PHLX Options Volume Continues Record Growth

The Philadelphia Stock Exchange (PHLX) announced that year-to-date volume in PHLX's 930 equity options reached a record 36,528,705 contracts traded, an increase of 18% over the same period last year when 30,967,178 contracts changed hands. In addition, equity options volume for the month of October reached 3,578,644 contracts traded. PHLX equity volume through the first ten months of 1999 increased to 1.3 billion shares traded, an increase of approximately 22% in comparison to the same time period last year when 1.1 billion shares changed hands. In addition, equity volume for the month of October reached 152,828,8754 shares, an increase of 25% in comparison to the same month last year when 122,008,260 shares traded. The PHLX trades over 2600 equity issues. Year-to-date volume in PHLX's sectors index options increased to 2,722,259 contracts traded. In addition, sector volume for the month of October reached 302,383 contracts traded. The PHLX trades 13 sectors index options. Volume in PHLX's customized and standardized currency options for the month of October reached 50,549 contracts traded, approximately $2.3 billion in underlying value. The PHLX is the first securities exchange in the U.S. and the nation's fastest growing sectors index options exchange. Founded in 1790, PHLX is a market leader in the trading of over 2600 stocks, 930 equity options, 13 sectors index options, and 100 currency pairs.