Basic Options Terms
Options are good investing and speculative instruments. But options terminology may confuse even experienced investors. In this article we will take up some basic options terms.
Option - A contract that grants the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell a particular security at a predetermined price for a set period of time. The seller of the option has an obligation to fulfill the terms of the contract in the event of exercise by the option buyer.
Call Option - A contract that gives the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to purchase a specified amount of underlying security at a strike price anytime before the contract expires (if it is American style option) or at expiration only (if it is European style option). The call option buyer hopes the price of the shares will rise by a specific date while the put option seller hopes that the price of the shares drop or remain stable by the specified date.
For example: I write a call option with 100 Microsoft shares, strike at $35 and expiration date in July. Now I have an obligation to fulfill the terms of the contract. I get some money for this contract and I hope that price will be no more then $35. But if you as option buyer exercise contract I must sell you 100 Microsoft shares at $35 for each.
Put Option - An option contract giving the owner the right, but not the obligation, to sell a specified amount of an underlying security at a strike price within a specified time. The put option buyer hopes the price of the shares will drop by a specific date while the put option seller hopes that the price of the shares rise or remain stable by the specified date.
For example: I write a putt option with 100 Microsoft shares, strike at $35 and expiration date in July. I get some money for this contract and I hope that price will be no less then $35. But if you as option buyer exercise contract I must buy from you 100 Microsoft shares at $35 for each.
Underlying Security - The stock, commodity, futures, or other financial instrument on which an option contract is based.
example: In previous examples underlying security is Microsoft stock.
Strike Price or Exercise Price - The price, specified by the option contract, at which the holder can buy or sell the underlying security.
Expiration Date - The date on which an option and all rights associated with it ceases to exist. Expiration Date is the last day on which an option may be exercised.
Expiration - The date and time after which an option may no longer be exercised.
Exercise - Holder may to invoke the right associated with a particular option contract. When exercising a call option, the holder buys stock at a strike price from the option seller. In the case of a put, the holder of the option sells the stock to the option seller at the strike price.
Automatic Exercise - The automatic exercise of an in-the-money option at expiration by the clearing firm.
Premium - the total price of an option including both intrinsic and extrinsic or time value.
In-the-Money Option - A call option is in-the-money if the strike price is less than the market price of the underlying security. A put option is in-the-money if the strike price is greater than the market price of the underlying security At-the-money - An option is at-the-money if the strike price is the same as the current market price of the underlying security.
Out-of-the-Money - An option with strike price is above (in the case of a call) or below (in the case of a put) the current market price of the underlying security.
Intrinsic Value - The portion of an option's price that can be account for by the amount the option is in-the-money. Intrinsic Value=Oprion price - Time Value (for options is in-the-money)
Time Value or extrinsic value - The amount by which the current price of an option exceeds its intrinsic value. The price of out-of-the-money and at-the-money options is made up exclusively of extrinsic value
Options may be risky, but your can control and reduce risks. If you are newbie in options, buy some books, visit some seminars or online trainings before buy or sell your first option.
If you would like to find investment or trading courses, training or seminars, visit FPLab - Educational Resource For Traders and Investors Links catalogue.
Latest News
guardian.co.uk | Microsoft's Ballmer to CES: keep investing in tech despite ... Scientific American - Las Vegas , NEV. -- In his first ever CES keynote, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer yesterday acknowledged the tough economic times, but urged companies not to ... Microsoft: the year ahead Microsoft releases Windows Server 2008 R2 beta Windows 7 beta available worldwide on Friday |
![]() Wealth Bulletin | How to avoid a Madoff fund San Francisco Chronicle, USA - Feeder-funds (hedge funds or funds that do all their investing through another fund) and funds-of- funds sold investment services to individuals, ... Fund-of-Hedge Funds Lacked Technology to Avoid Madoff Losses D Bank declined offers to invest with Madoff |
![]() Express from The Washington Post | The Best Investment Values in a Decade Motley Fool - These days, we're presented with what Ron Muhlenkamp a few months ago called "the best investment values we've seen in a decade." Obviously, the market has ... You Are About to Make a Bad Investment The Flight to Safety Could Burn You Wednesday's Biggest Stock Stars |
![]() Dividend.com | Billionaire investor places next supermarket bet MarketWatch - Yucaipa's investment funds have been aggressive buyers of Whole Foods shares since Nov. 24, spending a net $98 million to amass the stake. ... Activist shareholder buys 7 percent stake in Whole Foods Billionaire investor Burkle bets on Whole Foods |
Thomas, McNerney & Partners Promotes Three Members of Its ... PR Newswire (press release), NY - Thomas, McNerney & Partners is a health care venture capital firm with approximately $600 million under management, focused on investing in life science and ... |
US investment in IT would create jobs, group says ITworld.com, MA - by Grant Gross A US$30 billion investment by the US government in broadband, health IT and smart energy grids would create or retain nearly a million jobs, ... New ITIF Report Documents How $30 Billion IT Stimulus Package ... $30B IT Stimulus Will Create Almost 1 Million Jobs |
Invesco Fund Loss Stirs Investor Fears Wall Street Journal - By DIYA GULLAPALLI 'Stable-value" investment funds have been one of the last havens in employee-retirement accounts. But one, advised by money manager ... |
Appleseed Fund Ranked by Lipper as Top Performing Midcap Value ... CNNMoney.com - "Since the Appleseed Fund's inception, we've shown it's possible to outperform the market by investing in companies with strong sustainability records and ... |
New T. Rowe Price mutual fund eyes global investment Bizjournals.com, NC - T. Rowe Price Group Inc. is launching a new mutual fund seeking reward amid the risks of global fixed-income investing. The Strategic Income Fund will ... |
![]() ABC News | Learning from Madoff's Ponzi scheme WKOW-TV.com, WI - Another important lesson from the Madoff Ponzi scandal is that investing money successfully also requires some homework on your part. "If you're investing ... Video: Congress Sounds Off Against SEC in Madoff Affair Congress Demands SEC Speed Madoff Inquiry to Improve Oversight Re-defining Risk: 5 Investment Rules for 2009 |
Resources
-
No Money Down - Creative Real Estate Investing!
Learn how to control real estate Without credit checks and no money down! You can Buy With No Credit!
-
real estate foreclosures- home69
Proven real estate Investing course specializing in foreclosures and pre-forclosures.
-
Real Estate Investing
How To Start And Run Your Own outrageously Profitable Fixer-Upper Business In As Little As 45 Days, even If You Can
-
Foreclosures - Real Estate Investing - Short Sales.
Learn about foreclosures and real estate Investing techniques like short sales and subject to financing
-
Online Trading for Financial Freedom - stock daytrading strategy.
Stock index trading strategy for beginning and experienced traders alike.
-
Real Estate Investing - Foreclosures
How To Start And Run Your Own outrageously Profitable Fixer-Upper Business In As Little As 45 Days, even If You Can
-
Real Estate Investing Course for Profits in Investing
Real estate Investing course reveals proven real estate Investing strategies using Lease Options and Creative Financing where you can earn big money Investing in real estate with no down and no credit
-
Make money stock trading, day trading, Investing and trading options like the pros!
Turn $200 into $4,630 in 30 days by trading options online from your home PC. Step by step instructions for novices or investment pros. Make money stock trading, day trading, Investing and trading options like the pros!
-
Make real money Investing in real estate by Lou Vukas
Lou Vukas gives you the insider secrets to making real money in real estate regardless of your credit, finances or location at realestatefortunes.com.
-
Real Estate Investing
eBook on Real Estate Investing and Real Estate Marketing



