TOCOM January 2012 Average Daily Volume Down 4.2% from December 2011

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM) announced today that January 2012 trading volume averaged 107,744 contracts per day, down 4.2% from December 2011. There was a notable increase in Rubber (up 26.2% to 9,488 contracts) and Platinum (up 6.4% to 12,919 contracts), but the volume of Gold, which is the most traded commodity at TOCOM and some of the other products decreased (Gold Standard, down 7% to 54,095 contracts, Gold Mini down 20.4% to 12,259 contracts).

The decreases may be largely attributed to the European debt crisis, which resulted in the financial turmoil spreading globally and in markets to stagnate. The Chinese New Year in the midst of the month also may have slowed trading on TOCOM.

Significant hike in oil price was anticipated amid growing tension around Iran, but the volatility of the TOCOM Crude Oil market (back contract month) remained moderate, ranging from 51,000 yen to 53,000 yen per kiloliter. Gold prices (back contract month/settlement price) increased by 8.2% from the beginning of this year reflecting a re-evaluation of gold as a "safe asset" and the maintaining of zero interest policy at the FRB.

Open interest at the end of December for all listed commodities totaled 330,030 contracts, an increase of 6,229 contracts from the end of the previous month.

Full summary of January 2012 activities at TOCOM (including news items) is available here.

TOCOM – Trading Volume Breakdown (Main products)
	Monthly Trading Volume		Average Daily Volume
Contract	Jan. '12	Dec. '11	Jan. '12	Dec. '11	month-to-month change	year-to-year change
Gold	1,027,800	1,221,171	58,151	58,151	-7.0%	1.6%
Gold Mini	232,923	323,550	15,407	15,407	-20.4%	4.2%
Platinum	245,469	255,059	12,146	12,146	6.4%	-19.4%
Platinum Mini	21,425	25,298	1,205	1,205	-6.4%	16.3%
Crude Oil	92,483	108,993	5,190	5,190	-6.2%	33.6%
Gasoline	162,923	167,441	7,973	7,973	7.5%	12.9%
Kerosene	59,891	75,509	3,596	3,596	-12.3%	-33.0%
Gas Oil	714	801	38	38	-1.5%	-45.6%
Rubber	180,265	157,911	7,520	7,520	26.2%	-50.5%
Total	2,047,132	2,362,332	112,492	112,492	-4.2%	-10.6%

About Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM)

Tokyo Commodity Exchange, Inc. (TOCOM) is Japan's largest commodity futures exchange with a trading volume of 31.6 million contracts, representing nearly 90% market share, in 2011, and one of the most prominent exchanges in Asia. Futures and Options contracts on a variety of industrial products such as gold, platinum (precious metals market), crude oil, gasoline, kerosene gas oil (oil market), RSSE3 (rubber market) are traded electronically. TOCOM was established in 1984 as a result of a merger between Tokyo Textile Exchange, Tokyo Rubber Exchange and Tokyo Gold Exchange.

TOCOM's recent achievements include launching a new trading platform based on the Nasdaq OMX technology and extending the night session until 4:00 JST. www.tocom.or.jp/