Saturday, 9 July 2011

Finding The Various Options Strategies For Every Market

By Tim Leary


The use of options strategies for every market depends on a number of things. These would include knowledge of the various types available and the ability to hedge risk as well as speculate regarding increasing your income. For a number of years, only professionals engaged in this kind of trading. However, thanks to the Internet, it is easy to be able to follow the market with little effort.

As in any type of financial dealing, it is vital that you develop basic skills. This would mean having knowledge concerning risk limits and knowing how to increase the return so a profit is realized. This would include putting into action moves that would protect your investment as well as implementing market trending choices and learning the specific trading range that is targeted. Operating within this trading range is required once a commitment has been made.

Strategy involves combining choices with a thorough analysis of the possibilities to hedge any risks. The investor who is aggressive and looking for a fast profit will usually combine several instruments while a conservative, looking for safe investment may only combine a couple. The choice depends on the final goal of the investor.

An option is an agreement between two parties regarding actions that may take place within a specified period of time on an asset. This agreement allows the buyer to purchase the stock, if desired, prior to the expiration date. The seller of the stock must honor this agreement. As with any type of investment strategies it is essential to learn the basics of option dealings.

Although there are a numerous option strategies, Call and Put are the basic ones. With either option, you may buy (go Long) or sell (go Short). Since both types can be Covered or Naked, it becomes apparent that the number of combinations are numerous. The term Naked means that the stock is not owned by the seller. The choice of which strategy to use will depend upon the degree of risk the trader wishes to allow and whether the trader expects the market price to increase or decrease. Knowing and understanding these basics is essential before advancing to ones that are more complicated.

Calls have a market ticker symbol and their value is market determined. They are traded, the same as stocks, on the exchange. It is the number of buyers and sellers that determine the current prices. This option gives the purchaser the right to buy a set number of stock shares at a certain price by a certain date.

The bid/ask options spread on the exchange is much different from that of regular stocks. Due to the smaller volume, it is much higher, so the owner of a Call option can lock the price at any time. For an investor who has carefully studied the stock in question, this is the opportunity to freeze the stock price at its maximum value. Some investors purchase options at a pre-determined price, believing that the stock is going to decrease in value. The profit from this kind of venture is made in one of three ways. They will buy another Put option, write a Call option or short the stock (Naked Call). A Naked Call is extremely high risk.

When starting to search, you will find a large number of options and strategies are available. All of them are devoted to helping you find a good return on your investment. Using options strategies for every market requires implementing risk management and valuation principles if you are to have a successful experience in dealing with this kind of financial venture.




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