC NYMEX floor $1.53 NYMEX electronic $1.02 COMEX floor $1.44 COMEX electronic $1.27 NYMEX ClearPort® $1.53 Other $2.08 Total Net Average Rate $1.30 Direct Transaction Cost $0.26 Total Gross Average Rate $1.56 THREE MONTH ROLLING AVERAGE RATES PER CONTRACT (For July, August actual and September estimate, 2007) Venue Net RPC NYMEX floor $1.45 NYMEX electronic $0.96 COMEX floor $1.33 COMEX electronic $1.21 NYMEX ClearPort® $1.64 Other $2.01 Total Net Average Rate $1.28 Direct Transaction Cost $0.26 Total Gross Average Rate $1.54