Euronext introduces weekly options classes on French and Belgian single stocks

Amsterdam, Brussels, Lisbon, London and Paris – 28 August 2015 – Euronext today announced the launch of new weekly options on single stocks on the Euronext Paris and Brussels derivatives markets. These short term option classes on three Belgian shares (AB InBev, KBC Groep and UCB) and seven French shares (AXA, BNP Paribas, ENGIE, Orange, Peugeot, Societe Generale and Total) are available for trading as from today.

Following the success of weekly options on Dutch stocks and upon request from market participants, Euronext is now extending the offering to Brussels and Paris. From the launch in July 2010, weekly options on Dutch shares have shown increasing average daily volumes. In 2015 so far, almost 230,000 contracts have been traded, representing an increase of 60% compared with 2014, and 215% compared with 2013. This trend is in line with the overall interest for weekly options on the US and European markets. Currently, Euronext offers weekly options on 14 individual shares listed in Amsterdam.

The key attraction of weekly options is that they cost less to trade than longer-dated alternatives. Generally the premium payable on short-lived weekly options is lower because its time value element is smaller. Besides this, weekly options can benefit from the volatility of an individual share with short-term trading strategies.

“We are excited to see Euronext offering more products in this major growth area,” explains Cathal Hardiman of Susquehanna International Securities Limited.“Weekly options have seen significant growth in Europe this year, and are already very well established in the US (accounting for 25% of total options volume traded in 2014, according to TABB Group). As well as these new listings, Susquehanna market makes weeklies in all names where they are listed, and interacts with a high proportion of the weekly volumes traded in Europe.”

“As a market maker and dedicated partner of Euronext, B&Bt NV is very proud to take part into the constant drive of Euronext to increase the range and flexibility of derivative products,” declares Erik Bevers, Managing Director of B&Bt NV. “By expanding our market making product range with the weekly options, B&Bt fully supports the extension of trading opportunities on the derivatives market.”

“With the launch of weekly options, we are answering the needs of the well-informed investor looking to leverage price fluctuations in blue chip stocks,” adds Adam Rose, Head of Financial Derivatives of Euronext. “By rolling out the successful franchise on Dutch stocks to Euronext Brussels and Paris, we are now the reference market for weekly options on Euronext listed stocks.”

Note to Editors:
_{Four separate option classes per underlying value will be introduced. Each class will have a fixed last day of trading, this is either the first Friday of the month, the second Friday of the month, the fourth Friday of the month or, when applicable, the fifth Friday of the month.}