Request for comment: proposed changes to Nymex/ICE futures data

Platts is considering two changes to the format and content of the end-of-day Nymex and ICE futures price and volume data currently delivered between 8 and 10pm NY time each weekday. This data is delivered via the Platts FTP and web sites (Platts Market Data, formerly Dispatch), and via Platts realtime data partners.

Because these changes will affect many users of this data, Platts actively seeks feedback from subscribers on the proposed changes. Please email any questions or comments regarding these proposed changes to pl_dataqa@platts.com by September 16, 2011.

FIRST: CHANGES RELATING TO TRADING VOLUME AND OPEN INTEREST. Currently Platts Platts uses 'w' and 'e' bates (price type indicator),respectively, to publish final trading volume and open interest each day for the PREVIOUS trading day, as reported by the exchanges. After the change, Platts plans to align volume and open interest values with the prices for the same day. The results will be as follows: * Rather than values with a given as-of date representing current-day prices and previous-trading-day volumes and open interest, price, volume and open interest figures with a given as-of date will all represent values for that date. * Because the exchanges don't report final trading volumes and open interest until the following trading day, the 'w' and 'e' values for Nymex/ICE futures symbols for a given day will not update until the following trading day.

SECOND: CHANGES RELATING TO PRICE FORMATS. For legacy technology reasons, prices for many futures contracts are published as whole numbers; users must convert them to decimal figures themselves. Going forward, Platts plans to publish futures prices for all Nymex and ICE futures contracts in decimal format, thus eliminating the need for users to adjust them. Due to the large amount of data involved, and the liklihood that many users have already made the integer-to-decimal adjustments, Platts does not plan to distribute adjusted history, but will provide it on CD to affected subscribers and vendor partners on request.

Once final planning for the changes has been completed, Platts will provide at least 90 days advance notice before putting the changes into effect.

For more complete information on the proposed changes, including examples, and lists of the contracts and market data categories which will be affected by one or both changes, please click on the following link, or copy and paste it into your web browser: http://bit.ly/NymexICEdata .