WCE Reports 34% Volume Jump

WINNIPEG - Aug 1/06 - SNS -- Trading volume on the floor of the Winnipeg Commodity Exchange (WCE) reached its highest level since the 200-01 marketing year during the past 12 months, jumping 34% above year earlier levels to 2,594,003 futures and options contracts.

Volume of trade in canola futures contracts for the crop year was up 42% from a year ago at 2,346,961 contracts. There were 73,654 feed wheat futures contracts and 142,217 western barley futures contracts traded since August 1, 2005.

Total options contract volume was 91.5% over the 2004/05 crop year at 31,171 contracts. Canola options trade activity doubled from last crop year with 29,480 contracts traded. Feed Wheat options volume rose 184.2% from last crop year's total to 1,080 contracts. There were 611 western barley options contracts traded over the crop year.

During the month of July 2006, a total of 136,915 futures and options contracts were traded, representing an increase of 39.7% from the volume recorded in July 2005.

Canola futures trade during July rose 47.5% from a year ago to 129,433 contracts. Western barley futures volume gained 4.7% from July 2005 at 4,294 contracts, and there were 2,514 feed wheat futures contracts traded during the month.

There were 674 canola options contracts traded during July 2006 which is 163.3% more than the number of options contracts traded in the same month a year ago.

At the end of July 2006 total open interest stood at 98,417 futures and options contracts, which is 37.6% higher than a year ago.