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, today announced that average daily volume was 1.883 million contracts for July 2008, a 30% increase from 1.446 million contracts per day in July 2007.
NYMEX electronic volume on the CME Globex® electronic trading platform averaged 822,710 contracts per day for July 2008, representing a 29% increase over 636,774 contracts per day in July 2007 electronic volume. NYMEX floor-traded energy futures and options averaged 209,117 contracts per day for July 2008.
COMEX electronic volume on CME Globex averaged 220,687 contracts per day for July 2008, and represented a 95% increase over 113,109 contracts per day in July 2007 electronic volume. COMEX floor-traded average daily volume was 43,533 contracts for July 2008.
Average daily volume on NYMEX ClearPort® was 502,748 contracts for July 2008, compared to 365,427 contracts for July 2007, representing a 38% increase. The remaining volume of 83,839 trades per day consisted of other transactions which include position transfers and exchanges.
Rolling Average Rate Per Contract -- The three month rolling average gross rate per contract for the period May through July 2008 was $1.58, while the average net rolling rate per contract, including direct transaction costs, for the same period was $1.34. July rates per contract and direct transaction costs are estimated (see Note below).
Final June Rate Per Contract -- The following represents the final June 2008 rates per contract after adjustments to the estimated rate per contract we provided last month. Gross average rate per contract across all venues in June 2008 was $1.57, while the net average rate per contract, including direct transaction costs, was $1.35. This is compared to a gross average rate per contract of $1.54, and a net average rate per contract of $1.28 for June 2007. Direct transaction costs were $8.544 million for June 2008 versus $7.914 million for June 2007.
Estimated July Rate Per Contract -- The following July average rates per contract are estimated (see Note below). Gross average rate per contract across all venues in July 2008 was $1.58, while the net average rate per contract, including direct transaction costs, was $1.33. This is compared to gross average rate per contract of $1.50, and a net average rate per contract of $1.24 for July 2007. Direct transaction costs were an estimated $10.411 million for July 2008 versus $7.831 million for July 2007.
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 ten business days after the end of the month. Also, the estimated figures are preliminary and can 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 22 trading days for July 2008 and 21 days for July 2007.
