Equity options volume for the year rose 17.12% when 127,898,363 contracts compared to the previous year when 109,205,164 contracts traded. Equity options volume in December declined 17.76% when 9,799,726 contracts traded compared to the previous month when 11,916,067 contracts traded.
Sectors index options for the year increased 63.75% when 5,275,701 contracts traded compared to 3,221,814 contracts traded in 2003. Sectors index options volume in December reached 347,362 contracts, a decline of 22.75% compared to the previous month when 449,650 contracts traded.
Equity volume for the year reached 2,913,781,654 shares, down 32.19% from the previous year when 3,304,034, 646 shares traded. Volume for December decreased 34.76% when 177,905,429 shares traded compared to the previous month when 272,700,389 shares traded. Equity volume declined 11.81% compared to the same year-ago period.
Trading volume in the customized and standardized currency options for December totaled 14,132 contracts, a decrease of 41.64% % compared to the previous month when 24,217 contracts traded. Yearly volume declined 17.18% when 230,779 contracts traded compared to the previous year when 278,649 contracts traded.
PHLX currently lists options on 19 sectors: PHLX/KBW Bank Index (BKXSM); KBW Insurance Index (KIXSM); KBW Capital Markets Index (KSXSM) PHLX Computer Box Maker Sector SM (BMXSM); PHLX Drug SectorSM (RXSSM); PHLX Gold/Silver SectorSM (XAUSM); PHLX Oil Service SectorSM (OSXSM); PHLX Defense Sector SM (DFXSM); TheStreet.com Internet Sector (DOTSM); PHLX Semiconductor SectorSM (SOXSM); PHLX Utility SectorSM (UTYSM); PHLX Housing SectorSM (HGXSM), the SIG Investment Managers Index™ (SMQSM), the PHLX Europe Sector (XEX SM,), SIG Cable, Media & Entertainment IndexTM (SCQSM), SIG Casino Gaming Index (SGVSM); SIG Semiconductor Capital Equipment Index (SEZSM), SIG Semiconductor Device Index (SDLSM) and the SIG Steel Producers IndexTM(STQ).
The PHLX now trades iShares FTSE/Xinhua China 25 Index Fund (FXISM) This is the first time investors in the United States and abroad will be able to track the performance of the largest and most widely traded Chinese stocks by mirroring the FTSE/Xinhua China 25 Index, which captures the top Chinese stocks available to international investors by total market capitalization.
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, nearly 1,600 equity options, 19 sectors index options, and currency options and futures. For more information about the PHLX and its products, visit www.phlx.com