PHILADELPHIA- May 10, 2006 — The Philadelphia
Stock Exchange announced today that equity option volume in April
jumped 70.94% when 19,567,378 contracts traded compared to the same
period last year when 11,446,856 contracts traded. The Exchange
garnered 14.01% equity options market share in April making it the
third largest market center for options for the sixth month in a
row. Market share without ex-dividend volume of 1,656,642 contracts
was 13.24%. Equity option volume decreased 4.47% compared to the
previous month when 20,483,235 contracts traded.
Volume in sectors index options in April decreased 3.37% when 565,606
contracts traded compared to 585,331 contracts traded in the same
year-ago period. Sectors index options volume in April decreased
8.38% compared to previous month when 617,309 contracts traded.
Equity volume for April decreased 54.19% when 58,422,895 shares
traded compared to the same year-ago period when 127,531,932 shares
traded. Equity volume in April decreased 21.28% compared to the
previous month when 74,212,258 shares traded.
Trading volume in the customized and standardized currency options
for April totaled 9,478 contracts, a decrease of 26.86% compared
to the same year-ago period when 12,959 contracts traded. Volume
decreased 11% compared to the previous month when 10,649 contracts
traded.
PHLX currently lists options on 20 sectors, among them are: PHLX/KBW
Bank Index (BKXSM); KBW Insurance Index (KIXSM);
KBW Capital Markets Index (KSXSM); PHLX Drug SectorSM
(RXSSM); PHLX Gold/Silver SectorSM (XAUSM);
PHLX Oil Service SectorSM (OSXSM); PHLX Defense
SectorSM(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 SectorSM (XEXSM); SIG Cable, Media
& Entertainment IndexTM (SCQSM); SIG Casino
Gaming IndexÔ (SGVSM); SIG Semiconductor Device
IndexÔ (SDLSM); the SIG Steel Producers IndexTM
(STQSM).
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 Philadelphia Stock Exchange was founded in 1790. The PHLX trades
nearly 2,000 stocks, more than 2,000 equity options, 20 sectors
index options, and currency options and futures. For more information
about the PHLX and its products, visit www.phlx.com.
SIG Investment Managers Index™ is a trademark of Susquehanna
Indices, LLP.
SMQSM is a service mark of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange.
SIG Cable, Media and Entertainment Index™ is a trademark of
Susquehanna Indices, LLP.
SCQSM is a service mark of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange.
SIG Casino Gaming IndexÔ, SIG Semiconductor Capital Equipment
IndexÔ and SIG Semiconductor DeviceÔ Index are trademarks
of SIG Indices, LLLP. SGVSM, SEZSM and SDLSM
are service marks of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Inc.
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