VIX closed today on its low for the day, at 11.78, down .21, after opening at 12.22, which was close to the high of the day of 12.32. Trading activity was spread across strike prices and months, with heavy volume in June 12.50 calls, August 20 calls and November 12.50 calls. VIX options trade on the February expiration cycle with May, June, August, November and February expirations currently available.
In April, average daily volume for VIX options was 15,052 contracts, 57% above March volume-the first full month of trading in VIX options. Total volume in VIX options during April was 285,994 contracts. VIX options were launched February 24, 2006.
VIX is the widely disseminated benchmark index commonly referred to as the market's "fear gauge," and for the first time, investors now have the opportunity to trade options on this premier measure of market volatility and investor sentiment. The VIX price is calculated and disseminated by the CBOE throughout the trading day. VIX futures (futures ticker symbol VX) have been available on the all-electronic CBOE Futures Exchange (CFE) since 2004.
CBOE has created a new section of its award-winning website, offering education on VIX trading strategies, historical price data on the VIX going back to 1986, charts, answers to frequently-asked questions, and a free options toolbox, at: www.cboe.com/VIXOptions.
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 website at: www.cboe.com.
