April 28 saw 17,932 contracts trade, the 11th-highest volume day in the history of MGEX. The same day saw trading of hard red spring wheat (HRSW) options set a new daily volume record when 4,623 options contracts traded at MGEX. Electronic trading volume reached 144,577 last month, marking the best April electronic volume on record and the sixth-best electronic trading month in history.
The April records fueled a 47% total volume increase over the same period a year ago, with options volume up 152% over April of last year. Additionally, April’s volume marked a 12% increase over March 2011.
The trend of year-over-year open interest growth continued last month as exchange total open interest increased 43% over the previous April.
“The commodities industry is experiencing incredible volatility which is bringing new participants to our market,” Joe Albrecht, vice-president, business development, MGEX said. “The resulting volume in our spring wheat contract proves the global marketplace continues to look to MGEX for its risk management needs.”
