Option Trading - Is It For You?
In today's turbulent economic times, many people are afraid of investing, especially in the stock market, for fear of losing their hard earned money. However, despite fluctuating stock prices, it is still possible to make informed and profitable stock investments, and one of the best ways to do this is not to invest in stocks at all, but rather in stock options trading.
Regular stock investments and option trading are two different styles of investment. In option trading you never buy any stock on an exchange, instead you but rights and not compulsion to trade a stock at mutually agreed price in future. There is provision of either purchasing call option or put option. Call option gives buyer right to buy stock and put offers right to sell stock,
Apparently this may not seem to be worth giving second thought, but following example will change the outlook. Let us suppose, XYZ stocks which is presently at $10 per share is looking to be falling in price. At this point you can buy put option for 1000 shares for one month time period at present market value of $10. This gives to authority or right to sell the stock at $10 per share even if the stock is worth $8 at that time. This means you are gaining $2000 deduct premium that you have agreed to pay for buying the option.
Option trading is contract between buyer and seller. Buyer and seller have to agree upon number of variables before writing option trading contract. The stock, if it is put option or call option, the price as to be decided mutually by buyer or seller. Also have to finalize if it is going to be American style or European style option. In American style buyer is at liberty to use rights anytime before expiry date of contract, as against in European style such action can be taken only on last day, which is expiry day
There are many different types of strategies that you can use when buying option trading. For example, there are even people times when it is appropriate to purchase both a call and a put option, if you think the stock will be volatile in the future, but are not sure if it will move up or down.
Lastly, choosing an option on what stock is vital. MACD indicator is a proven indicator enabling calculation of trends in stock price. Though it may not come under an absolute scientific indicator, its use in taking calculated decisions on the option to choose for a particular stock is good. It is vital to have in mind that option trading is bereft with risk but may require lesser money as compared to stock trading, and as well reap us good benefits.
Most of us are too scared to invest money in the stock market with the current economic crisis. However, option trading is a decent risk to take. Stock options trading involves calls and puts, and may be good investments. There are both American and European styles. You can learn different strategies before you really get into this venture, and you could use a tool such as the MACD indicator to help navigate the volatile market; it helps you to calculate the trends of a stock price. It is not absolute, but it is helpful.
Published April 3rd, 2009
Filed in Finance
