Options Trading: What Are Options Contracts? - India Infoline (2024)

Whether you trade in stocks, commodities or any other financial instrument, it can take place across a number of different platforms and in a number of different ways. However, some commonly employed trading methods have proven useful time and time again for investors looking to make a profit while carefully hedging their risks. One such investing method is an options contract.

But, what are options? What is options trading and how does it work? To understand these concepts better, let us take a closer look:

What Are Derivatives?

To understand options trading, we must first get familiar with the concept of derivatives. Derivatives are essentially a type of financial instrument that derives their value from the changing value of an underlying asset such as stocks, commodities, currencies etc., and are set between two or more parties. Therefore, as the price of the underlying asset changes in the market, the overall value of the derivative contract changes with it.
When trading in derivatives, people essentially trade in agreements or contracts that stipulate the purchase or sale of an asset at an agreed upon price and a specific date. Options trading is essentially a type of derivatives trading, which you will learn about below.

What Are Options?

An Options contract is essentially a type of agreement between two parties, whereby the buyer has the right but not the obligation to buy or sell an underlying asset. The asset must be bought or sold - depending on the type of options contract- on the specific date and at a predetermined asset price.

Some of the essential terms that are often used in options trading are:

  • Lot Size:This refers to the standard quantity or units of the underlying asset that is included in the options contract.
  • Strike Prize:Also known as exercise price, this is the price of the asset at which the two parties agree to buy or sell the underlying asset.
  • Premium:This refers to the amount that the buyer pays to the seller of the options contract and the underlying asset to avail the benefits of the options contract. It is the market price of the options contract itself.
  • Expiration Date:This refers to the future date until which an options contract can be exercised by the investor. Beyond the expiration date, the options contract will expire worthlessly.

How Is Options Trading Done?

Anytime a party enters into an options contract, they typically do so either because they think that the price of an asset is set to rise or that the price of an asset is set to fall. Apart from speculating on the price of the asset to go up or down, investors also invest in an options contract to hedge a trading position in the market.
To understand how options trading is done in the market, you must be familiar with the type of options derivatives that are employed. Here are the two major types of options contracts:

Call Option

A call option is a type of options contract that gives the holder the right, but not the obligation to buy the asset at the agreed-upon strike price before the expiration date. The call option can be bought by the investor by paying a premium upfront to the seller, also called the Options writer. The option holders, therefore, make a profit if the value of the asset rises in the future. This is because the call option allows them to buy the asset at a much lower price and then sell in the market for its current higher price.
For example, suppose you purchase a call option for stock at a strike price of Rs 200 and the expiration date is in two months. If within that period, the stock price rises to Rs 240, you can still buy the stock at Rs 200 due to the call option and then sell it to make a profit of Rs 240-200 = Rs 40.

Put Option

A put option is a type of options contract that gives the options holders the right, but not the obligation to sell the asset at the set strike price any time before the expiration date. If the value of the asset falls in the future, the call option gives holders the choice to sell the asset at the agreed-upon higher price, thereby minimising overall risk.
For example, let’s assume you purchase a put option for stock at a strike price of Rs 200 and the expiration date is in a month. If within that period, the stock price falls to Rs 180, you can still choose to sell the stock at Rs 200. On the other hand, if the price of the stock rises above Rs 200, you can choose between exercising the contract or not.

Benefits And Features Of Options Derivatives

Let us take a look at some of its most essential features and the benefits they provide:

  • If you are looking to invest in stocks, one of the greatest benefits of trading in options derivatives is that you can take a position in the market with a lower amount than directly buying stocks. It is therefore a more economical way to speculate on stock prices.
  • Option derivatives can be utilised by investors to protect their portfolios against risks. As there are no direct transactions with the assets themselves, the investor gets to minimise their risk exposure and often, the only loss sustained is that of the option premium itself.
  • The world of options trading is a versatile landscape and provides opportunities to both buyers and sellers of assets to make a wide variety of investments based on their market speculations. As an options trader, you can choose from buying call options, selling call options, buying put options and selling put options - each with its range of risks and profits.

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Options Trading: What Are Options Contracts? - India Infoline (2024)

FAQs

Options Trading: What Are Options Contracts? - India Infoline? ›

An Options contract is essentially a type of agreement between two parties, whereby the buyer has the right but not the obligation to buy or sell an underlying asset. The asset must be bought or sold - depending on the type of options contract- on the specific date and at a predetermined asset price.

What is an option contract in trading? ›

An options contract is an agreement between two parties to facilitate a potential transaction involving an asset at a preset price and date. Call options can be purchased as a leveraged bet on the appreciation of an asset, while put options are purchased to profit from price declines.

Who creates options contracts in India? ›

An option writer, also known as a granter or seller, is someone who sells an option and collects a premium from the buyer, by opening a position. The answer to who is option writer is that it is someone who creates a new options contract and sells it to a trader seeking to buy that contract.

How does options trading work in India? ›

Options trading is a type of financial trading that allows investors to buy or sell the right to purchase or sell an underlying asset at a fixed price, at a future date. Options trading operates on the basis that the buyer has the option to exercise the contract but is not under any obligation to do so.

What are the two types of options contracts? ›

What are Options: Calls and Puts? An option is a derivative, a contract that gives the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell the underlying asset by a certain date (expiration date) at a specified price (strike price). There are two types of options: calls and puts.

What is an example of an option contract? ›

For example, suppose you purchase a call option for stock at a strike price of Rs 200 and the expiration date is in two months. If within that period, the stock price rises to Rs 240, you can still buy the stock at Rs 200 due to the call option and then sell it to make a profit of Rs 240-200 = Rs 40.

What is the difference between option trade and option contract? ›

HELLO, Option trading is a financial strategy where investors buy or sell options contracts, which are derivatives giving them the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an underlying asset at a predetermined price (strike price) within a specific period (until expiration).

What is option contract in simple words? ›

An option contract is an agreement used to facilitate a possible transaction between two parties. It governs the right to buy or sell an underlying asset or security, such as a stock, at a specific price. This is called the strike price, and it's fixed until the contract's expiration date.

Is options trading illegal in India? ›

While binary options trading itself is not against Indian law, any specific rules or regulations governing it are absent. The central bank permits resident citizens to undertake forex transactions through authorized platforms for permitted purposes.

What is the average income of options trader in India? ›

Option Trader salary in India ranges between ₹ 1.0 Lakhs to ₹ 8.0 Lakhs with an average annual salary of ₹ 3.0 Lakhs. Salary estimates are based on 78 latest salaries received from Option Traders.

Who is the most successful options trader in India? ›

Top Traders in India: Navigating the Market with Skill and Strategy
  • Top 10 Traders in India.
  • Premji and Associates. ...
  • Radhakrishnan Damani. ...
  • Rakesh Jhunjhunwala. ...
  • Raamdeo Agrawal. ...
  • Mukul Agrawal. ...
  • Sunil Singhania. ...
  • Ashish Dhawan.
Jan 19, 2024

Is option trading taxable in India? ›

Taxation of Income And Loss Arising From Trading of Futures And Options. Both incomes or losses that arise from trading of futures and options has to be treated as a business income or loss and requires filing of returns using the ITR-4 tax form. Taxable income after deductions is also taxed.

Is option trading good in India? ›

Options Trading offers a splendid opportunity to boost your investment strategy. These Indian Stocks stand out due to their good market performance, high liquidity, and potential for gains.

What are the rules for option contracts? ›

An option contract is a promise to keep an offer open for another party to accept within a period of time. With an option contract, the offeror is not permitted to revoke the offer within the stated period of time. Most option contracts require consideration and other contract formalities in order to be enforceable.

How long do option contracts last? ›

The date is almost always clearly stated in the option contract. Options can have various expiration periods, ranging from as short as one day to several months or even years. Most equity options are American style, while index options, like those for the S&P 500, are European style.

Who writes options contracts? ›

A writer (sometimes referred to as a grantor) is the seller of an option who opens a position to collect a premium payment from the buyer. Writers can sell call or put options that are covered or uncovered. An uncovered position is also referred to as a naked option.

What is an option contract and how does it work? ›

An option contract is a promise to keep an offer open for another party to accept within a period of time. With an option contract, the offeror is not permitted to revoke the offer within the stated period of time. Most option contracts require consideration and other contract formalities in order to be enforceable.

What is options contract and how it works? ›

An options contract is a derivative security that grants its owner the right to buy or sell a certain amount of a stock or asset at a certain price on or before a specific date. Jeremy Salvucci. Publish date: Aug 19, 2022 5:59 PM EDT.

How do options contracts make money? ›

A call option buyer stands to profit if the underlying asset, say a stock, rises above the strike price before expiry. A put option buyer makes a profit if the price falls below the strike price before the expiration.

Do you get your money back in an option contract? ›

Simply stated, an option period is a negotiated number of days after the contract is fully executed during which time the buyer can terminate the contract for any reason and get his earnest money back.

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