The Value of Individual Volume and Open Interest Numbers in Futures

Volume and Open Interest Reported a Day Late in Futures

Futures volume and open interest numbers are reported a day late. Therefore, the chartist must be content with a day's lag in obtaining and interpreting the figures. The numbers are usually reported during the following day's trading hours, but too late for publication in the day's financial newspapers. Estimated volume figures are available, however, after the markets close and are included in the following morning's paper. Estimated volume numbers are just that, but they do at least give the futures technician some idea of whether trading activity was heavier or lighter the previous day. In the morning paper, therefore, what the reader gets is the last day's futures prices along with an estimated volume figure. Official volume and open interest numbers, however, are given for the day before. Stock chartists don't have that problem. Volume totals for stocks are immediately available.