The Tokyo Commodity Exchange announced today that average daily trading volume for April was 74,006 contracts, down 16.1% from March. Corn increased 18.6% to 1,292 contracts and Soybeans jumped 107.2% to 520 contracts. However, TOCOM’s leading commodities were the main factor for the drop in volume with Gold down 19.9% to 28,129 contracts and Platinum down 15% to 15,949 contracts.
Corn and Soybeans were actively traded as prices rose. Corn prices advanced in North America following a USDA paper reporting lower-than-expected quarterly inventory and planned acreage. In response, TOCOM corn prices climbed to 28,000 yen/1,000kg, the highest since June, 2013. Soybean prices also rose on buying due to a year-end shortfall in the U.S. TOCOM’s price reached 57,000 yen/1,000kg, the highest since December 2013.
The Gold market was subdued in April with a noted lack of volatility. Gold prices advanced in the U.S. as tentions rose in Ukraine. Nevertheless, price increases did not extend to TOCOM because of the strong yen.
Open interest at the end of April 2014 for all listed products totaled 280,869 contracts, a decrease of 23,792 (-9.25%) from the end of March 2014.
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