Equity options volume for December 2001 was 5,992,326 contracts traded, a 30% decline over the same month last year when 8,599,848 contracts traded.
Equity trading volume reached 174,066,267 shares for December 2001, a .9 % increase over the same year ago period when 172,492,466 shares traded. For 2001, equity volume was 2.1 billion, a 5.6 % decline from the same year ago period when 2.2 billion shares traded.
Sector index options trading volume for 2001 totaled 4,516,995, up 17% over the same period last year when 3,863,764 contracts traded. Sector index options trading volume for December 2001 totaled 228,056 contracts, a 41 % decrease over the same year ago period when 387,923 contracts traded.
PHLX currently lists options on thirteen sectors: KBW Bank Sector (BKXSM); PHLX Computer Box Maker SectorSM (BMXSM); PHLX Drug SectorSM (RXSSM); PHLX Forest and Paper Products SectorSM (FPPSM); PHLX Gold/Silver SectorSM (XAUSM); PHLX Oil Service SectorSM (OSXSM); PHLX OTC Prime SectorSM (OTXSM); PHLX Defense SectorSM (DFXSM); PHLX Fiber Optics SectorSM (FOPSM); TheStreet.com Internet Sector (DOTSM); PHLX Semiconductor SectorSM (SOXSM); PHLX Utility SectorSM (UTYSM) and PHLX Wireless Telecom SectorSM (YLSSM).
Volume for 2001 in the customized and standardized currency options was 481,181, a 3% decrease over the same year ago period when 482,919 shares traded. For December 2001, volume in the customized and standardized currency options was 27,110 shares traded, a 60% decline over the same year ago period when 68,084 shares traded.
In 2001, PHLX listed 364 new option classes bringing the total number of stock option classes listed at the PHLX to 1,156. For 2001, volume in the PHLX Oil Service SectorSM (OSXSM) traded 2,896,796 contracts, a 19% increase over the same year ago period when 2,427,850 contracts traded. Volume in the PHLX Semiconductor SectorSM (SOXSM) for 2001 was 731,376 contracts traded, a 57% increase over the same year ago period when 465,623 contracts traded. Option trading volume at the PHLX for 2001 in the QQQ's, the Nasdaq-100 Index Tracking Stock, was 3,633,350 contracts.
Additionally, the PHLX added three new sectors in 2001: PHLX Defense SectorSM (DFXSM), PHLX Fiber Optics SectorSM (FOPSM ) ,and PHLX Drug SectorSM (RXSSM ).
"The Philadelphia Stock Exchange ended 2001 on a bittersweet note. While year-over-year options trading volume increased 34%, the events of Sept. 11 loom larger in our memories than any of the innovative trading products or services that the PHLX introduced during the course of the year. Even though 2001 was a successful year, industry-wide trading volume began to decline in the latter half of the year due to the recession, which will make 2002 a very exciting and competitive year for all exchanges. The PHLX plans to enhance its market share in 2002 through the introduction of several new initiatives which we will announce in the coming months that will enhance liquidity in the stock and options markets," said Meyer S. Frucher, the PHLX's chairman and chief executive officer.
The Philadelphia Stock Exchange was founded in 1790. The PHLX trades over 2,200 stocks, over 1,000 equity options, 13 sectors index options and currency options. For more information about the PHLX and its products, visit www.phlx.com.
