open interest
noun[U]
ukusFINANCE(alsoopen contracts[plural]);(open commitments[plural])
thetotalnumberoffuturescontracts(=agreementstosellshares, etc. on aparticulardatein thefuture)oroptionscontracts(=agreementstobuyshares, etc. on aparticulardatein thefuture)that have not beenfinishedorcancelled:
At thebeginningof theyear,openinteresttotaledonly 148,000contracts.