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Winnipeg Commodity Exchange Inc. ("WCE") total volume of trade for October 2006 reached the highest level for that month in any year. It is also the second highest volume reached in any month. A total of 328,751 futures and options contracts were traded during the month, which is 48.1% higher than a year ago and 36.5% higher than a month ago.
This is the 17th consecutive month of increased total trade on WCE when compared to the same month of the previous year.
Canola futures contract volume recorded significant increases from year ago and month ago levels. A total of 284,033 canola futures contracts were traded in October 2006 representing a rise of 42% from last year and 33.9% from last month.
Trade in western barley futures contracts was sharply higher at 37,489 contracts. This level of trade is 196% higher than October 2005 and 151.6% over September 2006. On October 31, 2006 trade in March 2007 western barley futures contracts reached a daily volume record for that contract month with 6,442 contracts traded.
Feed wheat futures contract volume totaled 4,704 contracts during October. There were also 2,225 canola options contracts and 300 western barley options contracts traded over the month.
Crop year-to-date (since August 1, 2006) volume on WCE is up 42.2% from last year at 745,999 futures and options contracts.
At the end of October 2006, total open interest stood at 108,391 contracts which is 31.5% higher than a year ago and 2.7% higher than a month ago.
Winnipeg Commodity Exchange Inc., established in 1887, has been facilitating futures contract trading since 1904. WCE is Canada's only agricultural futures and options exchange and North America's first fully electronic commodity exchange. WCE offers futures and options contracts on canola, domestic feed wheat, and western barley.
