

Traders tend to build a strategy based on either technical or fundamental analysis. Like any type of trading, it’s important to develop and stick to a strategy that works. For a relatively small amount of capital, you can enter into options contracts that give you the right to buy or sell investments at a set price at a future date, no matter what the price of the underlying security is today. If you understand this concept as it applies to securities and commodities, you can see how advantageous it might be to trade options. In the second scenario, he keeps the clock, and the $100 you paid in premium. From the option seller's perspective, in the first scenario he gets the $100, but is later forced to sell the clock at less than true market value.

Although you’re still out the $100, at least you’re not stuck with a clock worth a fraction of what you paid for it. You’re under no obligation to exercise your option and buy it at $3,000, so you can opt not to buy it at all and simply let the contract expire. On the other hand, let’s say it’s discovered that’s it’s not an antique at all, but a knock-off worth only $500. You have the right to exercise your option and buy it for $3,000, netting you a profit of $6,900 (minus transaction costs).

After three months, you have the money and buy the clock at that price.īut maybe it’s discovered that the clock was owned by Theodore Roosevelt, which makes it worth $10,000. You talk to the owner and he agrees to sell it at that price in three months with a specific expiration date, but you have to pay $100 for him to agree to the contract. But you won’t have the cash for another three months. To make this clearer, let’s use a real world analogy… Let’s say you’re shopping for an antique grandfather clock and find the perfect one at the right price: $3,000.

When the buyer of a long option exercises the contract, the seller of a short option is "assigned", and is obligated to act. An option that gives you the right to buy is called a “call,” whereas a contract that gives you the right to sell is called a "put." Conversely, a short option is a contract that obligates the seller to either buy or sell the underlying security at a specific price, through a specific date. There is no obligation to buy or sell in the contract, but simply the right to “exercise” the contract, if the buyer decides to do so. Account Types & Investment Products OverviewĪ long option is a contract that gives the buyer the right to buy or sell the underlying security or commodity at a specific date and price.Contribution and Eligibility Calculator.Investment Management Services Overview.
