There are a wide range of investment securities found on the stock market, and they range from easily understood to very complex. Stocks and bonds, for instance, can be fairly easy to understand and just as easily traded. However, the are countless ways to trade stocks and derivatives of them, known as options, are included. In the universe of stocks as investment securities, though, option contracts are a bit complex and you need to understand them thoroughly before getting into trading them, because while stock options trading is lucrative when done right it's also financially ruinous when done wrong.
Stock options themselves are known as "derivatives" in the trading world, because they derive their reason for existence from the stocks from which they originate. You're actually not buying or selling stocks when you purchase a stock option contract, however, at least not at first. What you buy in a stock option contract is a right, but not an obligation, to later purchase or sell the stocks making up or underlying that contract, with such stocks typically bound together in 100-share blocks. The world of trading in stock options is made up of a seemingly endless number of options contracts, though the options in most of them are generally allowed to expire rather than being exercised, to be truthful.
Though complex, stock option contracts are a popular trading tool because they can be used in a wide variety of investment strategies. Conservative as well as high-risk strategies and everything in between all lend themselves well to the intelligent use of stock options trading, but never forget that trading stock options isn't for the faint of heart. With potentially great reward, and stock options can bring lucrative financial payoff, comes potentially great risk, especially if you don't understand stock options, their contracts and how they're traded. Thoroughly understand stock options contracts before trading them, in other words.
Newbie investors considering stock options trading are well-advised to learn what they can when it comes to stocks and their option contracts before they begin investing in them, as financial ruin can await if such a strategy isn't carried out smartly. Before you put even one penny in a stock brokerage account (all brokerages allow for trading in stock options to those experienced at it) take some time to go over stocks and the basics of how their derivatives such as option contracts operate. You should also understand what "calls" and "puts" are when it comes to stock option contracts. Stock option "calls" are rights to purchase a predetermined number of stocks contained in an option contract while "puts" are rights to sell a predetermined amount of shares found in a stock option contract.
Another key concept in stock options trading is the option contract's fee or premium per share of each share of underlying stock contained with the option contract. The premium you'll pay for a stock option contract is determined on a per-share basis, and it's your total cost to obtain the contract unless you later decide to exercise your option rights to buy or sell those shares. As far as option contract premiums go, their costs vary. For example, an option contract might feature a $1 per share premium for each share of stock in a 100-share contract block, or a $100 total premium for a right but not an obligation to buy or sell those stocks by the contract's expiry or expiration date.
When it comes to stock options trading, you'll always find a "strike price" attached to the contract's language, with that strike price being the price per share you'll pay to gain those stocks if you exercise your option rights. For instance, your purchase of a 100-share stock option contract might cost you a $1 per share premium, or $100, and then a $10 per share strike price if you really do exercise your call or put option. When you exercise your stock option contract rights you'll be on the hook for the $10 per share strike price, meaning $1,000 to the contract's writer (at $10x100 shares = $,1000), but if the stock's actually worth $13 per share your profit when you sell those shares will be high. If the stock found within your stock option contract is only worth $9 on the markets, and your strike price is $10 to obtain that stock, you'd generally just let the contract expire and decline to exercise your option rights.
Once you've gained an easy familiarity with just how stock option contracts work, always take a bit more time to learn from those experienced at trading them. There are many different websites on the Internet that make a ton of promises when it comes to stock options trading education, especially when it comes to using them as an investment strategy. However, if you really want to ensure your success in trading stock options you need to closely examine any website making promises related to turning you into a super-trader or the like before handing over any money in hopes of becoming that sort of trader. You also need to beware any stock options website promoting some sort of "autopilot" automated stock option contract trading software. While it's true that there's a lot of money to be made in trading stocks and their options you can see just as much money fly away by trusting only to an automated trading software package.
For hopeful stock options trading investors interested in checking out just what the excitement is when it comes to such options, the NASDAQ -- which was once known as the "National Association of Securities Dealers, Automated Quotation" -- website offers a promising start. Those already familiar with the basics of buying and selling stocks themselves and who are also ready to get into derivatives through trading of stock option contracts can check out several professional options trading websites. Because trading stock option contracts is indeed complex, spending much time hanging out with and discussing such options with trading professionals is advised as well.
Stock options themselves are known as "derivatives" in the trading world, because they derive their reason for existence from the stocks from which they originate. You're actually not buying or selling stocks when you purchase a stock option contract, however, at least not at first. What you buy in a stock option contract is a right, but not an obligation, to later purchase or sell the stocks making up or underlying that contract, with such stocks typically bound together in 100-share blocks. The world of trading in stock options is made up of a seemingly endless number of options contracts, though the options in most of them are generally allowed to expire rather than being exercised, to be truthful.
Though complex, stock option contracts are a popular trading tool because they can be used in a wide variety of investment strategies. Conservative as well as high-risk strategies and everything in between all lend themselves well to the intelligent use of stock options trading, but never forget that trading stock options isn't for the faint of heart. With potentially great reward, and stock options can bring lucrative financial payoff, comes potentially great risk, especially if you don't understand stock options, their contracts and how they're traded. Thoroughly understand stock options contracts before trading them, in other words.
Newbie investors considering stock options trading are well-advised to learn what they can when it comes to stocks and their option contracts before they begin investing in them, as financial ruin can await if such a strategy isn't carried out smartly. Before you put even one penny in a stock brokerage account (all brokerages allow for trading in stock options to those experienced at it) take some time to go over stocks and the basics of how their derivatives such as option contracts operate. You should also understand what "calls" and "puts" are when it comes to stock option contracts. Stock option "calls" are rights to purchase a predetermined number of stocks contained in an option contract while "puts" are rights to sell a predetermined amount of shares found in a stock option contract.
Another key concept in stock options trading is the option contract's fee or premium per share of each share of underlying stock contained with the option contract. The premium you'll pay for a stock option contract is determined on a per-share basis, and it's your total cost to obtain the contract unless you later decide to exercise your option rights to buy or sell those shares. As far as option contract premiums go, their costs vary. For example, an option contract might feature a $1 per share premium for each share of stock in a 100-share contract block, or a $100 total premium for a right but not an obligation to buy or sell those stocks by the contract's expiry or expiration date.
When it comes to stock options trading, you'll always find a "strike price" attached to the contract's language, with that strike price being the price per share you'll pay to gain those stocks if you exercise your option rights. For instance, your purchase of a 100-share stock option contract might cost you a $1 per share premium, or $100, and then a $10 per share strike price if you really do exercise your call or put option. When you exercise your stock option contract rights you'll be on the hook for the $10 per share strike price, meaning $1,000 to the contract's writer (at $10x100 shares = $,1000), but if the stock's actually worth $13 per share your profit when you sell those shares will be high. If the stock found within your stock option contract is only worth $9 on the markets, and your strike price is $10 to obtain that stock, you'd generally just let the contract expire and decline to exercise your option rights.
Once you've gained an easy familiarity with just how stock option contracts work, always take a bit more time to learn from those experienced at trading them. There are many different websites on the Internet that make a ton of promises when it comes to stock options trading education, especially when it comes to using them as an investment strategy. However, if you really want to ensure your success in trading stock options you need to closely examine any website making promises related to turning you into a super-trader or the like before handing over any money in hopes of becoming that sort of trader. You also need to beware any stock options website promoting some sort of "autopilot" automated stock option contract trading software. While it's true that there's a lot of money to be made in trading stocks and their options you can see just as much money fly away by trusting only to an automated trading software package.
For hopeful stock options trading investors interested in checking out just what the excitement is when it comes to such options, the NASDAQ -- which was once known as the "National Association of Securities Dealers, Automated Quotation" -- website offers a promising start. Those already familiar with the basics of buying and selling stocks themselves and who are also ready to get into derivatives through trading of stock option contracts can check out several professional options trading websites. Because trading stock option contracts is indeed complex, spending much time hanging out with and discussing such options with trading professionals is advised as well.
About the Author:
Before you even think about stock option investment strategies trading, make sure you check out the Option Millionaires website and its tutorials on stock option investment strategies trading as well as its active stock option investment strategies trader forums.. Also published at Don't Lose Your Shirt In Stock Options Trading: Learn The Basics First.
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