CBOE Sets Single-Day Trading And Seat Sale Records On Thursday - Thursday's Volume Of 5.7M Contracts, Seat Sale Of $1.1 Million Are New All-Time Records At CBOE

The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) announced today that reported trading volume at CBOE on Thursday, March 16th was more than 5.7 million contracts, setting a new all-time record for the busiest single trading day in the Exchange's 33-year history. The previous record of 5.3 million contracts was set at CBOE on January 20, 2006.

Trading volume at CBOE in 2005 was a record-setting 468.2 million contracts, with average daily volume of 1.86 million contracts -- 30% higher than 2004. Through the first two months of 2006, year-to-date average daily volume at CBOE stands at 2.5 million contracts, 49% ahead of 2005's pace.

Also on Thursday, March 16th, CBOE reported that seat prices reached record levels as an Exchange seat was bought for $1,100,000, a new all-time record high. Today's sale was the twenty-third seat transaction of 2006 - ten of which have been for at least one million dollars. Since January 2005, CBOE seat prices have increased 268%.

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, visit the CBOE website at: http://www.cboe.com/