F&O volumes surge 77% on panic sales

Panic selling across-the-board saw trading volumes in futures and options (F&O) shooting up by 76.8 per cent to Rs 21,480 crore on Wednesday from Monday's level of Rs 12,150 crore.

Total traded volumes in the derivatives segment on the National Stock Exchange moved up by 40.8 per cent to 50.55 crore shares from 35.89 crore shares on Monday.

Nifty remained the biggest volume driver on Wednesday with 405.50 lakh shares changing hands against 131.61 lakh shares on Monday. Traded volume in stocks and CNX IT futures and options was up by 34.5 per cent to 46.50 lakh shares.

Total contracts traded on Wednesday was up 75.8 per cent from 3.19 lakh contracts on Monday to 5.61 lakh contract on Wednesday. Nifty contracts were up from 65,000 to 2.03 lakh on Wednesday.

The open interest in F&O markets moved up marginally by 0.88 lakh shares to 48.68 lakh shares, indicating that operators covered their position at the end of the day.

Open interest in Nifty moved up marginally to 217.50 lakh shares from 199.60 lakh shares yesterday. Nifty futures volumes was up from 129 lakh shares to 134 lakh shares, while volume in Nifty options was up from 70.28 lakh shares to 83.29 lakh shares.

ACC topped the F&O charts on Wednesday with total volume of 202.08 lakh shares valued at Rs 717.53 crore, up from 144.21 lakh shares, valued at Rs 507.91 crore, on Monday. ACC's open interest moved up from 88.64 lakh shares to 97.81 lakh shares on Wednesday.

Reliance Industries ranked second in F&O volumes with total traded volume of 158.34 lakh shares, valued at Rs 844.52 crore. RIL's open interest increased from 212.45 lakh shares to 213.31 lakh shares.

SBI, which saw panic selling, showed a 111 per cent rise in F&O volume at 144.29 lakh shares. SBI's open interest, however, declined from 99.12 lakh shares to 91.42 lakh shares.