ICE reports record volumes in 2007

ICE Futures Europe achieved record annual volume for the 10th consecutive year, with an increase of 49% in 2007 over annual volume in 2006. In 2007, volume at ICE Futures U.S. exceeded 2006 results by 22%. Also for the year ended December 31, 2007, average daily commissions in the OTC segment increased by 39% to $819,739, representing the fourth consecutive year of record commissions.

• Average daily volume (ADV) at ICE Futures Europe reached 469,407 contracts traded in December 2007, an increase of 19% over December 2006. ADV for the 12 months ended December 31, 2007, was 539,044, up 44% over 2006.
• ADV at ICE Futures U.S. was 208,073 contracts in December 2007, up 31% from December 2006. ADV for the full year was 214,816 in 2007, an increase of 23% compared to 2006.
• ADV at ICE Futures Canada(TM) (formerly Winnipeg Commodity Exchange (WCE)) in December 2007 was 19,251 contracts, an increase of 21% compared to December 2006. ADV for the full year was 13,864 in 2007, an increase of 18% over 2006. WCE was renamed ICE Futures Canada on January 1, 2008.
• Average daily commissions in December for ICE's global OTC business were $799,749, a 45% increase over December 2006. Average daily commissions were $819,739 for the full year of 2007, up 39% over 2006.

"We continue to focus on meeting the needs of our customers through new product development, technology innovation and efficient operations. In 2007, we completed five acquisitions and now offer a more diverse product set with expanded participation on our global platform," said ICE Chairman and CEO Jeffrey C. Sprecher. "These acquisitions, combined with key strategic partnerships and continued organic growth, set a solid foundation for 2008."

European Futures Volume and RPC

ICE Futures Europe reported total volume in December 2007 of 9,388,137 contracts, up 19% from 7,890,859 contracts in December 2006. ADV for the month rose 19% from 394,543 contracts in December 2006 to 469,407 contracts in December 2007. In the fourth quarter, ADV at ICE Futures Europe totaled 550,174 contracts, an increase of 25% over the prior fourth quarter.

The three-month rolling average rate per contract (RPC) for the fourth quarter of 2007 was $1.27. RPC is calculated by dividing transaction revenues by contract volume, and can vary based on pricing, customer and product mix. RPC averaged $1.28 for each of the rolling three-month periods ended November 2007 and October 2007.

In 2007, exchange-wide volume for ICE Futures Europe increased 49%, reaching a record 138.5 million contracts compared to the prior year's record 92.7 million contracts.

The ICE Brent Crude and WTI Crude futures contracts each set an annual volume record of 59.7 million and 51.4 million, respectively, surpassing the previous annual records by 35% and 79%. In addition, the ICE Gas Oil futures contract set an annual volume record of 24.5 million contracts, exceeding last year's volume of 18.3 million contracts by 34%.

On December 31, 2007, open interest for ICE Futures Europe was 1,641,399 contracts, an increase of 16% over the 1,416,470 contracts at December 31, 2006.

North American Futures Volume and RPC

Total futures and options volume at ICE Futures U.S. increased 25% to 3,972,640 contracts in December 2007, compared to volume of 3,176,735 contracts in December 2006. December 2007 ADV rose 31%, to 208,073 contracts, compared with 158,837 contracts in December 2006. In the fourth quarter, ADV at ICE Futures U.S. totaled 201,640, an increase of 26% over the prior fourth quarter.

Electronic trading represented 88% of total ICE Futures U.S. agricultural commodity futures contracts traded in December 2007, compared to 82% in November. ADV for electronically traded agricultural commodity futures was 108,365 contracts; total agricultural commodity futures ADV was 123,652 contracts in December 2007.

The three-month rolling average RPC for the period of September 2007 through November 2007 was $2.08 for agricultural futures and options. RPC averaged $2.08 and $2.07 for the rolling three months ended October 2007 and September 2007, respectively. RPC for ICE Futures U.S. is reported one month in arrears.

In 2007, exchange-wide volume for ICE Futures U.S. increased 22%, reaching a record 53.6 million contracts compared to the prior year's record of 44 million contracts. Electronic trading represented 70% of total ICE Futures U.S. agricultural commodity futures for the full year 2007.

The ICE Futures U.S. Cocoa, Cotton, Coffee "C" and Sugar futures contracts, as well as Cotton and Coffee "C" options contracts, each set annual volume records of 3.3 million, 6.3 million, 5.1 million, 21.3 million, 3.5 million and 3.0 million, respectively.

December 2007 contract volume for ICE's Canadian futures business, ICE Futures Canada, was 365,769 contracts, up 21% over December 2006. ADV for the month of December was 19,251 contracts, an increase of 21% over the prior year. In the fourth quarter, ADV at ICE Futures Canada totaled 17,347, an increase of 25% over the prior fourth quarter.

In 2007, exchange-wide volume for ICE Futures Canada rose 19%, reaching a record 3.45 million contracts compared to the prior year's total volume of 2.89 million contracts. The previous calendar year volume record was set in 2001 when a total of 2.98 million contracts were traded. The Canola futures contract set an annual volume record of 3,169,182 surpassing the contract's previous annual record by 22%.

Global OTC Markets

In December 2007, ICE's average daily commissions reached $799,749, an increase of 45% compared to $551,589 in December 2006. Average daily commissions reflect daily trading activity in ICE's global OTC energy markets. For the fourth quarter of 2007, average daily commissions were a record $912,967, an increase of 28% over the prior fourth quarter.

For the full-year 2007, average daily commissions reached a record $819,739, an increase of 39% over the prior annual record set in 2006 of $589,158.

Additional December 2007 Information:

• ICE announced that the Board of Directors of its ICE Futures U.S. subsidiary unanimously voted to end open-outcry trading for futures contracts at the end of February 2008, as trading in the exchange's futures contracts is now primarily electronic. Trading in ICE Futures U.S. futures products will be available exclusively on the ICE platform beginning the evening of Sunday, March 2, 2008 for the trade date March 3, 2008.
• ICE transitioned ICE Futures Canada's futures and options on futures contracts for Canola, Feed Wheat and Western Barley to the ICE platform on December 10.
• The cleared and bilateral markets for NGX's North American physical natural gas and Canadian electricity products will be offered alongside ICE's markets on the ICE trading platform beginning on January 14, 2008.
• Trading days in December 2007:
  • ICE Futures Europe: 20
  • ICE Futures U.S. Agricultural: 19
  • ICE Futures U.S. Currency and Index: 20
  • ICE Futures Canada: 19
  • ICE OTC: 20
• ICE Futures U.S. product records achieved for the month:
  • An open interest record of 911,735 contracts was established for Sugar No. 11 futures.
  • An open interest record of 1,519,634 contracts was established for total agricultural options.

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