CBOE Futures Exchange, LLC (CFE) plans to launch trading on the CBOE NASDAQ-100 Volatility Index futures contract beginning on Wednesday, 23 May, pending regulatory approval.

VXN, which measures the volatility of the NASDAQ-100 Index, is calculated through the application of CBOE's VIX methodology to the prices of options on NDX.

The NASDAQ-100 Index represents the largest non-financial US and international securities listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market, based on market capitalisation. As of May 15, 2012, 63.76 percent of the Index securities were classified as technology.

"Our customers are seeking ways to trade and better hedge the dynamic volatility in the technology sector, which continues to be sparked by fierce competition and the rapid pace of innovation. VXN enables investors and traders to measure and benchmark volatility in the NASDAQ-100 Index, the world's premier tech-weighted broad-based index. We are now pleased to offer VXN futures, which will allow customers to hedge, diversify or take a directional view on volatility in this active market sector," says CBOE Holdings President and COO Edward T Tilly (pictured).  

John Jacobs, NASDAQ OMX Executive Vice President, says: "Trading in the CBOE NASDAQ-100 Volatility Index futures will further enhance the liquidity of the industry-leading securities which comprise the NASDAQ-100 Index. These futures reflect not only the popularity of the NASDAQ-100 Index, but the CBOE's commitment to innovation and broadening the adoption of this important benchmark."

Barclays will act as a liquidity provider in CBOE NASDAQ-100 Volatility Index futures.

VXN futures is the most recent addition to a series of CFE volatility index futures contracts launched this year: CBOE Crude Oil ETF Volatility Index security futures (OVX) began trading on April 10, CBOE Brazil ETF Volatility Index security futures (VXEW) began trading on 21 February and CBOE Emerging Markets ETF Volatility Index security futures (VXEM) began trading on 9 January.