How many options expire unexercised? How many are exercised?
According to OCC statistics for year 2008 (for activity in customer and firm accounts), the breakdown is as follows: Closing Sales – 69.4% Exercised – 11.6% Unexercised at Expiration – 19% So, in 2008, 19% of all options positions in customer and firm accounts expired unexercised; 11.6% of these positions were exercised; and 69.4% of these positions were closed out through sales.
According to OCC statistics for year 2009 (for activity in customer and firm accounts), the breakdown is as follows: Closing Sells – 70.5% Exercised – 10.2% Unexercised at Expiration – 19.3% So, in 2009, 19.3% of all options positions in customer and firm accounts expired unexercised; 10.2% of these positions were exercised; and 70.5% of these positions were closed out through sales.
