In the financial trading markets, you will find many different options for traders. Index options are some of those that are commonly traded in the financial market. In basic terms, they are financial derivatives that are traded in the markets. They are based on stock indices, some of which include the Dow Jones Industries Average and the S&P 500. Traders have an option of buying an underlying stock index when trading. The investor can hold on to these indices for a specified period of time. The Index trading market is one of those that give investors a lot of choices. This is because diversification of portfolios is as easy as trading in the market. In contrast to stocks, Index options are settled in cash terms and not a transfer of assets.
When it comes to classification, Index options are European-style for the trading exercises. These options are only exercised once they expire. This is in contrast to the indices that are classified as American. The American options are able to be exercised at any given period of time until they expire. The flexibility of index options allows them to be used for hedging. Traders involved in index investing often use index options to hedge stock portfolios that are made up of various individual stocks. Index options are also great when it comes to speculating the market.
Strategies used when trading index options
When it comes to the trade, there are many different strategies available to investors who are interested in trading index options. One of the most common strategies used involved purchasing a put or call on the index. This basically means buying when the level of the index is going down or up. When the index is going up, the purchase is called a call while the purchase made when the level of the index is going down is called a put. There are also other strategies that focus on the bear put spreads and bull call spreads. The bull call spread is similar to other strategies commonly used in the trading markets. This involves buying when the price is low and selling when the price has gone up. The opposite of this strategy is what comprises the bear put spread strategy. Using these strategies is of advantage to traders because they end up saving up their capital. Even though the profits are limited, the risk is always low.
The index options market is not without its risks. One of the key reasons why investors use put options for hedging purposes is because of the unpredictable nature of the market. Since index options are tied to their stock indices, there is a huge level of risk in the market. Hedging, therefore, provides an accessible way of insuring an investor’s portfolio from market risks. Investors usually buy put options on the stock index itself because it is quite difficult to buy individual index options. The possible loss when the value of the stock index declines is thus mitigated greatly. When the decline is apparent in the market, investors generally stand to gain less from the investment.
There is also the option of selling covered calls. This involves selling call options against contracts that an investor has already purchased at the stock index market. If the market is bearish according to an investor’s view, selling a contract would be enough to generate a profit when the index drops. Even if the index does not drop, the investor can still make money from the investment that is already owned. They will have to forego the money spent on the premium though since the market will have gone in the wrong direction. Most investors who use this strategy are experienced. It takes a deep understanding of the position delta in order to make profits out of selling covered calls.
In Summary
Index options are financial derivatives that give investors the chance to make profits by selling underlying stock indices. The market for these options is quite dynamic and there are many different strategies used by investors to generate income. Just like in other trading markets, knowledge about the market is necessary. Understanding the strategies, risks, and benefits of trading in this market is important for any investor that wants to eke a living out of index options trading.
