Pruguy,
Interesting news on option trading. Note the volume of Compaq options traded on this one exchange.
NW
7/17/98 5:33:48 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Pacific Exchange Records Busiest Week in History
SAN FRANCISCO, July 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Surging volume in technology issues pushed Pacific Exchange (PCX) options volume to a new record this week. A total of 1,839,882 contracts were traded on the PCX during the week of July 13, surpassing the old record 1,510,613 contracts, set the week of July 14, 1997.
For the week, the Exchange posted its second, fourth, fifth, and sixth busiest days in history. Trading in Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) led all PCX issues, with approximately 391,000 contracts traded. Compaq Computer (NYSE: CPQ) was next with about 352,000 contracts.
PCX options volume has risen 256 percent in recent years -- from 13.1 million contracts in 1992, to 46.7 million contracts in 1997. Through the first two quarters of 1998, the PCX traded more than 28.2 million contracts, a 35 percent increase over 1997 figures.
Volume is also growing on PCX equities floors in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Three of the Exchange's five busiest equities trading weeks ever have occurred in 1998. Through the first six months of 1998, the PCX traded about 1.7 billion shares, up 8.5 percent from 1997 numbers.
The PCX is America's technology stock options exchange and the nation's third most active stock exchange. Its options floor is home to Microsoft, Compaq Computer, Micron Technology, WorldCom, Sun Microsystems, 3Com, America Online, and many other technology issues. The Exchange trades about 2,700 securities and options on more than 800 underlying stocks.
SOURCE Pacific Exchange
CO: Pacific Exchange; Microsoft Corporation; Compaq Computer
ST: California
IN: FIN |
