There's a figurative universe worth of investment securities and trading strategies to be found on the world's stock markets, and their complexity ranges from "pretty easy" all the way up to "extremely complex." The basics of trading stocks and bonds, for example, are generally easy to conceptualize, and they're just as generally easy to trade. But there are an endless number of other ways to trade in stocks, including trading their derivatives, which are commonly known as stock options. Always keep in mind the complexity of stock options and how they're traded, though, as well as the need to fully understand just how those trades work before you undertake the strategy, because stock options trading itself, while lucrative, can also be financially risky when they're traded incorrectly.
In the financial world, stock options are known as derivatives because they derive their existence from the actual stocks that serve as their foundation and reason for existence. In a stock option contract, you're not actually buying or selling the underlying stocks found within the contract, at least initially. Rather, what you're purchasing with a stock option contract is a future right but not an obligation to buy or sell the stocks, usually bundled in 100-share packets, contained within the contract. The stock options trading world is filled with countless options contracts, most of which aren't even exercised, to tell the truth.
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.
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.
When it comes to stock options trading, contract fees or "premiums" per underlying share in the option contract are another key concept. A stock option contract premium is the price per share that you'll pay to obtain the option to buy or sell those shares in the future, and it's also your total cost to obtain that contract unless and until you exercise your option rights. When it comes to a stock option contract's premiums or fees, their costs vary by the contract. For instance, there might be a $1 per share premium attached to each underlying share within the 100-share block within the contract, or a $100 total premium at $1x100 shares to gain the right to purchase or sell the stock before the contract's expiration date, or 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.
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.
In the financial world, stock options are known as derivatives because they derive their existence from the actual stocks that serve as their foundation and reason for existence. In a stock option contract, you're not actually buying or selling the underlying stocks found within the contract, at least initially. Rather, what you're purchasing with a stock option contract is a future right but not an obligation to buy or sell the stocks, usually bundled in 100-share packets, contained within the contract. The stock options trading world is filled with countless options contracts, most of which aren't even exercised, to tell the truth.
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.
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.
When it comes to stock options trading, contract fees or "premiums" per underlying share in the option contract are another key concept. A stock option contract premium is the price per share that you'll pay to obtain the option to buy or sell those shares in the future, and it's also your total cost to obtain that contract unless and until you exercise your option rights. When it comes to a stock option contract's premiums or fees, their costs vary by the contract. For instance, there might be a $1 per share premium attached to each underlying share within the 100-share block within the contract, or a $100 total premium at $1x100 shares to gain the right to purchase or sell the stock before the contract's expiration date, or 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.
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 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.. This article, How To Get Started In Stock Options Trading is available for free reprint.
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