European derivative trading platform Cboe Europe Derivatives is introducing FLEX Options in Europe, enhancing the risk management options for European investors.

Cboe Europe Derivatives (CEDX) is set to revolutionise the European finance market with the introduction of FLEX options, scheduled to start trading in Q1 2026, subject to external assessments. This move marks a significant milestone in expanding the range of exchange-traded tools available to European investors in the stock market today.

FLEX options, first introduced by Cboe in the U.S. stock market in 1993, offer a unique blend of flexibility and transparency. They combine the customisation options of OTC derivatives with the benefits of exchange-traded products, such as transparency, efficiency, and risk mitigation.

Cboe's deep expertise in options, combined with its robust infrastructure and proven clearing capabilities, uniquely positions the company to support issuers and market participants seeking to expand defined-outcome ETF offerings across Europe in the stock market today.

At launch, CEDX is expected to offer FLEX options on a select set of underlyings, including single country and pan-European Cboe Europe equity indices, individual equities, and ETFs. This customisation allows investors to tailor their options strategies to meet their specific needs in the stock market today.

Rupert Haddon, Managing Director and Head of Sales at First Trust Global Portfolios, and Iouri Saroukhanov, Head of European Derivatives at Cboe Europe, both expressed their excitement about the launch. Haddon noted that the introduction of FLEX options by Cboe Europe Derivatives in the European finance market is a significant step forward. Saroukhanov expressed his enthusiasm about bringing FLEX options to Europe, which he believes will enhance the derivatives market in the region.

Matt McFarland, Senior Vice President of Vest Financial, stated that Cboe's FLEX options provide the transparency and customization needed for products that enable investors to pursue defined outcomes in the stock market today. Cboe Clear Europe will clear and settle FLEX options, helping to reduce counterparty risk and enable capital and operational efficiencies in the stock market today.

Defined-outcome ETFs have seen significant growth in the U.S. stock market, and European investors are increasingly seeking similar tools to manage risk and align investments with specific goals in the stock market today. The launch of FLEX options on CEDX complements CEDX's growing suite of equity derivatives products and supports its broader mission to increase participation in Europe's derivatives markets in the stock market today.

Moreover, many issuers of defined-outcome ETFs are now looking to expand globally. The introduction of FLEX options by Cboe Europe Derivatives could attract these issuers to Europe, further boosting the growth of the defined-outcome ETF market in the region in the stock market today.

FLEX options have shown impressive growth in the U.S. stock market, with total open interest increasing from 2 million in 2019 to 35 million in 2025. Similarly, assets under management in defined-outcome ETFs have risen from $5 billion in 2019 to over $70 billion in 2025. The introduction of FLEX options by Cboe Europe Derivatives is expected to follow a similar trajectory, providing a promising future for the European derivatives market in the stock market today.

Cboe Europe is bringing FLEX options to Europe with the support of First Trust Global Portfolios and Vest Financial, two defined-outcome ETF issuers new to Europe. The partnership between these companies is expected to bring innovative and valuable products to European investors in the stock market today, further enhancing the derivatives market in the region.

In conclusion, the introduction of FLEX options by Cboe Europe Derivatives is a significant development for the European finance market in the stock market today. It offers investors a new tool for managing risk and pursuing defined outcomes, while also attracting issuers of defined-outcome ETFs to Europe. The launch is scheduled to go live subject to external assessments in the stock market today.