The Chicago Stock Exchange Remains On Pace For Record Year

The Chicago Stock Exchange (CHX) remained on pace to break last year's trade and share volume records as volume numbers in May were more than double the figures for May 1999. Monthly trade volume reached 4,865,817, up 124 percent from last May, while share volume ended at 2,089,201,017, a 104 percent increase over the same period last year.

The last consummated seat sale in May was for $325,000, a 43 percent increase from the same time last year when seat prices reached $228,000.

The CHX's over-the-counter (OTC) program continued to grow in May. Total trade volume in Nasdaq issues ended at 2,646,642, up 609 percent over May 1999. Total share volume finished at 821,195,579, an increase of 473 percent from the same time last year. Through the OTC program, the CHX currently trades more than 900 Nasdaq issues. The CHX is the only floor-based auction market in the country that trades Nasdaq, or OTC, issues.

During May, share volume for extended hours trading from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Central Time totaled 28,148,300 shares.

"The fact that the volume this May more than doubled the volume for May of last year demonstrates the continued attractiveness of the CHX model, which combines the best of electronic trading technology with the human element of specialists and floor brokers," said Bob Forney, CHX president and CEO.

The Chicago Stock Exchange was founded May 15, 1882 and is the second most active stock exchange in terms of share and trade volume. The CHX is also the fastest growing exchange providing the strongest force for competition to all U.S. markets. The CHX trades more than 4,500 NYSE, Amex, Nasdaq and CHX-exclusive issues, more than any other stock exchange in the world.