| Description of Index | The Amex Pharmaceutical Index (DRG) is a market capitalization weighted index designed to represent a cross section of widely held, highly capitalized companies involved in various phased of the pharmaceutical industry. The DRG Index was developed with a base value of 200.00 on July 31, 1991. (The Index value was later split 2-for-1 on March 23, 1999). |
| Components | For Index components click here. |
| Trading Unit | The minimum trade size is one option contract. The notional value underlying each contract equals $100 multiplied by the Index value. |
| Expiration Cycle | Three consecutive near-term expiration months plus two successive months from the January cycle. |
| Expiration | The Saturday following the third Friday of the expiration month. |
| Last Trading Day | Two business days prior to expiration (normally a Thursday). |
| Exercising Options | European style. Options may be exercised only on the last business day prior to expiration (normally a Friday). Writers are subject to assignment only at expiration. Check with your broker to ascertain cut-off times for exercise and provisions for automatic exercise. |
| Delivery Method if Exercised | Cash settlement based on the dollar difference between the final settlement value of the Index and strike price of the contract multiplied by $100. |
| Exercise Price Intervals | Exercise (strike) prices are set at $5.00 intervals, bracketing the current value of the Index, when the Index is above 200. If the Index is below 200, the interval will be $2.50. |
| Option Premium Quotations | Stated in dollars and cents. Minimum price variant $0.05 (nickel) for series trading under $3.00 and $0.10 (dime) for series trading $3.00 and above. |
| Index Settlement Value | Determined on the last business day prior to expiration, based on the first (opening) reported sale price for each component stock. |
| Settlement of Exercise | Next business day following expiration. |
| Position Limits | 24,000 contracts on the same side of the market. |
| Minimum Customer Margin for Uncovered Writers |
100% of the market value of the option plus 20% of the aggregate Index value less any out-of-the-money amount, subject to a minimum of 100% of the market value of the option plus 10% of the aggregate Index value. |
| Trading Hours | 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., New York time. |
| Trading System | Specialist/Registered Options Trader. |
| Trading Symbol | DRG |
| Final Settlement Value Symbol | DRO |