Euronext has unveiled that trading in equity options on Euronext N.V. shares will start on the Amsterdam derivatives market from August 28.

The new options will be listed in the Spotlight Options section, Euronext’s special segment dedicated to the development of new option classes requested by market participants. Spotlight Options give visibility to underlying assets such as newly listed stocks, SMEs and/or assets with notable market events or activity. Through a unique combination of liquidity provider support and dedicated promotion by sponsoring brokers, underlying assets are put in the spotlight with short-term maturities options of one, two and three months.

Adam Rose, head of financial derivatives at Euronext, said that the expansion of the exchange’s equity options offering will provide issuers and investors with standardised contracts at the best, publicly visible prices, in the absence of any counterparty risk and in a regulated environment.

“These options create additional investment and trading opportunities for investors with the benefits of trading on-exchange,” he said. “We will keep on expanding this segment by introducing Spotlight Options on other geographies and asset classes, responding to market demand.”

These American-style options will expire on the third Friday of the contract month and will have initial maturities of one, two and three months. Each option will represent 100 shares in Euronext and these options will be cleared via LCH.Clearnet SA. The liquidity in the Euronext options will be supported by Susquehanna International Securities Limited.

The Spotlight Options segment in Amsterdam and Brussels, launched in July, now has 12 new option classes available for trading.

In the Netherlands, Spotlight Options were introduced on Telegraaf Media Groep NV, Sligro Food Group NV, Exact Holding NV, Accell Group NV, Altice SA and BE Semiconductor Industries NV.

In Belgium, Spotlight Options were introduced on EVS Broadcast Equipment SA, Cardio3 Biosciences SA, Euronav NV, Ablynx NV and Telenet Group Holding NV.

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