Stock Options On Nse Seen Gaining Pace

Stock options on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) are gaining momentum. This is well indicated by the turnover of the options revealed in the data available for one month after they are introduced.

The notional value of one-, two- and three-month contracts were aggregated at Rs 468.56 crore for 260.41 lakh shares. As many as 22,556 contracts changed hands and the premium for these contracts was Rs 25.91 crore.

The August contract tops with a notional value of Rs 254.46 crore and a premium of Rs 15.43 crore. The number of contracts for the month were 12,867 for 153.34 lakh shares. The July contract had a notional value of Rs 210.78 crore with premium of Rs 10.31 crore, while the September contract has a notional value of Rs 3.32 crore, so far, for 1.02 lakh shares.

Satyam Computer was the most preferred contract during last month. It had an aggregate volume of 56.71 lakh shares valued at Rs 90.01 crore. The contract holder paid 7.77 per cent premium at Rs 6.99 crore.

Infosys Technologies stood second with a contract value of Rs 89.97 crore for 2.47 lakh shares and the premium paid for the contract was Rs 3.71 crore.

Reliance Industries, at number three, had a notional value of Rs 78.72 crore for 24.64 lakh shares and the buyer preferred to pay only 4.34 per cent premium over the strike prices. The premium in the Reliance counter aggregated at Rs 342 crore.

As many as 50.67 lakh shares of Tata Steel, valued at Rs 49.82 crore, were bought for a premium of Rs 2.63 crore.