Nymex To Expand Trading In Crude Oil And Natural Gas Calendar Spread Options To 24 Months

The New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc., will expand to 24 from 12 the number of consecutively listed months available for one-month spreads in its light, sweet crude oil and natural gas calendar spread options contracts beginning September 22.

The options contracts on spreads between the first and third nearby months, the first and fourth nearby months, the second and fourth nearby months, and the June-December, December-June and December-December spreads will continue to be listed for both commodities.

Exchange President J. Robert Collins, Jr., said, "By expanding the number of months listed for one-month spread options contracts, the Exchange provides market participants with additional choices and flexibility for managing price risk."