The Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT®) today announced the successful launch of its new futures contract based on the Dow Jones-AIG Commodity Index (DJ-AIGCISM). The new Dow Jones-AIG Commodity Index Excess Return (DJ-AIG ER) futures contract was developed at the request of market participants who sought an exchange-traded instrument that provides diverse, global commodities exposure.

The DJ-AIG ER contract was developed under a license agreement among the CBOT, Dow Jones Indexes and AIG Financial Products Corp. (AIGFP). It replaces the existing CBOT DJ-AIG contract, which will be delisted following its December 2006 expiration. The DJ-AIG ER will settle to the value of the DJ-AIGCI, rather than to the sum of its individual components, reflecting the deep liquidity of the global markets that comprise the index.

CBOT President and CEO Bernard W. Dan said, “The CBOT’s new DJ-AIG ER contract is a testament to the Exchange’s commitment to develop and enhance products to meet market participants’ diverse needs. Combining the highly-recognizable Dow Jones commodity index with an easy-to-use contract design and already-established liquidity in the CBOT markets will result in greater trading opportunities for the industry.”

The DJ-AIG ER contract trades exclusively on the Exchange’s electronic trading platform. The new DJ-AIG ER futures contract will trade exclusively on the Exchange’s premier electronic trading platform, e-cbot®, from 8:15 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday. The CBOT is also creating a market maker program for the new DJ-AIG ER futures contract, ensuring the availability of a two-sided market for participants. The CBOT is currently negotiating with potential liquidity providers – AIGFP will serve as one of the market makers.

Commodities in the DJ-AIGCI include: Aluminum, Copper, Coffee, Corn, Cotton, Crude Oil, Gold, Heating Oil, Lean Hogs, Live Cattle, Natural Gas, Nickel, Silver, Soybeans, Soybean Oil, Sugar, Unleaded Gasoline (RBOB), Wheat and Zinc.