Index options trade roars as curbs loom

Index options trading on the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the country's largest stock exchange, hit a record high based on the number of contracts traded in October.

- Ram Sahgal

The month saw a 6% pullback in the bellwether Nifty amid tepid earnings growth, rising tensions in the Middle East, and uncertainty over the US presidential elections.

The jump in participation comes weeks ahead of measures to curb retail frenzy in weekly index options trading.

October's heightened volatility led to greater participation, with the number of index options traded on the NSE hitting a record 1,274 crore contracts. The rising market uncertainty was reflected by fear gauge India VIX, which rose by 71.5% from a low of 9.47 to a high of 16.24 in October.

The Nifty fell 6% in October to 24,205.35 due to foreign investors' record selling of over ₹1.13 lakh crore amid near-flat September quarter results, building tensions between Israel and Iran, and uncertainty over the winner of the US presidential race then.