In addition, open interest in E-mini Russell 2000 futures rose yesterday to a record 17,479 positions, while open interest in CME's stock index product group set a record at 8,369,215 positions.
The previous records in the products were set on Friday, Dec. 13, 2002 at 493,369 positions for E-mini S&P 500 futures, 16,877 positions for E-mini Russell 2000 futures and 8,344,401 positions for stock index products.
Launched in 1997, the E-mini S&P 500 futures contract is the fastest growing product in the history of CME.
Open interest represents the number of futures and options on futures contracts outstanding at the close of trading each day. Open interest can be seen as a measure of the use of risk management instruments by institutions and individuals with a long-term stake in the markets, as well as the liquidity of a contract.
Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. (www.cme.com) is the largest futures exchange in the United States and the second largest exchange in the world for the trading of futures and options on futures. As an international marketplace, CME brings together buyers and sellers on its trading floors and GLOBEX around-the-clock electronic trading platform. CME offers futures and options on futures primarily in four product areas- interest rates, stock indexes, foreign exchange and commodities. The exchange moves an average of about $1.7 billion per day in settlement payments and manages $27.7 billion in collateral deposits. CME is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Holdings Inc. (NYSE- CME).
