Eurex introduces new European-style options on German stocks

Launch on 21 February/ Maturities extended on existing German and Russian options

The international derivatives exchange Eurex today announced that it will launch 11 new equity options on leading German companies on 21 February 2011. The options will be on Allianz, BASF, Bayer, Commerzbank, Daimler, Deutsche Bank, Deutsche Telekom, EON, RWE, SAP and Siemens. The 11 new contracts will have European exercise styles, whereas the rest of Eurex’s equity options follow American exercise styles. European-style options may be exercised only on the expiry date while American-style options may be exercised at any time before the expiry date. All other contract specifications are consistent with Eurex’s existing equity options products, including eligibility for Eurex’s Block Trade Facility.

Separately, the expiration dates of German equity options will be consistently set to 60 months. Effective 14 February, this change allows the introduction of two semi-annual and two annual expiration dates for certain contracts.

Similarly, the expiration dates for Russian equity options will be extended to 24 months, with two semi-annual expirations dates for all contracts. Currently, Eurex offers options on 72 German shares and four Russian companies.