Traders use options contracts to speculate on or hedge against market movements by setting a fixed strike price. At expiry, they may choose to exercise the contract or let it lapse. A butterfly strategy is often used in stable markets to manage risk while aiming for moderate profits. It involves multiple option positions and requires precise execution. Let’s break down what it is and explore the different types involved.
What is Butterfly Options Trading Strategy?
The butterfly options strategy is a neutral-market approach where a trader combines multiple option positions to earn a limited profit with controlled risk. This setup works best when the price of the underlying asset is expected to stay within a specific range until expiry.
ATM Option
This is the option bought at-the-money. It has a strike price closest to the current price of the underlying asset.
OTM Option
These are the options sold at strike prices above and below the ATM option. They offer less value compared to ATM options.
Further OTM Option
This is an additional position purchased. It has a strike price even further away from the current price than the two sold options.
Let’s see the working in three steps:
Step 1: Buy one option
| Step 2: Sell two options
| Step 3: Buy one option
|
The trader buys one at-the-money (ATM) call or put option. This option is close to the current price of the asset.
| The trader sells two out-of-the-money (OTM) options. These options will have strike prices above and below the at-the-money (ATM) level.
| The trader then buys one additional out-of-the-money (OTM) option. This one has a strike even further from the current price than the sold options.
|
Additional Read: Difference Between Sensex and Nifty
Types of butterfly strategies
It's possible to structure the options trading in many different ways, depending on conditions prevailing in the market as well as the trader's views. There are mainly two types of butterfly strategies.
1. Long Butterfly Spread
The long butterfly spread is the more popular butterfly option strategy. It is used when the trader expects low volatility in the underlying asset. One has to buy one lower strike, sell two middle strikes, while buying one higher strike. This configuration results in a narrow profit range centered around the middle strike price. It aims for the asset to be at or near the middle strike at expiration, where maximum profit can be made.
2. Butterfly Short Spread
The short butterfly spread is applied when the expectation of significant price movement either way has been made so that high volatility is somewhat being wagered on. In such a trade, the short butterfly sells one lower-strike option, buys two middle-strike options, and then sells one higher-strike option. That makes for a profit pattern where a profit is expected if the asset price jumps significantly either way, yet a loss will be generated if the price does not move a lot and keeps stable close to the middle strike price.
The two options trading strategies allow the trader to fine-tune his strategy according to the expectations concerning probable market volatility and probable range of price swing.
Components of Butterfly Option Strategy End
The butterfly option strategy has a number of critical components, which will all have implications for the risk and return profile of the trade. These include:
1. Strike Prices
Strike prices refer to the prices at which options can be exercised. A butterfly option strategy essentially comprises three strikes, one lower, a middle one-at-the-money-and one higher. The right choice of strike prices is essential as it determines the range of profit and potential return from the strategy.
2. Expiration Dates
In a butterfly strategy, all the options have the same expiry date. The selection of expiry date would directly influence the time that is available to the underlying asset to drift within the desired price range. Shorter expiry dates give faster results but have the risk of high due to time decay.
3. Premiums Required
Premiums refer to the cost of purchasing options. In a butterfly option trading strategy, the trader pays premiums for buying the lower and higher strike price options and collects premiums for selling the middle strike price options. The net premium paid or received would influence the cost and potential profit of the trade.
These are all the details needed for a good butterfly option strategy that may suit one's market view and their tolerance to risk.
Real-life examples of butterfly option strategy
Here are some applications of the butterfly option strategy that represent how it might be employed in various market conditions:
Example 1: Use of Call Butterfly Spread
Suppose the stock is trading at ₹100. An investor believes that there should not be much movement in price. They establish a call butterfly spread by buying the ₹95 call, selling two ₹100 calls, and buying the ₹105 call. The maximum profit would occur when the stock finishes near ₹100 at expiry.
Example 2: Butterfly Spread Using a Put End
A trader feels that the stock priced at ₹50 does not move much. Utilizing a put butterfly spread will enable them to buy the ₹45 put, sell two ₹50 puts and buy the ₹55 put. The maximum profit occurs when the stock is roughly around ₹50 by expiry.
Example 3: Short Call Butterfly Spread for High Volatility
If a trader thinks a stock trading at ₹120 is going to move significantly higher or lower, a short call butterfly spread could be opened by selling a ₹115 call, buying two ₹120 calls, and selling a ₹125 call. Greatest profit is realized if the price of the stock moves a lot in either direction.
Example 4: Trading a Butter-fly Spread
An investor can roll the strike prices up or down to change a butterfly strategy when the outlook changes. If the stock moves from an original price of ₹100 to ₹105, the middle strike price would be updated to obtain the profit range. These examples illustrate how a butterfly spread can be varied to produce different market scenarios while helping investors handle risk against potential returns.
How does one establish a butterfly option trade?
In just a few steps, an option trade is established for a butterfly:
1. Select the underlying asset
Select a stock or index for which you are expecting low volatility for a long butterfly spread or high volatility for a short butterfly spread.
2. Find Strike Prices
Find the three strike prices; a lower and upper, with a middle one nearby at or close to where the price of the underlying stands currently.
3. Select Date of Expiration
Determine the expiry date based on your analysis of the market. Quick expirations yield return much faster but with larger risks, while longer durations are slower but cost more.
4. Enter the trade
Buy one option at the lower strike, sell two options at the middle strike, and buy one option at the higher strike. Make sure that all the options have the same expiration date.
5. Inspection and adjustment, if necessary
Keep an eye on the underlying asset’s price. If market conditions change, consider adjusting the strike prices to maintain the strategy’s effectiveness.
All these steps set up the butterfly options trading strategy according to what you would have expected the underlying asset to do.
Benefits of the Butterfly Spread Option Position
These benefits explain why the butterfly spread entices so many of those willing to trade in option because:
This is a low-risk profile because the loss on this butterfly option strategy is limited only to the net premium paid. It is cheap, compared to the other option strategies, but occurs at a relatively low upfront cost, so it definitely spreads to most investors. It is a good strategy in low volatility market conditions as the asset's price would not go very much and hence there will be a profit from low volatility.
These advantages make the butterfly option strategy an attractive option for risk and reward management on the investors' side.
Butterfly Option Strategy Risks Involving
While the butterfly option strategy is relatively low-risk, there are downsides. Here are a few:
- Limited Profit Potential: The butterfly strategy limits profit to a certain level. This might not be very attractive for traders who seek higher returns.
- Time Decay: Options lose value at expiration. This can be detrimental to the profit margin if the asset never trades at the target price. This is most potent when the price range will be achieved in the specified time by a trader; otherwise he may have to suffer a loss. This understanding is valuable to all traders in the butterflies option strategy as it is the most critical decision-making information based on market conditions and personal risk limitations.
Conclusion
Using this powerful options trading tactic, investors can better realize profit from strategies based on low or high volatility. These are the options trading methods where the investor relies upon specific spread types. It has low risk and a moderate potential for profit, so it is suitable for traders who want to gain while using specific price ranges without exposing themselves to potential excessive risk. By understanding the butterfly options trading strategy with its types, constituent parts, benefits, and risks, an investor can utilize it as a strategy to enhance their trading portfolio and adapt to different market conditions.
Disclaimer: Investments in the securities market are subject to market risk, read all related documents carefully before investing.
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