CME Group Announces The Launch Of New Average Price Options Contracts

CME Group, the world's largest and most diverse derivatives exchange, today announced four new average price options contracts, scheduled to begin trading on March 8 for trade date March 9. These contracts are listed with, and subject to, the rules and regulations of NYMEX. The products will be available through the CME ClearPort®, an open clearing system, and the New York trading floor.

The new average price options contracts and their commodity codes will be: propane (OPIS) (G1); Mont Belvieu natural gasoline (OPIS) (E1); Mont Belvieu ethane (OPIS) (F1); and Mont Belvieu normal butane (OPIS) (D1).

There will be 20 strike prices in increments of $0.01 per gallon above and below the at-the-money strike price for a total of at least 41 strike prices. The contracts will expire on the last business day of the underlying calendar month.

The contracts will be 42,000 gallons in size with a minimum price fluctuation of $0.0001 per gallon. Consecutive monthly contracts will be listed for the balance of the current year plus three additional years, beginning with the March 2009 contract.

For more information, please visit www.nymex.com.