Jan 05, 2010 16:52 EST US OPTION SYMBOLOGY CONVERSION In February 2010 the US options industry will be changing the manner in which option symbols are represented, transitioning from a 5-character symbol format (i.e., the OPRA code) to a more descriptive 21-character format under an effort referred to as the Options Symbology Initiative (OSI). While the initial industry scheduled implementation phase of OSI is set for 2010-02-12, IB has been and will continue to implement changes in advance of this date with the goal of minimizing any last-minute disruptions. To date, these changes have been limited to the advance conversion of two largely inactive PHLX listed products, providing the limited group of clients most likely to be impacted by OSI an opportunity to test their preparedness. Effective as of the 2010-01-06 open, the remaining option contracts listed solely on the PHLX are to be converted and on the 2010-01-11 open, contracts listed solely on the AMEX, BOX, CBOE or ARCA exchanges will be converted. It's important to note that the OSI impact, if any, should be negligible to most clients since the Trader Workstation accommodates order entry through the underlying symbol as well as the OPRA code. 这个OSI的转变对大多数人来说可以忽略，因为可以在TWS的底层证券代码中输入后找到这些期权。To learn more about OSI, including the new data format, how you may be impacted and to monitor future conversion phases, please visit the IB Knowledge Base at http://ibkb.interactivebrokers.com/ and type KB972 into the search engine. Interactive Brokers Customer Service
IB知识库内容 全文请参考：http://ibkb.interactivebrokers.com/node/972 节选如下： OPTION SYMBOLOGY INITIATIVE INTRODUCTION Beginning in 2006, working groups comprised of brokers, exchanges, clearing houses and vendors were formed in order to represent each of the U.S. and Canadian securities industries in a multi-year effort to develop a revised data format for representing listed option symbols. These efforts, referred to as the Option Symbology Initiatives (OSIs), are intended to provide the following benefits: - Decrease the number of errors in the front, middle and back office processes. - Represent the vast majority of listed option contracts using the same symbol as the underlying security to reduce investor confusion. - Reduce corporate action symbol conversions. - Eliminate wrap symbols. - Eliminate the need for LEAP rollover process. - Reduce the frequency of coordination among exchanges for symbol elections. - Support the growth in product listings through additional expiration events and more flexible strike price designations. The following article provides background information regarding the products impacted by the OSI, the revised data format, anticipated impact to the various client classes, IB's testing and transition plan as well as external links where additional information may be found. PRODUCTS IMPACTED The table below lists the product classifications of the US and Canadian exchange listed options which are impacted by the OSIs. Note that while the mandated conversion date for Canadian options is identical to that of the US (i.e., February 12, 2010), the conversion of Canadian options was accelerated and completed by IB in September 2009. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>