Total option volume is quite low at just 4 million contracts so far today as markets await Eurozone meetings at the end of the week, while apparent hedging activity tops action in the indexes and ETFs, optionMONSTER's data systems show.
The SPDR S&P 500 Fund (SPY) has 686,000 options traded, led by 473,000 puts. The S&P 500 Index (:SPX) is next up with 176,000, 113,000 of which are puts. Just behind are the iShares Russell 2000 Fund (IWM) contracts at 168,000, also with a put/call ratio approaching 2 to 1.
The PowerShares QQQ Trust (QQQ) has seen 113,000 contracts turn over, 75,000 of them puts. The CBOE Volatility Index (:VIX) has 95,000 options traded, with slightly more puts than calls. The SPDR Gold Shares Fund (GLD) has 65,000 options changing hands, 39,000 of which are calls.
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