Options on Non-Nasdaq Stocks

Options on Non-Nasdaq Stocks

Options whose underlying stocks are listed on exchanges OTHER than Nasdaq use the common stock symbol followed by a space and 2 alpha chars.  The first alpha char represents the month code (i.e. the month in which the option expires); the second alpha char represents the strike price code.  Month code and strike code tables are found beneath the examples which follow:

       Symbol for an IBM July 95 call option:                IBM  GS

               Where G represents July calls

               Where S represents a strike of 95

       Symbol for a GM August 55 put option:        GM  TK

               Where T represents August puts

               Where K represents a strike of 55

       Symbol for a CPQ October 135 call option:        CPQ   JD

               Where J represents October calls

               Where G represents a strike of 135

       Call        Put                        Strike

       Code        Code                Code        Strike

       A        January                M        A        05

       B        February        N        B        10

       C        March                O        C        15

       D        April                P        D        20

       E        May                Q        E        25

       F        June                R        F        30

       G        July                S        G        35

       H        August                T        H        40

       I        September        U        I        45

       J        October        V        J        50

       K        November        W        K        55

       L        December        X        L        60

                               M        65

                               N        70

                               O        75

                               P        80

                               Q        85

                               R        90

                               S        95

                               T        100

Exception:  The option's root symbol may not match the stock symbol; where many options are listed under a given root symbol, the exchange may designate one or more additional root symbols (called 'dummy' or 'extension' symbols) to accommodate the limitations of the first symbol.  This eliminates any duplication, e.g. if an IBM April 50 and April 150 strike were to be listed, each would use IBM DJ; the exchange might choose to use IBM DJ for the 50 strike and IBZ DJ for the 150 strike.