The Beginner’s Guide to Options Trading

Options trading is a popular and exciting investment strategy that allows individuals to speculate on the price movements of various assets, such as stocks, commodities, or currencies. While it may seem intimidating at first, understanding the basics of options trading can open up a world of opportunities for investors. This beginner’s guide aims to provide a comprehensive overview of options trading and equip you with the fundamental knowledge to get started.

What are the options?

Options are financial derivatives that give the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an underlying asset at a predetermined price, known as the strike price, within a specified period. There are two types of options: call options and put options. Call options give the holder the right to buy the underlying asset, while put options give the holder the right to sell the underlying asset. Similar is the story with nifty option chain.

Key terms to know:

• Strike price: The price at which the underlying asset can be bought or sold.
• Expiration date: The date on which the option contract expires.
• Premium: The price paid to purchase an option contract.

In-the-money (ITM), at-the-money (ATM), and out-of-the-money (OTM): These terms describe the relationship between the strike price and the current price of the underlying asset.

How do options work?

Options trading involves the buyer (holder) and the seller (writer) of the option contract. The buyer pays a premium to the seller for the right to buy or sell the underlying asset. If the option is not exercised before the expiration date, it becomes worthless, and the seller keeps the premium.  Similar is the story with nifty option chain.

Benefits of options trading:

• Leverage: Options allow traders to control a larger amount of the underlying asset with a smaller investment, amplifying potential profits.
• Risk management: Options can be used to hedge against potential losses or protect existing positions in a portfolio.
• Flexibility: Options provide a range of strategies to profit from various market conditions, including bullish, bearish, or neutral outlooks.

Basic options strategies:

• Buying call options: This strategy allows you to profit from a rising market by purchasing call options, which give you the right to buy the underlying asset at a predetermined price. If the price increases above the strike price, you can exercise the option and profit from the price difference.
• Buying put options: This strategy enables you to profit from a falling market by buying put options, which give you the right to sell the underlying asset at a predetermined price. If the price decreases below the strike price, you can exercise the option and profit from the price difference.
• Covered call strategy: This strategy involves selling call options on a stock you already own. If the stock price remains below the strike price, you keep the premium received for selling the option.
• Protective put strategy: This strategy involves buying put options to protect a long position in a stock. If the stock price falls, the put option can be exercised to limit losses. Similar is the story of  Similar is the story with a nifty option chain.