COMMODITIES

Exchange Recommends Increase in Nonmember Trading Fees: The plan approved by Chicago Board of Trade directors would raise the fees by 30% during the next three years in an effort to boost sagging revenue. If approved by the exchange membership, the trading fee for nonmembers would rise by 5 cents on July 1 in each of the next three years. The exchange, the world’s largest futures market, estimates that the increase in the fee--the charge the exchange levies to buy or sell one futures contract-- would bring $2.3 million in revenue to the exchange in 1996, based on a volume of 200 million contracts; an additional $6.9 million in 1997; $11.5 million in 1998; and $13.8 million in 1999. About 54% of its trading revenue comes from nonmembers. The proposal comes at a time of heightened competition and slumping trading volume.