CBOE: Second-Best Day In Its History—8.56 Million Contracts—As CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) Options Set Daily Volume Record Of Nearly 427,000 Contracts

The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) today recorded the second-best volume in its 35-year history as a reported 8,562,924 contracts changed hands. Last year, CBOE all-time volume hit 9.24 million contracts on August 16.

In addition, total reported volume in options on the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX)—426,961 contracts—beat the previous single-day volume record of 361,120 contracts set on Nov. 8, 2007.VIX is the widely disseminated benchmark index of market volatility and investor sentiment, sometimes referred to as the market's "fear gauge."

Through August, 106.7 million CBOE Volatility Index options contracts had changed hands, an average daily volume of more than 100,000 contracts. VIX options is the Exchange's second most active index option, surpassed in volume only by the CBOE's S&P 500 Index (SPX) options contract.

The VIX closed today at 30.30, among the highest levels since July. So far in 2008, the low for VIX was 16.25, recorded on May 15, and the highest level for the year was 37.57, established on January 22, 2008.

Historical data and more information on VIX can be found at: www.cboe.com/VIX.

CBOE, the largest options marketplace in the U.S. and the creator of listed options, is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). For additional information about the CBOE and its products, access the CBOE website at: www.cboe.com.