Exchange-wide volume for August 2003 totaled 20,600,437 contracts (11,464,681 calls and 9,135,756 puts), down 7% versus the 22,022,906 contracts traded in August 2002. For the month of August, average daily volume was 980,973 contracts. At the end of August, open interest reached 119,577,733 contracts, 33% higher than the close of August 2002.
Stock options volume in August 2003 totaled 12,278,105 contracts (8,093,372 calls and 4,184,733 puts), a 6% decrease from the 13,085,454 contracts traded in August 2002. For the month of August, average daily volume in stock options was 584,672 contracts. Open interest in stock options stood at 99,968,257 contracts at the end of August 2003, up 31% from the end of August 2002.
In August 2003, total index options volume reached 8,308,354 contracts (3,359,695 calls and 4,948,659 puts), a decrease of 7% from the 8,932,738 contracts traded in August 2002. For the month of August, average daily volume in index options totaled 395,636 contracts. At the end of August 2003, open interest in index options was 19,592,598 contracts, 45% higher than August 2002.
Options on the S&P 500 Index (SPX) were the most-actively traded index options at CBOE during August 2003 with volume totaling 2,821,310 contracts, an increase of 8% when compared to the August 2002 volume of 2,610,750 contracts. Average daily volume during August in SPX options was 134,348 contracts. Open interest stood at 4,759,424 contracts at the end of August 2003, a gain of 14% over year-ago levels.
Trading volume for options on the Nasdaq-100 Index Tracking Stock (QQQ) totaled 2,028,987 contracts, a decrease of 14% from the August 2002 volume of 2,363,350 contracts. Average daily volume during August in QQQ options was 96,618 contracts. Open interest stood at 9,967,412 contracts at the end of August 2003, an increase of 65% over the August 2002 level.
Trading volume for options on the S&P 100 Index (OEX) experienced a decrease of 25% as August 2003 volume in OEX options totaled 1,010,677 contracts, versus the 1,346,904 contracts from August 2002. Average daily volume during August in OEX options was 48,127 contracts. Open interest stood at 233,845 contracts at the end of August 2003, down 28% from the 2002 level.
Trading volume for options on the S&P 100 Index with European-style settlement (XEO), however, posted a gain of 12%, as total volume in August was 148,055 contracts. Open interest stood at 121,758 contracts at the end of August 2003, 72% higher than the previous year's total.
Trading volume for options on the Russell 2000 Index (RUT) totaled 45,929 contracts, an increase of 83% over the August 2002 volume of 25,159 contracts. Average daily volume during August in RUT options was 2,187 contracts. Open interest stood at 140,705 contracts at the end of August 2003, up 75% from the previous year's total.
August 2003 trading volume for options on DIAMONDS (DIA) totaled 716,349 contracts, exceeding the August 2002 total of 492,355 contracts by 45%. Average daily volume during August in DIA options was 34,112 contracts, while open interest stood at 740,946 contracts at the end of August 2003, 223% above the year-ago levels. CBOE launched options on DIAMONDS on May 20, 2002.
CBOE, the world's largest options marketplace and the creator of listed options, is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). For additional information about the CBOE and its products, access the CBOE web site at www.cboe.com.
