The Tokyo Commodity Exchange announced today that average daily trading volume for September was 92,040 contracts, up 30.4% from August. TOCOM’s main commodities saw higher volume: Gold increased 44.1% to 39,621 contracts, Platinum increased 30.4% to 19,622 contracts, Rubber was up 29.3% to 9,672 contracts and Crude Oil was up 24.7% to 3,360 contracts. The increase in volume appears to be attributed to an increase in volatility.
TOCOM Gold prices were generally directionless during the month. Factors countering one another include declining New York Gold prices, a stronger dollar, weaker yen, expectations of higher interest rates and weak physical demand. Platinum prices slumped as production in South Africa resumed while demand from the Chinese and European automobile industries slowed.
Crude Oil prices were range-bound throughout the month. There was some pressure on prices from concerns of slowing economies in Europe and China and from increased shale oil production in the United States. However, prices recovered in response to improved U.S. economic indicators and the possibility of reduced oil production by OPEC.
Prices of Corn and Soybeans fell on record harvest forecasts in the United States.
Open interest at the end of September 2014 for all listed products totaled 378,825 contracts, an increase of 13,390 (3.67%) from the end of August.
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