As previously announced, the CBOT^® is scheduled to launch side-by-side trading of Agricultural futures on Tuesday, August 1, 2006.  Please review and distribute the following information regarding trading states to the appropriate staff at your firm. 

Trading States:

Side-by-side electronic trading of these products will entail changing the trading states as described below:

Pre-Open         5:30 p.m.

Open                6:30 p.m.          (Note: Staggered starts by product)

Halt                  6:00 a.m.          (Note: Agricultural options will close at this time)

2^nd Pre-Open   8:30 a.m.

Re-Open          9:30 a.m.          (Exception: South American Soybeans re-opens at 9:00 a.m.)

It is very important that all trading applications recognize this new sequence of trading states.  If these new states are not properly recognized, trading application could be at risk of not operating correctly.  The CBOT encourages all trading firms to discuss this new e-cbot process with their ISVs or developer staffs to ensure that all trading applications are fully prepared for the August 1, 2006 start date for electronic side-by-side Agricultural product trading.

You are encouraged to visit and bookmark Bulletin #67/2006 which contains current trading, reference and training information for Agricultural side-by-side trading. 

If you have any questions about this Bulletin, please contact Don Segreti (312-341-5908 or dsegreti@cbot.com) or your Key Account Manager.