Silver futures see record trading volume ( SIK11 ) (by Myra P. Saefong)

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Silver futures saw record trading volume on Monday, the CME Group said in a press release Tuesday. On Monday, trading of silver futures reached 319,204 contracts, surpassing the prior record of 201,216 contracts set on Nov. 9, 2010, the CME said. Open interest in silver options also reached a record of 240,344 contracts, versus the prior record of 235,992 contracts set on April 21, 2011. "Silver futures have demonstrated rapid growth during the month of April," with month-to-date average daily volume for silver futures increasing 218% from this point last year, the CME said in a statement. May silver (sik11) closed at $45.05 an ounce, down $2.10 on Comex Tuesday.