The Amex Pharmaceutical Index Option Specifications

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