Equity options volume for the month of September 2000 set a new monthly volume record of 6,139,724 contracts traded, a 76% increase over the same month last year when 3,484,428 contracts changed hands. In addition, year-to-date equity options volume also set a new record of 45,562,006 contracts traded. This represents a 39% increase over the first nine months of 1999, the previous record, when 32,754,686 contracts traded.
Volume in the PHLX's eleven sectors index options during the first nine months of 2000 reached a record of 2,728,053 contracts traded, an increase of 13% over the first nine months of 1999 when 2,419,876 contracts traded. PHLX currently lists options on eleven sectors: Computer Box Maker Sector, Forest and Paper Sector, Gold/Silver Sector, National Over-the-Counter Sector, Oil Service Sector, OTC Prime Service Sector, PHLX/KBW Bank Sector, The Street.com Internet Sector, Semiconductor Sector, Utility Sector, and Wireless Telecom Sector.
Volume in the PHLX's customized and standardized currency options reached 356,240 contracts traded for the first nine months of the year for an underlying value of approximately $16 billion.
The PHLX trades more than 2,300 stocks, nearly 800 equity options, 11 sectors index options and 100 currency pairs. Founded in 1790, the PHLX is the nation's first securities exchange.
