Minneapolis Grain Exchange

The Minneapolis Grain Exchange (MGEX) is a commodities and futures exchange of grain products. It was formed in 1881 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States as a regional cash marketplace to promote fair trade and to prevent trade abuses in wheat, oats and corn.

Minneapolis Grain Exchange
The three-building Minneapolis Grain Exchange viewed from the west
Location400 and 412 S. 4th St and 301 4th Ave. S., Minneapolis, Minnesota
Coordinates44°58′39″N 93°15′49″W
Built1881 as Chamber of Commerce
ArchitectKees and Colburn (main building, 1902), Long, Lamoreaux & Long (east building, 1909), and Bertrand and Chamberlain (north building, 1928)
Architectural styleSullivanesque
NRHP reference No.95000821[1]
Added to NRHPNovember 23, 1977

MGEX has been the principal market for Hard Red Spring Wheat (HRSW) since 1881, offering futures and options contracts based on its unique commodity. HRSW is one of the highest-protein wheats. It is found in bagels, pizzas, high-quality breads and cereals, and some noodles and cookies. It is planted mostly in the U.S. Northern Plains and the Canadian Prairies.

Operations

MGEX offers five financially settled agricultural index products: Hard Red Spring Wheat Index (HRSI), Hard Red Winter Wheat Index (HRWI), Soft Red Winter Wheat Index (SRWI), National Corn Index (NCI) and National Soybean Index (NSI).

In an agreement with Data Transmission Network (now Telvent DTN), a business-to-business electronic commerce and information services company in Omaha, Nebraska, MGEX has exclusive rights to DTNs agriculture and weather data bases, which the exchange uses to develop index products.

Futures are traded exclusively electronically on the CME Globex platform. Options are traded side-by-side.

History
Interior c. 1939

Founded as the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce in 1881, the MGEX has been a marketplace for producers, processors and millers for more than 125 years. The three Grain Exchange buildings in downtown Minneapolis are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1883, the Chamber of Commerce introduced its first futures contract: hard red spring wheat. By 1946 "Chamber of Commerce" had become synonymous with organizations devoted mainly to civic and social issues. In 1947, the exchange was renamed the Minneapolis Grain Exchange. Today the exchange is most recognized by its logo and uses MGEX as first reference.

On December 19, 2008, the Minneapolis Grain Exchange ceased operations of the open outcry trading floor, but continues daily operations for the electronic trading platform. Today, HRSW futures trade exclusively electronically and options trade side-by-side.

Ownership

As of 2014, it was owned by its members.[2]

See also

Notes
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. "Hedge fund buying doubles Minneapolis Grain Exchange seat prices". Reuters. 2014-04-28. Retrieved 2020-06-19.

Further reading
  • Kenney, Dave (2006). The Grain Merchants: An Illustrated History of the Minneapolis Grain Exchange. Afton Historical Society Press in collaboration with the Minneapolis Grain Exchange. ISBN 1-890434-74-4.
  • Minter, Adam (August 2006). "Gimme Grain!". The Rake. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-03-28.
  • Minneapolis Public Library (2001). "A History of Minneapolis: Milling". Archived from the original on 2007-04-27. Retrieved 2007-03-28.
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