The Philadelphia Stock Exchange Announces May Volume; “Sectors Index Option Volume Up Nearly 158% Compared To Same Year-Ago Period”

The Philadelphia Stock Exchange announced today that volume in sectors index options trading reached 519,362 contracts marking a nearly 158% increase in volume compared to the same year-ago period when 201,566 contracts traded. Sectors index options trading decreased 20.38% from the previous month when 652,352 contracts traded.

Volume in equity options increased 13.40% when 9,717,982 contracts traded as compared to the same year-ago period when 8,569,550 contracts traded. Volume was down 16.88% compared to last month when 11,692,026 contracts traded.

Equity volume for May was down 23.63% when 248,423,653 shares traded compared to 325,202,713 shares that traded during the same month last year. Equity volume declined 7.14% compared to the previous month when 267,516,091 shares traded.

Trading volume in the customized and standardized currency options for May totaled 11,974 contracts, a decrease of 43.54% compared to the same month last year when 21,207 contracts traded.

PHLX currently lists options on 15 sectors: PHLX/KBW Bank Index (BKX^SM); KBW Insurance Index (KIX^SM); PHLX Computer Box Maker Sector^SM (BMX^SM); PHLX Drug Sector^SM (RXS^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); PHLX Housing Sector^SM (HGX^SM), the SIG Investment Managers Index^TM (SMQ^SM), the PHLX Europe Sector (XEX^SM), and the SIG Cable, Media & Entertainment Index^TM (SCQ^SM).

The PHLX also lists two options on the NASDAQ Composite Index® which are listed and traded only at the Philadelphia Stock Exchange. Options on the Nasdaq Composite Index offer investors a unique instrument for trading and hedging. Put and call options are available in both full-size (QCX) and mini contracts (QCE). Both of these products are the only option products available on the Index that are cash-settled with a European-Type exercise.

The Philadelphia Stock Exchange was founded in 1790. The PHLX trades 2,000 stocks, more than 1,400 equity options, 15 sectors index options, and currency options and futures. For more information about the PHLX and its products, visit www.phlx.com.