Exchanges to launch 41 contracts this week amid slowdown - FOW Data

There are 41 new contracts due to launch in the next four days, comprising three single stock futures and five stock options from the Taiwan Futures Exchange and the various US options markets each launching two single stock options contracts.

Taiwan Futures Exchange (TFX) is set to launch on Tuesday a futures and an options contract linked to Yuanta Financial Holding, and an options contract for Taishin Financial Holding.

On Wednesday, TFX is launching futures and options contracts on Hua Nan Financial Holdings and Taiwan Cooperative Financial Holding, according to FOW Data. TFX on Thursday plans an options contract linked to Largan Precision.

In the US, the main options markets are launching on Monday an options contract for Veru Incorporated and, on Tuesday, an options product linked to Array Digital Infrastructure.

The main US options markets, operated by Cboe Global Markets, MEMX Exchange, Miami International, Nasdaq, Intercontinental Exchange-owned NYSE and Canada’s TMX Group, tend to launch the same contracts on the same day.

This week’s 41 contracts will follow just 25 new products last week, underlining the arrival of the normal summer slowdown as traders and portfolio managers in the US and Europe take a break.

The VIX, the 30-day expected volatility of the S&P 500, fell to near 15 points on Friday for only the second time since February.

The Volatility Index fell below 15 on Friday July 25, having hit a full year high of 52.3 points on April 8, just after US President Donald Trump’s Liberation Day tariffs on April 4.

The VIX dipped below 15 points in mid-February before ticking up as Trump’s tariff plans took shape.

Futures and options trading volumes at some key exchanges have also slowed in recent weeks.

CME Group, the largest US futures operator, reported July trading volumes down 12% on last year, with the group’s large interest rates segment down 7% and its energy contracts down 1%.

Frankfurt-based Eurex reported on Wednesday trading volume of 138.9 million contracts last month, down 10% on July last year.

This included index derivatives down 30% to 44.3 million lots, single stock derivatives down 19% to 18.6 million contracts and Eurex’s largest interest rate derivatives market up a tenth to 75.4 million lots.

Other exchanges fared better, however, with Cboe Global Markets reporting trading volume up 9% and Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing up 15%.