A small number of high-tech trading firms that have built a dominant position in US equity markets are taking determined strides into options, where they are likely to increase their market share tenfold within three years, according to new research.

High frequency traders, which represent just 2% of the 20,000 US trading firms, will perform a fifth of all options trades by 2011, up from 2% last year, according to US-based consultancy Tabb Group.