WCE Sets October Trading Volume

WINNIPEG - Nov 2/07 - SNS -- Trading volume on the Winnipeg Commodity Exchange (WCE) set an all time record, with 427,777 futures and options contracts exchanging hands, up 30.1% from last year and up 69.1% on the month. The previous total monthly volume record set in June 2007 was 352,231 futures and options contracts.

Canola futures contract volume set an all-time record during October 2007 at 396,852 contracts, representing an increase of 39.7% from a year ago and an 86.9% increase from a month ago. The previous monthly volume record for canola futures contracts was also set in June 2007 when 321,022 contracts were traded. Volume of trade in canola options contracts for the month totaled 1,709 contracts.

Trade in Western Barley futures contracts during October 2007 totaled 27,072 contracts. There were 2,144 feed wheat futures contracts traded during the month.

Crop year to-date (since August 1, 2007) total volume is up 18.8% from last year at 886,098 futures and options contracts.

At the end of October 2007, total open interest stood at 150,219 contracts representing an increase of 38.6% from a year ago. The January 2008 canola futures contract reached an all-time high open interest level for any January canola futures contract at the close of business on October 31, 2007 when open interest in that contract stood at 95,403 contracts.