WCE Volumes Continue Climb

WINNIPEG - Feb 1/07 - SNS -- Monthly trading volumes at the Winnipeg Commodity Exchange (WCE) continued to post year over year gains in January, rising 9.6% from a year ago with 238,161 futures and options contracts being traded.

This is the 20th consecutive month of increased total volume on WCE when compared to the same month of the previous year. Trade in feed grain futures contracts increased significantly from the levels recorded a year ago.

Western barley futures contract volume was 52.6% higher than January 2006 with 24,784 contracts trading during the month. In addition, there were 1,170 western barley options traded. Feed wheat futures contract volume ended the month 54.3% higher than a year ago at 7,247 contracts.

Canola futures contract volume for January 2007 rose 5% from a year ago to 204,893 contracts.

The March 2007 canola futures contract recorded the highest daily volume for any WCE futures contract month on January 31, 2007 when there were 21,023 contracts traded. The March 2007 canola futures contract also recorded the highest open interest for any March canola futures contract on January 12, 2007 when its open interest level reached 66,303 contracts.

Crop year-to-date total volume (since August 1, 2006) stood at 1,503,397 futures and options contracts at the end of January 2007. This represents an increase of 27.4% from last year.

At the end of January 2007 total open interest was 137,114 which is 18.3% over the level recorded at the end of January 2006.