Eurex Launches Two New Dutch Equity Options - Equity Options On Rodamco Europe And TomTom Available For Trading From 20 March

Eurex, the world's largest derivatives exchange, will be launching options on the Dutch equities Rodamco Europe and TomTom on 20 March. The two stocks have recently been included in the Dutch AEX index. This move brings the total of options offered by the world’s largest derivatives market on Dutch equities to 26, providing full coverage of the AEX index. A contract for the new product comprises 100 shares, and has a maximum maturity of 60 months.

The new options will also be included in the Dutch Advanced Market Making program. Advanced Market Making refers to a process whereby market makers continually quote prices for complete equity and index option groups.

Approximately 13 million Dutch equity options were traded on Eurex in 2005. For options on components of the Dutch Euro STOXX 50, market share is now around 14 percent. Eurex has increased its share of open positions (Open Interest) to around 17 percent. The number of open positions is seen as an important indicator for the future growth of a derivatives market. The number of participants trading Dutch options on Eurex has once again increased substantially – in February, a total of 120 banks and financial services providers actively traded in Dutch equity options.

Peter Reitz, Member of the Executive Board of Eurex said; “Eurex is continuing to expand its position as the leading equity options exchange and the most liquid and transparent marketplace in Europe. With more than 180 equity options from eight countries and a broad portfolio of equity index futures, options and single stock futures, we can offer our customers comprehensive trading opportunities.”

The equity options segment turned over more than 256 million contracts in 2005, representing growth of around 21 percent year-on-year.