Press

Eurex, the international derivatives market, is extending the terms for German and Swiss equity options. Effective July 21, the world's leading equity options market will extend the terms of 20 German and 14 Swiss equity options from currently 12 months to a maximum of 24 months.

Eurex is extending the terms for these equity options in response to the growing demand from participants for equity option products with longer terms. This is also in line with the trend on the over-the-counter (OTC) market, Eurex said. The longer terms offer market participants additional trading alternatives: Being able to hold equity options also for a longer term gives market participants much greater flexibility. By continuously adapting and expanding its portfolio of products and services, Eurex is underscoring its leading position as the Number One provider of services for exchange-traded derivatives products worldwide.

Eurex is the most liquid market for European equity options. The market interest in options on European equities continues to grow steadily: A total of more than 90 million equity option contracts have already been traded at Eurex during the first six months of 2003, with 57 million contracts traded in the German segment and 23.7 million contracts in the Swiss segment. Eurex achieved over 22 percent growth in its equity options segment, year on year, during the first half of 2003.