The Chicago Board of Trade achieved the highest yearly total volume recorded in its history, with more than 674 million contracts traded in 2005. Total annual volume rose 12.4% over the prior year, making 2005 the fourth consecutive record-breaking year for the CBOT. The exchange’s average daily volume (ADV) also increased 12.9% to 2.7 million contracts from 2.4 million contracts reported in 2004, setting a new record for the year.
The CBOT also reported that December ADV was 2 million contracts, compared to the ADV of 2.1 million contracts traded in December 2004. Average daily volume in the fourth quarter was 2.4 million contracts, which was equivalent to the fourth quarter ADV in the same period last year.
Electronic volume on the exchange also made strides, comprising 65% of the total exchange volume for the year, up 58% from last year, with options traded electronically surging by 180%.
The CBOT’s precious metals complex also gained traction in 2005, with a 73.5% increase in 2005. The gold complex rose 61.8% percent YTD.
The total volume in the agricultural complex increased 7.9% to a record annual volume of 91.8 million contracts, with electronic trading showing the most gains, rising by 59.7% from 2004.
CBOT’s November 2005 three-month rolling average rate per contract rose to $0.541 from $0.516 in October 2005, due mainly to exchange fee increases implemented October 1, 2005.