CME Group To Streamline Short-Dated Standard And E-Mini S&P 500 Options Strike Prices - New Methodology Will Reduce Number Of Strike Prices By 40 Percent, Providing More Relevant Pricing To Customers

CME Group, the world's leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace, plans to reduce the number of listed strike prices for Standard and E-mini S&P 500 options, pending regulatory review. This change is designed to offer a more relevant mix of strike prices for short-term investors. It will apply to Monday, Wednesday and Friday weekly expirations that are listed after Oct. 1, 2018. This change will exclude Standard and E-mini S&P 500 options that expire on the third Friday of every month, as well as end-of-month and quarterly E-mini S&P 500 options.

Over the last few years, the market for short-dated S&P 500 options on futures has grown, as have the number of strike prices associated with Monday- Wednesday- and Friday weekly options contracts. Based on how client risk management needs have changed, CME Group will reduce the number of strikes offered by 40% while maintaining the ability to list new strikes daily should the market move. This new approach is designed to increase liquidity in the most-used strike prices as well as ensure the appropriate mix of strikes for short-term investors.

"We know short-dated options are an important tool for investors looking to manage risk around major market events," said Tim McCourt, Global Head of Equity Index Products for CME Group. "Optimizing strike prices to reflect the expected range for the market will provide investors with greater precision and a streamlined trading experience."

"With this change, CME Group will improve the efficiency and simplicity of its options on futures markets and ultimately the liquidity of the market," said JB Mackenzie, Managing Director of Futures and Forex at TD Ameritrade. "This will make it easier for retail clients to make strike selections at a time where their interest in options on futures continues to grow."

Standard and E-mini S&P 500 futures and options are listed by and subject to the rules of CME. More information is available at cmegroup.com/equityoptionstrike. Please visit CME Institute for information on CME Group strike price intervals: institute.cmegroup.com/courses/introduction-to-options/modules/what-is-exercise-price-strike.