"Based on customer demand, CME continues to deliver on our growth strategy through new product offerings like end-of-month options in order to increase trading in our equity index options on futures markets," said Rick Redding, Managing Director, Products and Services for CME. "We have experienced record open interest levels with our CME S&P 500 product reaching 1.2 million positions on March 10, and we hope this builds on our increased customer interest. Additionally, we hope this offering builds on the success of our electronic options growth in equity index products, where average daily volume has grown from 10,000 contracts in February 2005 to 28,000 contacts in February 2006."
Under European-style rules, options holders are allowed to exercise their contract only on the date of expiration vs. American style which can be exercised into a futures position at any time prior to expiration.
Five market makers have been selected to help grow electronic end-of-month options for the CME E-mini S&P 500 equity options markets. As market makers, they will provide continuous, transparent and competitive markets for CME E- mini S&P 500 equity options traded on CME Globex(R).
Electronic options trading in all CME products continues to gain momentum as average daily volumes increased in February 2006 to 79,000, up from 19,000 in February 2005.
Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. ( http://www.cme.com ) is the world's largest and most diverse financial exchange. As an international marketplace, CME brings together buyers and sellers on CME Globex electronic trading platform and on its trading floors. CME offers futures and options on futures primarily in four product areas: interest rates, stock indexes, foreign exchange and commodities. The exchange moved about $1.4 billion per day in settlement payments in 2005 and managed $45.6 billion in collateral deposits at December 30, 2005, including $3.2 billion in deposits for non-CME products. CME is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Holdings Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: CME), which is part of the Russell 1000(R) Index.
Statements in this news release that are not historical facts are forward- looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements. More detailed information about factors that may affect our performance may be found in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which can be obtained at its Web site at http://www.sec.gov. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Chicago Mercantile Exchange, CME, the globe logo and CME Globex are registered trademarks of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. E-mini is a trademark of CME. S&P and S&P 500 and other trade names, service marks, trademarks and registered trademarks that are not proprietary to Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. are the property of their respective owners, and are used herein under license. Further information about CME and its products is available on the CME Web site at http://www.cme.com.
