The Long and Short of Futures Options: Interest Rate Options Are Heating Up

The Long & Short of Futures Options

Today's guest is David Reif, Senior Director of Interest Rate Products

What to Know

• This is a hot time for rates. We're seeing record levels of volatility & interest around the globe for these products.
• 30 year treasury yields hit a 15month low around 3.10% on Aug 15 approaching Janet Yellen's comments.
• This is fertile ground for rates products.
• What volume and activity trends are you seeing in the CME interest rate complex?

What's New?

• Overview of upcoming launch of Eurodollar bundle futures and options.
• Overview of FedWatch and other CME web tools for rates traders

What to Watch: Hints/teases for upcoming products/trends/developments in the interest rates complex?

What's On Your Mind?

1. Email from Steve Syler, Oklahoma City, OK. Question for LSFO program. Hello! Thank you for taking the time to create a program aimed at retail futures options traders. We're a small but growing audience. There needs to be more content aimed at us.
2. Question from Tasco. Am I the only one who finds futures and futures options symbols impenetrable? Is there any reason major platforms like Globex can't quote a product in real English like "December 2014 thirty year treasury bond future" etc. I have a heck of a time finding the products I want to trade because I'm forced to wade through so much arcane minutia with Globex and through my broker.
3. Question from Neal Honen. Are interest rate futures and options primarily pit traded or have they migrated the majority of their volume to electronic platforms like Globex?