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Strategies & Market Trends : The Options Box -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Poet who wrote (9858)	3/5/2001 3:54:46 PM
From: hobo	Respond to of 10876

Volume in equity LEAPS(r) (Long-Term Equity AnticiPation Securities(r)) increased significantly in February, as investors turned to longer-term options in response to market volatility. Total volume in equity LEAPS totaled 1,956,780 contracts, a 37% increase over February 2000 volume of 1,430,690 contracts. Trading in S&P 500(r) (SPX) LEAPS totaled 125,042 contracts in February, a 153% increase over February 2000 volume of 49,526 contracts. That's an interesting piece of statistic. It could also be a way of "financing" part of margin (if the particular investors had any --this, on a "covered call" situation). Some good news ? Slight recovery for US service sector in February By Peronet Despeignes in Washington Published: March 5 2001 16:01GMT \| Last Updated: March 5 2001 17:43GMT Non-manufacturing activity in the US rebounded slightly last month, likely buoying the spirits of those who have pinned their hopes for economic recovery outside the manufacturing sector. The National Association of Purchasing Management said on Monday its non-manufacturing activity index rose from a record low of 50.1 in January to 51.7 in February. A forward-looking component - new orders - also rose slightly. Any result above 50 indicates expansion, while a figure below 50 indicates contraction. The index hit 60.1 in December, the second-highest level in its four-year history. The steep drop in January, suggested US economic weakness had spread beyond the embattled manufacturing sector. Many analysts have pinned their hopes for a quick economic recovery in the US on growth outside manufacturing, which has shrunk for at least four months but makes up only one-fifth of the economy. news.ft.com