Total option volume is holding steady at 5.7 million contracts so far today with mixed action in the indexes and ETFs, according to optionMONSTER's data systems.
The SPDR S&P 500 Fund (SPY) has 880,000 contracts traded, with 491,000 puts. Next up are the S&P 500 Index (:SPX) options with 328,000, 190,000 of which are puts. The PowerShares QQQ Trust (QQQ) options have turned over 210,000 times, with slightly more puts than calls.
The iShares Russell 2000 Index Fund (IWM) sees 132,000 contracts changing hands, with calls outpacing puts by 20,000. The CBOE Volatility Index (:VIX) has 120,000 options traded, with calls outpacing puts by 3 to 1.
The U.S. Oil Fund (USO) has 73,000 contracts moving, with calls outnumbering puts by 2 to 1. The SPDR Gold Shares Fund (GLD) has 61,000 options, with 35,000 calls. The iPath S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN (VXX) has 51,000 options traded, with slightly more puts than calls.
More From optionMONSTER
Gold and silver prices have been hitting new multi-year lows, and Louise Yamada, head of LY Technical Research …