SUBSCRIBER NOTE: Platts launches coal averages, open interest

Platts has begun publishing a running daily average of the front-month and front-quarter price assessments for each of the five over-the-counter coal products it currently assesses in the OTC Broker Index table in Platts Coal Trader.

The daily front-month and front-quarter averages will show the direction of the underlying prices through the course of the referenced period, providing market participants with more visibility as to the direction of the final monthly settle for both terms.

Platts has also begun publishing the open interest for the front-month CAPP barge, CAPP rail (CSX) and PRB 8,800 Btu/lb coal futures contracts as listed by the CME Group, as well as the total CME open interest for each contract and all terms, in the daily OTC Broker Index table in Platts Coal Trader.

The open interest data will be lagged one day due to the fact it comes available each day after Coal Trader's daily publishing deadline.

Please address any questions or comments to coal@platts.com and pricegroup@platts.com.