First quarter equity options volume also reached record highs when 47,106,166 contracts traded, more than double the volume during the same period in 2000 when 23,443,457 contracts traded.
Equity trading volume in May was 159,917,297. For the first quarter in 2001, equity trading volume reached 920,541,702 shares. The PHLX currently trades nearly 2,200 equities.
Volume for May in the PHLX's ten sectors index options reached 379,815 contracts traded, a 30% increase over the same period last year when 338,639 contracts traded.
In addition, sectors index options trading volume for the first quarter of 2001 reached a record high of 2,074,283, an increase of 30 % over the same year ago period when 1,590,509 contracts traded.
PHLX currently lists options on ten sectors: Computer Box Maker Sector, (BMX); Forest and Paper Sector, (FPP); Gold/Silver Sector, (XUA); Oil Service Sector, (OSX); OTC Prime Sector, (XOC); PHLX/KBW Bank Sector, (BKK); The Street.com Internet Sector, (DOT); Semiconductor Sector, (SOX); Utility Sector, (UTY); and Wireless Telecom Sector, (YLS).
The Philadelphia Stock Exchange (PHLX), the nations first stock exchange, was founded in 1790. Its tradition of leadership in global trading carries into the 21st century. It is now the fastest growing options exchange in the country. Advanced trading systems backed by state-of-the-art technology have led to unprecedented trading volumes. PHLX members include the largest, best-capitalized specialist firms in the global equity derivatives market. For more information about the PHLX and its products, including more than 2,200 stocks, 920 listed equity options, 10 sectors index options and currency options, visit www.phlx.com.
