The financial markets are filled with easy-to-understand as well as complex financial instruments. For example, the concept of stocks and bonds is relatively easy to grasp and they can be just as easy to trade. Of course, there are a myriad of ways to trade in stocks, including in derivatives known as options. Option contracts for stocks are somewhat complex, however, and understanding how to get started in stock options trading is a must before you dive into this potentially lucrative, as well as potentially risky, investment strategy.
Stock options are called "derivatives" because they're derived from the stocks that are the foundation upon which they rest. In stock options contracts, you don't really buy or sell the stocks found within them, at least at first. Instead, what you're buying with stock options is a right, but absolutely no obligation, to purchase or sell in the future the actual stocks, which are usually grouped together in 100-share portions, contained in those contracts. Stock options trading activities are composed of a huge number of such contacts, though the vast majority of such deals aren't eventually exercised, to be honest.
Stock option contracts are complex and that's the plain fact of the matter, but with such complexity comes great potential reward and great flexibility in investing, which is why they're also very popular as investment instruments. Truthfully, stock option contracts can fit well with conservative as well as extremely risky investment programs, but in all circumstances the trading of them definitely isn't for the queasy or weak-at-heart. While stock option contracts can indeed bring a lot of money back as a reward they also bring an equal or even greater chance of financial ruin if they're traded poorly and when you just don't understand how they work. Put simply, you need to learn all you can about stock options trading before you dip even a toe into their potentially turbulent waters.
Most neophyte investors are strongly advised to learn all they can about how stock options trading works before they take up the investment strategy precisely because financial ruin awaits if they don't do it correctly. Before funding a stock brokerage account -- and all reputable stock brokerages offer clients the ability to trade in stock option contracts -- read up on the basics of stocks and their derivative options. Understand, as well, what a stock option "call" is versus its opposite, the stock option "put." In stock options, a "call" is a right to buy an agreed-upon number of stocks in a contract, while a "put" is a right to sell an option contract's shares.
Stock options trading, and the contracts involved in the strategy, also features a fee or "premium" charged in each contract, such a premium being the price per underlying share found in the contract. Stock option contract premiums are the price per share charged to gain a right to purchase or sell those shares by a pre-set or agreed-upon date, in addition to being the cost to obtain the stock option contract in the first place. Stock option contract fees or premiums always vary by the particular contract, though. For example, a 100-share stock option contract might cost you a $100 premium, that hundred dollars being composed of a $1 per each share premium charged so that you obtain the right to buy or sell the stock before the contract reaches its expiration date, which is also known as its expiry.
In stock options trading, there's always something called a "strike price" to be found, such a price being what the contract's buyer will have to pay on a per-share ratio to obtain those stocks. You might buy a 100-share stock option contract for a $1 per share fee or premium for $100, for example, and then pay a $10 per share strike price if you actually do exercise your option rights. Exercise of your stock option contract's rights before the contract expires obligates you to pay the contract's writer -- who's typically another investor -- $1,000 or a $10 per share purchase price time 100 shares, total. If the stock on which you just exercised the option to buy is priced on the market at $13, but you only paid $10 to obtain it, your profit will be relatively handsome. If the stock you're considering buying, should you exercise your option rights under your stock option contract, is only worth $9 on the markets all you need to do is let the contract die at expiration date, thus not exercising your option rights.
After you've gotten a good handle on just what stock option contracts are, think about taking a bit of time to associate with and then learn from experienced investment professionals. The World Wide Web, of course, is loaded with countless websites that promise to deliver quality education in stock option contracts and their use as an investment strategy. But if you really hope to achieve success in trading stocks and their options you need to also check out any website you come across that promises to help improve your ability to trade stock options before you commit to it. Additionally, be careful of any finance website promoting "autopilot" stock options trading software. While you can make a lot of money with stock option contracts you can also lose even more by trusting solely to some sort of automated trading software program.
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 are called "derivatives" because they're derived from the stocks that are the foundation upon which they rest. In stock options contracts, you don't really buy or sell the stocks found within them, at least at first. Instead, what you're buying with stock options is a right, but absolutely no obligation, to purchase or sell in the future the actual stocks, which are usually grouped together in 100-share portions, contained in those contracts. Stock options trading activities are composed of a huge number of such contacts, though the vast majority of such deals aren't eventually exercised, to be honest.
Stock option contracts are complex and that's the plain fact of the matter, but with such complexity comes great potential reward and great flexibility in investing, which is why they're also very popular as investment instruments. Truthfully, stock option contracts can fit well with conservative as well as extremely risky investment programs, but in all circumstances the trading of them definitely isn't for the queasy or weak-at-heart. While stock option contracts can indeed bring a lot of money back as a reward they also bring an equal or even greater chance of financial ruin if they're traded poorly and when you just don't understand how they work. Put simply, you need to learn all you can about stock options trading before you dip even a toe into their potentially turbulent waters.
Most neophyte investors are strongly advised to learn all they can about how stock options trading works before they take up the investment strategy precisely because financial ruin awaits if they don't do it correctly. Before funding a stock brokerage account -- and all reputable stock brokerages offer clients the ability to trade in stock option contracts -- read up on the basics of stocks and their derivative options. Understand, as well, what a stock option "call" is versus its opposite, the stock option "put." In stock options, a "call" is a right to buy an agreed-upon number of stocks in a contract, while a "put" is a right to sell an option contract's shares.
Stock options trading, and the contracts involved in the strategy, also features a fee or "premium" charged in each contract, such a premium being the price per underlying share found in the contract. Stock option contract premiums are the price per share charged to gain a right to purchase or sell those shares by a pre-set or agreed-upon date, in addition to being the cost to obtain the stock option contract in the first place. Stock option contract fees or premiums always vary by the particular contract, though. For example, a 100-share stock option contract might cost you a $100 premium, that hundred dollars being composed of a $1 per each share premium charged so that you obtain the right to buy or sell the stock before the contract reaches its expiration date, which is also known as its expiry.
In stock options trading, there's always something called a "strike price" to be found, such a price being what the contract's buyer will have to pay on a per-share ratio to obtain those stocks. You might buy a 100-share stock option contract for a $1 per share fee or premium for $100, for example, and then pay a $10 per share strike price if you actually do exercise your option rights. Exercise of your stock option contract's rights before the contract expires obligates you to pay the contract's writer -- who's typically another investor -- $1,000 or a $10 per share purchase price time 100 shares, total. If the stock on which you just exercised the option to buy is priced on the market at $13, but you only paid $10 to obtain it, your profit will be relatively handsome. If the stock you're considering buying, should you exercise your option rights under your stock option contract, is only worth $9 on the markets all you need to do is let the contract die at expiration date, thus not exercising your option rights.
After you've gotten a good handle on just what stock option contracts are, think about taking a bit of time to associate with and then learn from experienced investment professionals. The World Wide Web, of course, is loaded with countless websites that promise to deliver quality education in stock option contracts and their use as an investment strategy. But if you really hope to achieve success in trading stocks and their options you need to also check out any website you come across that promises to help improve your ability to trade stock options before you commit to it. Additionally, be careful of any finance website promoting "autopilot" stock options trading software. While you can make a lot of money with stock option contracts you can also lose even more by trusting solely to some sort of automated trading software program.
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 options trading, make sure you check out the Option Millionaires website and its tutorials on stock options trading as well as its active stock options trader forums.. Free reprint available from: Stock Options Trading And How To Begin Investing In Option Contracts.
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