What Are Options Contracts
Options contracts provide you with the right, but not the obligation to buy or sell an asset for a price. Prior to an asset’s maturity date or a pre-determined date you cannot buy or sell the asset.
In general one hundred shares of an underlying stock represents one options contract. Options contracts have two parties. The buyer called holder and the seller called writer. To exercise an options contract, the writer must fulfill the formalities in the contract by giving shares to a suitable party. In some cases where cash is used to settle an options contract the index security cannot be delivered. The option expires if not exercised, but the holder’s losses are held to the money he put up to take up the option. Should the option expire no one can do any trading of the shares. The buyer benefits from this deal, but the writer suffers considerable loses unless the contract is covered.
The options contract has an asymmetrical payoff pattern similar to that of stocks. Commonly options contracts are used for leverage or protection. When used as leverage, the option gives the holder control over the equity in a smaller amount. Read more…
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