Exchange-wide volume for April 2003 totaled 22,772,736 contracts (12,953,983 calls and 9,818,753 puts), up 5% versus the 21,692,523 contracts traded in April 2002. For the month of April, average daily volume was 1,084,416 contracts. At the end of April, open interest reached 92,600,581 contracts, up 25% over the close of April 2002.
Stock options volume in April 2003 totaled 13,576,433 contracts (8,638,424 calls and 4,938,009 puts), a 10% increase over the previous month's (March 2003) total of 12,395,497 contracts, but a decrease of 13% when compared to the 15,510,492 contracts traded in April 2002. For the month of April, average daily volume in stock options was 646,497 contracts. Open interest in stock options stood at 76,810,970 contracts at the end of April 2003, up 20% from the end of April 2002.
For the twelfth consecutive month, total index options volume posted gains at CBOE. In April 2003, total index options volume reached 9,193,846 contracts (4,314,077 calls and 4,879,769 puts), an increase of 49% over the April 2002 total of 6,179,582 contracts. For the month of April, average daily volume in index options totaled 437,802 contracts. At the end of April 2003, open interest in index options was 15,780,097 contracts, 58% higher than April 2002.
Options on the S&P 500 Index (SPX) were the most-actively traded index options at CBOE during April, with volume totaling 3,179,688 contracts, which was an increase of 62% over the April 2002 volume of 1,963,831 contracts. Average daily volume during April in SPX options was 151,414 contracts. Open interest stood at 4,216,699 contracts at the end of April 2003, an increase of 31% over year-ago levels.
Trading volume for options on the S&P 100 Index (OEX) increased 43% as April 2003 volume in OEX options totaled 1,130,683 contracts, versus the 790,732 contracts from April 2002. Average daily volume during April in OEX options was 53,842 contracts. Open interest stood at 236,223 contracts at the end of April 2003, an increase of 20% over 2002.
Volume in Options on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJX) totaled 971,508 contracts, an increase of 36% from the April 2002 volume of 716,494 contracts. Average daily volume during April in DJX options was 46,262 contracts. Open interest stood at 979,997 contracts at the end of April 2003, an increase of 58% over year-ago levels. April trading volume for options on DIAMONDS (DIA) totaled 784,396 contracts. Average daily volume during April in DIA options was 37,352 contracts. Open interest stood at 694,581 contracts at the end of April 2003. CBOE launched options on DIAMONDS in May 2002.
Trading volume for options on the Nasdaq-100 Index Tracking Stock (QQQ) totaled 2,312,769 contracts, an increase of 36% over the April 2002 volume of 1,696,302 contracts. Average daily volume during April in QQQ options was 110,132 contracts. Open interest stood at 7,666,505 contracts at the end of April 2003, an increase of 69% over the April 2002 level.
Volume in the Nasdaq-100 Index options (NDX) totaled 103,068 contracts, an increase of 16% over the April 2002 volume of 89,234 contracts. Average daily volume during April in NDX options was 4,908 contracts. Open interest stood at 103,212 contracts at the end of April 2003, an increase of 71% over the April 2002 level.
Volume for options on the Russell 2000 Index (RUT) totaled 55,665 contracts, an increase of 199% over the April 2002 volume of 18,592 contracts. Average daily volume during April in RUT options was 2,651 contracts. Open interest stood at 123,470 contracts at the end of April 2003, an increase of 8% from April 2002.
On April 28, 2003, CBOE began listing options on three new exchange-traded funds: iShares Lehman 1-3 Year Treasury Bond Fund (ticker symbol SHY); iShares Lehman 7-10 Year Treasury Bond Fund (ticker symbol IEF); and iShares Lehman 20+ Year Treasury Bond Fund (ticker symbol TLT).
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.
