Chicago, 5 April 2011

CBOE announced today that it will begin offering trading in options on the CBOE Gold ETF Volatility Index (GVZ), often referred to as the “Gold VIX” – on Tuesday, April 12.

The new options contract follows the introduction of trading in Gold VIX security futures (GV), also based on GVZ, at CBOE Futures Exchange ( CFE) on March 25.  Extending the reach of CBOE’s VIX methodology to new asset classes, investors can use either or both products to segment and hedge short-term implied volatility risk in a highly traded commodity class for the first time.

The calculation of the CBOE Gold ETF Volatility Index is based on the well-known CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX®) methodology applied to options on the SPDR Gold Trust (GLD).  The Gold VIX is an up-to-the-minute market estimate of the expected 30-day volatility of GLD, calculated using real-time bid/ask quotes of GLD options that are listed on CBOE.

Calculated and distributed by CBOE since 2008, the Gold VIX is one in a series of VIX benchmarks created by CBOE.  CBOE also calculates the CBOE Crude Oil ETF Volatility Index (OVX), based on United States Oil Fund (USO) option prices, and the CBOE EuroCurrency ETF Volatility Index (EVZ), based on CurrencyShares Euro Trust (FXE) options.

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