Options Industry Jumps out to Impressive Start in 2007, Sets New Daily Volume Record

Chicago—January 8, 2007

The Options Industry Council (OIC) announced that a new daily trading volume record was set Friday, January 5, 2007, when 15,831,615 contracts changed hands, a 6.3 percent increase over the previous record of 14,888,644 contracts set Friday, January 20, 2006.

Friday’s record volume builds on the momentum of another record volume year as more than 2 billion contracts were traded in 2006. Record-setting volume has occurred the past four consecutive years and nine of the last ten years.

Equity options trading also set a new record Friday with 15,068,634 contracts traded, a 13.5 percent increase over the previous record of 13,271,074 set on January 20, 2006.

“The record volume on Friday was nearly double the average daily volume in 2006,” said Susan Milligan, OIC Executive Director. “This is another indication of the growing knowledge among investors of the many ways options can enhance their investment strategies.”

About OIC

OIC is a non-profit association funded by the American Stock Exchange, Boston Options Exchange, Chicago Board Options Exchange, International Securities Exchange, NYSE Arca, Philadelphia Stock Exchange and The Options Clearing Corporation. OIC's resources include: The Options Industry Services Help Desk at 1-888-OPTIONS, educational Web sites at www.888options.com and www.OICoptions.com, live seminars throughout the continental United States and Canada , instructional videos and educational literature and software.

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