The Options Industry Council Announces Launch of Free Educational Podcasts

Chicago—July 13, 2006

The Options Industry Council (OIC) announced today that free educational video and audio podcasts are now available on its web site, www.888options.com.  Apple iTunes will also carry the podcasts under the title “Options Strategies for Investors.”

As part of an initiative to provide more web-based education, OIC podcasts allow visitors to download and watch recorded footage from a live OIC seminar on their MP3 player, iPod, smart phone, or computer.  Each podcast follows the format of OIC’s Basic options seminar and lasts from eight to 18 minutes.  Additionally, the podcasts can be helpful to those attending OIC’s live seminars, either as a primer before attending or reinforcement after the seminar.  

Starting today, Thursday, July 13, the first two podcasts, Essential Concepts and Terminology and Mechanics, are available to download.  In all, seven podcasts will be introduced in this series, hosted by OIC instructor Dan Passarelli of the Chicago Board Options Exchange.  The remainder of the podcasts within this series will explore topics including buying calls, buying puts, covered calls, options pricing and LEAPS®. 

“We are offering educational programs delivered via podcasts and webcasts to meet the needs of the mobile, high tech investor,” said Michael Walinskas, OIC Executive Director.  “Podcasts are perfect for delivering the content of our growing on-demand educational video library to the on-the-go investor.  This is consistent with our aim to make options education fun, interesting and convenient.”

In addition to the new podcasts and webcasts, OIC continues to offer a number of web-based resources on its site, including online classes, position simulators, strategy overviews, calculators and quotes.

About OIC

OIC is a non-profit association funded by the American Stock Exchange, Boston Options Exchange, Chicago Board Options Exchange, International Securities Exchange, NYSE Arca, Philadelphia Stock Exchange and The Options Clearing Corporation. OIC's resources include: The Options Industry Services Options Help Desk at 1-888-OPTIONS, an educational Web site at www.888options.com, evening seminars throughout the continental United States and Canada, and educational literature and software.

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