Euronext - Volatility indices > Introduction
Volatility indices
Introduction
 
On 3 September 2007 Euronext launches a total of three new indices, further expanding its index portfolio: AEX® Volatility Index, BEL 20® Volatility Index and CAC 40® Volatility Index. These indices capture implied volatility embedded in option prices.

With the launch of the volatility indices, Euronext aims to contribute to the awareness of one of the main determinants of option pricing, implied volatility, and to stimulate the trading of standard index options and Variance futures available from Liffe.

Market participants believe that the volatility indices work like a barometer. A high value translates into a greater degree of underlying index turbulence, while a low value of the index is consistent with greater stability.

AEX® Volatility, BEL 20® Volatility and CAC 40® Volatility indices follow the current VIX® methodology, a sentiment indicator for the US market based on the S&P500 index option prices listed on CBOE. This methodology is currently used as the basis for many such indices and has become a standard throughout the world.

The volatility indices, on a real time basis, capture implied volatility embedded in prices of out of the money index call and put options available on Liffe. They are calculated in a transparent manner, using only one external parameter, the risk free interest rate. The indices are quoted in terms of percentage points and translate the expected movement in the underlying index over the next 30-day period, on an annualized basis.

New indices
 
 Volatility indicesCodes 
ISIN Full name Short name Mnemonic Reuters Bloomberg
QS0011052147 AEX Volatility AEX Volatility VAEX .VAEX VAEX Index <GO>
QS0011052154 BEL20 Volatility BEL20 Volatility VBEL .VBEL VBEL Index <GO>
QS0011052139 CAC 40 Volatility CAC 40 Volatility VCAC .VCAC VCAC Index <GO>
QS0011052162FTSE 100 Volatility FTSE 100 Volatility VFTSE .VFTSE
 
Information
  • Press release (VAEX, VBEL and VCAC indices): EN - FR - NL
  • Press release (FTSE 100 Volatility index): EN - FR
  • Methodology : EN
Factsheet (EN)
Volatility indices (VAEX, VBEL, VCAC and VFTSE)  

Title
Downloads
Stastistics (FR,EN,NL) - 31/03/2008

Title Title Title
AEX Volatility index BEL20 Volatility index CAC 40 Volatility index

Contact
Email : newindices@euronext.com