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S&P 500® Range Options (SRO)     www.cboe.com/SRO

 
SPX
BXR  
SPX 1679.46 10.30
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S&P 500® Range Options

Range Options give investors with an outlook on S&P 500 Index prices a new way to gain exposure to the market


OVERVIEW

Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated (CBOE) has created a new class of S&P 500 Index options, called CBOE S&P 500 Range Options, ticker symbol SRO. Range Options are European-style, cash-settled options that have a positive payout if the settlement value of the underlying index falls within the specified range - known as the "Range Length" (set at 70 S&P 500 Index pts.) - at expiration and a predetermined maximum risk (loss) equal to the premium paid (plus commission costs) if the settlement value falls outside of the range. Range Options will be offered with a number of different strike prices (representing various 70-point ranges) to choose from.

IN BRIEF

A single Range Option replicates four (4) individual call options on the S&P 500 Index ("SPX") to create one efficient product. Many trading professionals refer to this complex multi-legged strategy as a Condor. CBOE has standardized and streamlined this method to provide a simple, cost effective and lower-risk tool for non-professionals to partake in one of the most popular trading strategies utilized in high and low volatility environments. Additionally, given Range Options' lower risk profile they can be purchased or written in a cash account. The illustration below demonstrates the 70 point SPX range length (1365 to 1435) that would comprise a typical Range Option.





APPLICATION

If a market participant anticipates the S&P 500 Index to fluctuate in a particular range, (i.e. a low volatility trading environment), the market participant may consider buying a Range Option with the expectation that the underlying S&P 500 Index will settle within the specified range length (1365 and 1435) at expiration. Contrarily, if they believe the S&P 500 Index will trade in a wide range, i.e. perhaps from a high volatility environment, the market participant may consider writing a Range Option with the expectation that the underlying S&P 500 Index will settle outside the range length, either below 1365 or above 1435 at expiration.

BENEFITS

Range Options provide:

    • Streamlined method to trade a complex (multi-legged) strategy
    • Cost effective tool to execute a complicated order
    • Predetermined risk profile as maximum profits and losses are transparent and limited
    • Versatile strategy that provides opportunities to take advantage of either low or high volatility trading environments
    • In many cases low cost premiums affords attractive risk-reward profiles
    • And, they can be purchased or written out of a cash account

For additional information please contact: Doug Hoffman 312-786-7699, or at Hoffman@cboe.com


Additional Links

Methodology
Specifications
Press Release
RG12-117: SRO Product Description / Margin and Net Capital Requirements
RG12-120: Transaction Fees in CBOE S&P 500 Range Options
CBOE S&P 500 Range Options Webcast by Russell Rhoads