S&P 100® Index Options

S&P 100 options bring an added dimension to stock market investing by giving you the ability to trade and invest on an entirely different level. Instead of requiring you to focus on specific stocks, S&P 100 options allow you to trade a large segment of the domestic stock market with a single transaction.

Benefits of S&P 100 Index Options

Large Contract Size
Trade S&P 100 Index options with a $100 multiplier
Cash Settled
Trading account is credited/debited in cash, not ETF shares
Mixed Exercise
American (OEX) or European (XEO)
60/40 Tax Treatment
Capital gains may benefit from 60/40 tax treatment*

Historical Performance for S&P 100 Index Options

Trading S&P 100 Index Options

The Standard & Poor's 100 Index is a capitalization-weighted index based on 100 highly capitalized stocks from a broad range of industries. More than one billion S&P 100 options contracts have been traded since the Cboe launched the trading of options on the OEX, the first cash-settled securities product, on March 11, 1983. On November 24, 1997, the index had a 2-for-1 split.

To provide investors with added flexibility in managing large-cap U.S. equity exposure, a number of S&P 100 options are now offered:

  • S&P 100 Index Options with American-style exercise (OEX)
  • S&P 100 Index Options with European-style exercise (XEO)
  • Quarterly European-style S&P 100 Index Options (XEO)

Trading Resources

*Under section 1256 of the Tax Code, profit and loss on transactions in certain exchange-traded options, including OEX, are entitled to be taxed at a rate equal to 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gain or loss, provided that the investor involved and the strategy employed satisfy the criteria of the Tax Code. Investors should consult with their tax advisors to determine how the profit and loss on any particular option strategy will be taxed. Tax laws and regulations change from time to time and may be subject to varying interpretations.