Quarterly settlement of S&P 500 ^®, E-mini ^TM  S&P 500, S&P MidCap 400 ^TM , E-mini S&P MidCap 400, S&P 500 Citigroup/Growth and Value, Russell 2000 ^®, E-mini Russell 2000, Russell 1000 ^® and SPCTR ^TM Index futures and options on futures are based on a Special Opening Quotation of the relevant underlying index. The Special Opening Quotation for each index is based on the opening price of each component stock in that index on expiration Friday. ¹

Special Opening Quotations (SOQ) generally differ from the opening index value of each index because all stocks do not open immediately. For example, on typical days surveyed by Chicago Mercantile Exchange® (CME), most S&P stocks open quickly, with around 95% open within 15 minutes and 98% open within 30 minutes. Other indexes with larger numbers of stocks may take longer to open.

Opening Index Values
On typical days, CME begins disseminating index values immediately at 8:30 a.m. Chicago Time (CT). Because the index value is based on the last price for each stock, the opening index value will reflect the previous day's closing price for any stock that has yet to open. Thus, the index value almost always begins at the previous close and then changes as stocks open. Thereafter, the index calculation reflects some stocks not yet open, and other stocks actively trading.

Special Opening Quotation
Special Opening Quotations of the indexes generally will be based on the opening values of the component stocks, regardless of when those stocks open on expiration day. However, if a stock does not open on that day, its last sale price will be used in the Special Opening Quotation. The Special Opening Quotation may or may not be within the cash index prices on expiration day.

CME disseminates periodic updates of the S&P 500 and S&P MidCap 400 Special Opening Quotations on the ticker as a text message. These quotations are based on the opening prices for those stocks that have opened by that time and the last sale price for those stocks that have yet to open. The Russell 2000 final Special Opening Quotation typically is not received by the Exchange until 4:00 p.m. CT, due to the large number of stocks. However, a preliminary indication with the percent of stocks open is usually available by 1:00 p.m. CT on expiration day.

Example of Opening Index Calculations
A sample calculation of the S&P 500 Index and Special Opening Quotation is shown below. When either (1) all the stocks in the index are open, and corrections are finished, or (2) the close of business occurs, whichever is first, the Special Opening Quotations will be finalized. All open expiring futures and options on futures contracts will be cash-settled to final Special Opening Quotations. ²

This example illustrates the difference between the index and the Special Opening Quotation for a simple two-stock index with equal outstanding shares of stock.

N/O Not Open
* Opening price
** Official opening index value

NASDAQ-100 Index and NASDAQ Composite Index Expiration Procedure
NASDAQ-100 ^® Index futures and options on futures, E-mini NASDAQ-100 futures and options and E-mini NASDAQ Composite ^® futures expire on a quarterly cycle.  Beginning with the June 2005 expirations, the Special Opening Quotations for NASDAQ-100 and NASDAQ Compoiste Indexes will be calculated based on the NASDAQ Official Opening Price (NOOP) for the component stocks of the respective indexes.  For more details on the SOQ calculation method, please visit www.nasdaqtrader.com/asp/nasdaqindexes.asp and click on the Index Opening Value at the bottom of the screen.

Nikkei 225 Expiration Procedure
Nikkei ^® 225 futures and options on futures expire on a quarterly cycle, the second Friday of the contract month. The final settlement price of the Nikkei 225 futures and options on futures is based on the Special Opening Quotation of the Nikkei Stock Average, used to settle the Nikkei Stock Average futures at the Osaka Securities Exchange. The final settlement price on all cash settlelments will be to the 1/100th of an index point.

¹ The NYSE or AMEX opening price will be used for stocks listed on the NYSE or AMEX, respectively. The NASDAQ Official Opening Price (NOOP)  will be used for NASDAQ stocks.

² Expiring in-the-money option contracts will be exercised automatically, absent contrary instructions received by the Clearing House prior to 7:00 p.m. on expiration Friday.

back to top