Philadelphia Stock Exchange Announces February Volume - "Only Floor-Based Options Exchange To Increase Market Share In February"

The Philadelphia Stock Exchange (PHLX) announced today that for the month of February, equity options volume totaled 6,457,466 contracts, an increase of 4.15% when compared to the same month last year when 6,200,295 contracts traded. The PHLX was the only floor-based options exchange to increase market share for the month of February. PHLX market share in February was 12.94%, up from the previous month's market share of 12.44%, and up from the same year-ago period when market share was 11.20%.

Equity trading volume for the month of February reached a record volume for that month, up 62.90%, when 244,677,214 shares traded compared to the same month last year when 150,202, 743 shares traded. Equity volume decreased 12.96% compared to the previous month's volume when 281,118,277 shares traded.

Sectors index options trading volume in February increased 24.22% when 261,200 contracts traded compared to the previous month when 210,265 contracts traded. Sector index option volume declined 33.26% when compared to the same month last year when 391,380 contracts traded.

PHLX currently lists options on 12 sectors: PHLX/KBW Bank Index (BKX^SM); PHLX Computer Box Maker Sector^SM (BMX^SM); PHLX Drug Sector^SM (RXS^SM); PHLX Forest and Paper Products Sector^SM (FPP^SM); PHLX Gold/Silver Sector^SM (XAU^SM); PHLX Oil Service Sector^SM (OSX^SM); PHLX OTC Prime Sector^SM (OTX^SM); PHLX Defense Sector^SM (DFX^SM); TheStreet.com Internet Sector (DOT^SM); PHLX Semiconductor Sector^SM (SOX^SM); PHLX Utility Sector^SM (UTY^SM); and the PHLX Housing Sector^SM (HGX^SM).

Trading volume in February in the customized and standardized currency options totaled 17,450 contracts, an 18.44% decrease from the previous month when 21,394 contracts traded, and a 51.53% decrease from the same month last year when 36,001 contracts traded.

The Philadelphia Stock Exchange (PHLX) was founded in 1790. The PHLX trades more than 2,200 stocks, 1,016 listed equity options, 12 sectors index options and currency pairs. For more information about the PHLX and its products, visit www.phlx.com.