Press

Eurex, the European derivatives market, is launching equity options on Givaudan on June 19, 2000. Givaudan is a spinoff of the Swiss company Roche and has been traded at SWX since June 8. The company was included in SMI, the SWX blue-chip index, on the same date. Starting on June 19, it will also be possible to trade options and futures on the Neuer Markt blue-chip index, the Nemax 50.

Eurex is thus further expanding its product line in equity and index options. Like all options at Eurex, the options on Givaudan will be supported by professional market making, which is intended to boost liquidity.

About 70 percent more equity options have been traded during the first five months of this year as compared with the same period of last year; turnover increased from 25.9 million contracts to 37.6 million contracts traded. Eurex attributes this rise in volume above all to increased interest on the part of private investors as well as the larger range of products available for trading in this segment at Eurex: Since September 1999, the derivatives market has introduced seven German, one Swiss, three Italian, eight Dutch and 11 Finnish stock options as well as six new index derivatives for trading.

To familiarize private investors with trading in futures and options, Eurex is offering a series of workshops in Germany and Switzerland this year. The next one will be held in Zurich on June 26 and 27. Details and information about registration for the workshops are provided at: http://www.eurexchange.com/retail/seminars_en.html