Total option volume is relatively light at 4.8 million contracts today as protection again appears to be the name of the game in index and ETF activity on optionMONSTER's data systems.
The SPDR S&P 500 Fund (SPY) has 676,000 options traded, with a put/call ratio of more than 2 to 1. The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) has 162,000 contracts changing hands, 127,000 of which are calls.
The iShares Russell 2000 Fund (IWM) has seen 154,000 options turn over, also with a put/call ratio of better than 2 to 1. Just behind are the PowerShares QQQ Trust (QQQ) options at 145,000, though calls just outpace puts in that exchange-traded fund. The S&P 500 Index (SPX) options have traded 138,000 times, also with puts outpacing calls by more than 2 to 1.
The SPDR Gold Shares Fund (GLD) has 64,000 contracts traded, with 46,000 calls. The SPDR Energy Fund (XLE) has a volume of 54,000, dominated by 50,000 puts. (See related story)
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