Options Trading
What is Options Trading?
An option is simply granting someone the right to buy or sell something in the future. In the case of Dow index futures options, when someone buys a Dow call option they are buying the right to purchase that underlying Dow future at a specific price, known as the "strike price," at a future point in time, known as the "expiration date." When an investor buys a put, they are essentially selling the market; a call essentially buys the market. Likewise, selling a put essentially buys the market; selling a call essentially sells the market.
In order to receive the opportunity to buy an option on this future, investors pay a "premium." If the market does not reach the strike price of the option, then that option will expire worthless on the expiration date. If the market does reach the strike price of the option on the expiration date, then the investor will be assigned the underlying future at that strike price.
Advantages of Options Trading
Flexibility. Options can be used in a wide variety of strategies, from conservative to high-risk, and can be tailored to more expectations than simply "the stock will go up" or "the stock will go down."
Leverage. An investor can gain leverage in a stock without committing to a trade.
Limited Risk. Risk is limited to the option premium (except when writing options for a security that is not already owned).
Hedging. Options allow investors to protect their positions against price fluctuations when it is not desirable to alter the underlying positon.
Disadvantages of Options Trading
Costs. The costs of trading options (including both commissions and the bid/ask spread) is significantly higher on a percentage basis than trading the underlying stock, and these costs can drastically eat into any profits.
Liquidity. With the vast array of different strike prices available, some will suffer from very low liquidity making trading difficult.
Complexity. Options are very complex and require a great deal of observation and maintenance.
Time decay. The time-sensitive nature of options leads to the result that most options expire worthless. This only applies to those traders that purchase options - those selling collect the premium but with:
Unlimited Risk. Some option positions, such as writing uncovered options, are accompanied by unlimited risk.
Overall Options present a good opportunity to formulate plans which can take advantage of volatility in underlying markets as well as price direction. However for most traders the disadvantages are significant and online futures trading is usually a better option.
Tim Wreford runs Online Futures Trading, a website that provides information and resources for traders. Tim also provides a free day trading system, the results of which are updated daily on the site.
Latest News
Currency Trading Market Conditions Remain Challenging: Breakout ... Daily FX, NY - Sharp US Dollar gains have produced profits in several of our currency trading strategies on the week, and a continuation of US Dollar strength would make ... US Dollar Forecast to Rally Against Euro, British Pound, Fall ... |
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Stocks drubbed at open CNNMoney.com - US crude for January delivery tumbled $3.46 to $50.99 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. In currency trading, the dollar fell against the yen and ... |
 Maktoob | Yen Strengthens as Manufacturing Slump Weakens Yuan, Ruble Bloomberg - Bank Rossii, which manages the currency against a basket of dollars and euros to mitigate the effect of currency swings, widened the ruble’s trading band to ... Dollar Rises as Global Manufacturing and Stock Markets Plunge Down Is Dollar's December Direction Yen Extends Gains as Signs of Global Recession Sap Carry Trade |
UK Pound Plunges, Gilts Rise as Data Add to Signs of Slump Bloomberg - The British currency declined against all of its 16 major counterparts tracked by Bloomberg after property Web site Hometrack Ltd. said house values in ... |
Yuan Falls to One-Month Low as China Seeks to Shore Up Economy Bloomberg - “The central bank may want to test the market’s response to the possibility of a weaker yuan, but most likely it will keep the currency stable till the end ... Yuan tumbles to end at bottom of band vs dollar Yuan posts record low against dollar Rate cut sees yuan decline |
 New York Times | Some Nations That Spurned the Euro Reconsider New York Times, United States - After turmoil in the currency markets nearly destroyed the currencies of Iceland and Poland, the two countries are rethinking their opposition to the euro. ... |
AU Preview: Q3 GDP Should be Bo... ForexTV.com, NY - Forex (or FX or off-exchange foreign currency futures and options) trading involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for every investor. ... |
GLOBAL MARKETS-Grim economic outlook pummels stocks, oil slides guardian.co.uk, UK - ... also lifting the dollar, so it's possible the dollar will get a bit of a bid out of this, but currency trading is going to be choppy," Reid added. ... |
Ruble Plunge Prompts Doubling of Reserve Spending, Survey Shows Bloomberg - Bank Rossii buys and sells foreign currency to keep the ruble within a trading band against a basket comprised 55 percent of dollars and rest in euros. ... Russian Stocks, Ruble Drop as Production Falls More Than in ’98 |
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