By Margot Habiby
Oct. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Bets that oil prices will top $100 a barrel in December jumped 10 percent yesterday to a record on the New York Mercantile Exchange, as the underlying futures rose to the highest level this year.
The number of contracts outstanding on December $100 call options rose to 77,494 yesterday, according to Nymex data released today. That was up from 70,442 the day before, the previous high. The contract has more open interest than any other oil option on the exchange. November options expire at the close of floor trading today.
The December calls rose 1 cent to 13 cents a barrel, or $130 a contract, yesterday on record volume of 12,595 lots, 45 percent more than the next most-active contract. They gained 8 cents today to settle at 21 cents a barrel at 4:26 p.m., based on Nymex electronic data and preliminary volume of 698 lots.
The exchange distributes real-time data on electronic trading of crude oil options. Most information on floor trading, where the bulk of options trading occurs, is released the next business day. The delayed data include overall volumes and open interest. The exchange releases a settlement price at the end of each business day.
Oil for December delivery rose $2.48, or 3.3 percent, to settle at $78.08 a barrel at 2:44 p.m. on the Nymex. Yesterday, it added 89 cents, or 1.2 percent, to $75.60. December futures have risen 12 percent in six days.
Oil for November delivery, the most active futures contract, added $2.40, or 3.2 percent, to $77.58 a barrel. Earlier, the futures touched $77.97, the highest level in a year, after an Energy Department report showed an unexpected decline in U.S. gasoline stockpiles.
In the Money
Bets that oil prices will rise above $77 a barrel in November were the most active crude options today, rising 37 cents to 58 cents a barrel, or $580 a contract, on volume of 1,595 lots. Since November futures settled above $77, the contract expired âin the moneyâ at the end of the trading day, meaning its holders would make a profit.
Other active options contracts today were December $80 calls, up 71 cents to $3.18 a barrel; December $70 puts, down 78 cents to $1.25 a barrel; and December $85 calls, up 42 cents to $1.63 a barrel.
Yesterdayâs most active options included December $90 calls, March $60 puts, March $90 calls and December $80 calls.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601207&sid=auKRxcNPTay0
Oct. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Bets that oil prices will top $100 a barrel in December jumped 10 percent yesterday to a record on the New York Mercantile Exchange, as the underlying futures rose to the highest level this year.
The number of contracts outstanding on December $100 call options rose to 77,494 yesterday, according to Nymex data released today. That was up from 70,442 the day before, the previous high. The contract has more open interest than any other oil option on the exchange. November options expire at the close of floor trading today.
The December calls rose 1 cent to 13 cents a barrel, or $130 a contract, yesterday on record volume of 12,595 lots, 45 percent more than the next most-active contract. They gained 8 cents today to settle at 21 cents a barrel at 4:26 p.m., based on Nymex electronic data and preliminary volume of 698 lots.
The exchange distributes real-time data on electronic trading of crude oil options. Most information on floor trading, where the bulk of options trading occurs, is released the next business day. The delayed data include overall volumes and open interest. The exchange releases a settlement price at the end of each business day.
Oil for December delivery rose $2.48, or 3.3 percent, to settle at $78.08 a barrel at 2:44 p.m. on the Nymex. Yesterday, it added 89 cents, or 1.2 percent, to $75.60. December futures have risen 12 percent in six days.
Oil for November delivery, the most active futures contract, added $2.40, or 3.2 percent, to $77.58 a barrel. Earlier, the futures touched $77.97, the highest level in a year, after an Energy Department report showed an unexpected decline in U.S. gasoline stockpiles.
In the Money
Bets that oil prices will rise above $77 a barrel in November were the most active crude options today, rising 37 cents to 58 cents a barrel, or $580 a contract, on volume of 1,595 lots. Since November futures settled above $77, the contract expired âin the moneyâ at the end of the trading day, meaning its holders would make a profit.
Other active options contracts today were December $80 calls, up 71 cents to $3.18 a barrel; December $70 puts, down 78 cents to $1.25 a barrel; and December $85 calls, up 42 cents to $1.63 a barrel.
Yesterdayâs most active options included December $90 calls, March $60 puts, March $90 calls and December $80 calls.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601207&sid=auKRxcNPTay0