WCE Volumes Keep Rising

WINNIPEG - Mar 1/07 - SNS -- Trading volumes on the Winnipeg Commodity Exchange (WCE) continue to increase, with total contracts exchanging hands in February up 26/1% from the same month last year.

A total of 326,633 futures and options contracts were traded during the month. This is the 21st consecutive month of increased total volume on WCE when compared to the same month of the previous year.

Trade in canola futures contracts rose 28.8% from February 2006 with 309,278 contracts trading during the month. This is a record monthly volume for canola, surpassing the previous canola monthly volume set six years ago in February 2001.

Western barley futures contract volume ended the month 12.4% higher than a year ago at 10,380 contracts. There were 6,853 feed wheat futures contracts traded during February 2007.

Crop year-to-date total volume (since August 1, 2006) is 1,830,030 contracts, representing an increase of 27.2% from last year.

At the end of February 2007 total open interest stood at 112,807 contracts. There were two open interest records set during February 2007. Total open interest in canola futures contracts reached 110,401 on February 6, 2007 and total open interest in all futures contracts reached 133,266 on February 7, 2007.