Average daily volume in CME E-mini S&P 500 options has grown from 9,417 in the first quarter of 2005 to 15,980 contracts traded in the third quarter. In September CME E-mini S&P 500 options averaged a record 20,540 contracts per day.
Beginning on Sunday, October 9, CME is implementing technology enhancements, including mass quoting capabilities for market makers, which will further facilitate trading of its electronically traded equity and foreign exchange products including CME E-mini S&P 500 options.
Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. ( http://www.cme.com ) is the world's largest and most diverse financial exchange. As an international marketplace, CME brings together buyers and sellers on CME Globex electronic trading platform and on its trading floors. CME offers futures and options on futures primarily in four product areas: interest rates, stock indexes, foreign exchange and commodities. The exchange moved about $1.6 billion per day in settlement payments in the first half of 2005 and managed $43.7 billion in collateral deposits at June 30, 2005, including $4.0 billion in deposits for non-CME products. CME is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Holdings Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: CME), which is part of the Russell 1000(R) Index.