Options Trading on Crisis Eve

This paper provides a review of pre-World War II financial derivatives trading in Prague. Its structure, development and various contexts are being addressed, based on a comprehensive research of contemporary resources. Empirical data, which have not been used so far for similar purpose, allow a detailed analysis of trading in options on shares of the Skoda Corporation in 1929. The most exciting era of the Czech equities market, as well as its dominant issue, are thus represented, contributing to a better understanding of Czech financial history.