Total option volume has reached 5.5 million contracts so far today, with some different names showing heavy activity in the major indexes and ETFs on optionMONSTER's data systems.
The SPDR S&P 500 Fund (:SPY) tops the volume list as usual at 747,000 contracts, with 429,000 puts. Next is the iShares Emerging Markets Fund (EEM) at 335,000, dominated by 301,000 puts.
The iShares Russell 2000 Fund (:IWM) has 202,000 contracts traded, with puts outpacing calls by 4 to 1. The S&P 500 Index (:SPX) has seen 190,000 move, with 114,000 puts.
The PowerShares QQQ Trust (:QQQ) has 130,000 contracts changing hands, with 79,000 puts. The CBOE Volatility Index (:VIX) options have turned over 120,000 contracts, with calls outpacing puts by 5 to 1. The iShares Dow Jones U.S. Real Estate Fund (IYR) follows with 112,000 contracts, led by 80,000 puts. (See related story )
The SPDR Gold Shares Fund (GLD) has 107,000 options traded, with 69,000 puts. And the iPath S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures Note (:VXX) has 90,000 contracts traded, 70,000 of which are calls.
More From optionMONSTER
Sharemarkets across Asia mostly rose on Friday after an interest rate cut from the European Central Bank and prospects …