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An Option is a financial instrument, a derivative, and its value is derived from an underlying asset. That could either be a stock, market index, commodity, currency, or any other security. Options are basically contracts between two parties that allow holders to purchase or sell an underlying asset at a specific price on a pre-determined date using an option trading app.
Initially, Options trading may seem a little complex, however, they aren’t. Let us look at some basic terms to understand options.
Yes, an Option is a type of derivative instrument that derives its value from an underlying asset, such as shares , commodities or currency.
Options are a type of derivate instrument where two parties agree to get into a contract to transact an asset at a specific price at a future date. However, the owner doesn’t have the obligation to buy or sell the underlying asset.
There are essentially two different types of an Options contract: Calls and Puts.
Call Option buyer buys the Call Option hoping that the price will rise by the date of expiry. Call buyer will be in profit zone when price of the underlying asset exceeds the strike price. If the price doesn’t go beyond the strike price, the buyer won’t exercise the option. The buyer will bear a loss equal to the premium of the Call Option.
Call sellers anticipate the stock to remain flat or decline so that they can make profits. An option seller pays a margin to the Exchange to enter a position. They collect the margin paid by the call buyer. Call Selling is also called ‘Call Writing’.
Thebuyer of Put Option profits when the stock price goes below the strike price on the expiry date. The option is exercised at the strike price by the put seller within the specified period of expiration. Option by them is used by selling the underlying stock to the put seller at the mentioned strike price.
Put sellers take the position when they expect a bullish market. A Put seller is obliged to buy the underlying stock at the strike price if the option buyer exercises the option on expiry day. The price of a stock should remain the same or go above the strike price so that put sellers can possibly earn a profit.
CALL OPTION | PUT OPTION |
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Options trading can be done via a Demat & Trading account . The price of options is derived from things like the value of securities and assets, and other underlying instruments. A trader visits the section of Options for index or stocks in the trading platform. A list of strike prices is displayed with corresponding premium rates & open interest on both PUT and CALL sides. The trader can select a particular strike price and enter the position as a buyer or seller. The respective amount has to be paid. The trader can hold the position till expiry or exit the position before the expiry date. If the position is held till the expiry date, the settlement between the 2 parties of the Options contract is executed.
Options trading can help a trader with higher returns in a short time frame, give the benefit of leverage, and a hedge against uncertainties.
Options enable in reducing the cost of holding a stock. If suppose you are holding a stock and the price isn’t moving at all. In that case, you can sell higher Call Options, earn the premium and decrease your cost of holding that asset.
When you expect the market to rise, you buy a Call option. That’s because a Call Option helps you to buy the underlying asset at the predefined rate. So, you need to select a strike price that is expected to be below the market price of the asset on expiry date. If the situation is such, you will profit from the Call option, otherwise, you only lose the premium paid to buy Call option.
Put Option provides investors with an opportunity to make profits if there’s a drop in the asset & security prices in the future. A trader expecting a market fall will buy a Put option. If the asset price stays lower than the strike price on expiry day, trader will profit.
Through the options contract, you can take a position in the underlying asset at a fraction of the actual price of the asset by paying an upfront premium. An option premium has two components – intrinsic value and time value. Intrinsic value is the difference between the strike price and the asset’s present price. The time value captures the component of premium owing to the time remaining till expiry.
The asset price, strike price and the expiration date, all play a role in option pricing. The asset price and strike price affect the inherent value and the expiry date might affect the time value.
Let’s look at some of the key terms to understand how the strike prices are categorized:
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