Euronext.liffe Launches Two New Belgian Equity Options - Three-Month Fee Holiday On Barco And Omega Pharma Options

From 13 October Euronext.liffe, the international derivatives business of Euronext, will offer options on Barco and Omega Pharma on the LIFFE CONNECTâ trading platform, in response to customer demand. These listings will be on Euronext.liffe Brussels and will increase Euronext.liffe's Belgian equity options offering to 17 and provide customers with 90% coverage of the BEL20â Index.

Initially, Euronext.liffe will not charge any trading fees for trading these two new equity options. This fee holiday will apply until the end of 2003.

In addition, from 13 October Euronext.liffe will improve liquidity in the market by introducing 1, 2 and 12 month option series on both the existing and the newly-introduced equity option classes.

Fraser Cowie, Executive Director of Marketing at Euronext.liffe said: "The addition of these options is just one of many actions we are taking in our drive to be the leading exchange for cross-border equity derivatives trading in Europe. There has been significant customer interest in both Barco and Omega Pharma. The listing of serial and 12 month options gives our customers greater flexibility and new trading opportunities."

Liquidity in these new equity options will be provided by two market makers.