Category: General

  • Percentiles & Z-Scores

    Z-score The deviation of the value for an individual from the median value of the reference population, divided by the standard Deviation for the reference population Z- Score =(Observed value) – (Median reference value) **Standard deviation of reference population** A fixed Z score interval implies a fixed height or weight difference for children of a […]

  • CONVERSIONS & REVERSALS

    Conversions and Reversals are the trader’s favorite tool for risk management. It is most accurately described as a quasi-arbitrage that options traders rely on for pricing purposes as well as for its risk management functions. The synthetic relationships that puts and calls have to each other has already beer seen in the previous section. This […]

  • SYNTHETICS

    Synthetics: When I first started trading options I used to have a little card written with this on it. Basically it is Two or more trading vehicles packaged together to emulate another pricing vehicle or spread. Because the package involves different components, price is also different, but the risk is the same. So, for example, […]

  • USES FOR PUTS

    1. Long puts give you bearish speculation with fixed, limited risk. • Long a put will give you (upon exercise) the control over 1 future sold short. A long put has risk limited to the initial cost of establishing the position. • A long put has potentially unlimited gains as long as the price of […]

  • USES FOR CALLS

    1. Long calls are bullish speculation with fixed, limited risk. In futures options, cach options contract typically represents one underlying future. A long call gives you control (upon exercise) of long 1 future. A long call position has risk limited to the initial cost of establishing the position. A long call position has unlimited upside […]

  • UNDERSTANDING VOLATILITY

    The value of an option depends mainly on two things: The likelihood that the option will finish in the money. The difference between the underlying price and the option’s exercise pric if the option does finish in the money. Effectively, the value of an option depends on the distribution of possible underlying prices, which depends […]

  • FACTORS INFLUENCING OPTION PREMIUM/BASIC OPTION PRICING INGREDIENTS

    The following are the most common inputs to any options pricing model and are the most important factors influencing the options total premium. Exercise price-a benchmark for an option’s intrinsic value, it is also known as the strike price of the option. As mentioned above, the exercise price is the price at which you will […]

  • CALLS

    Definition: A call option is a contract between a buyer and a seller whereby the instrument at a fixed price on or before a fixed date, should the buyer of the call buyer acquires the right, but not the obligation, to buy a specified underlying wish to exercise the option. The seller of the call […]

  • WHAT IS THE “UNDERLYING”?

    Definition: The underlying is the instrument to be delivered in the event an option is exercised. An underlying can be a stock or shares of stock, an index, a futures contract, or a cash commodity. The amount of underlying for each option contract will depend upon the security traded and its specifications. For example, in […]

  • FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS

    OPTION: An option on an underlying asset is either the right to buy the asset (a call option) or the right to sell the asset (a put option) at some predetermined price and within some predetermined time in the future. Notice that the key feature here is that the owner has the right but not […]