Stock Options Trading Essentials

By Frank Smith

Stock options are a contract that allows the buyer or seller of an option the right to exercise the sale or purchase of a stock for a contracted underlying price within a certain time period. Market conditions and future direction is analyzed in the Wall Street Journal, IBD, Stock Option Trader and other financial news services.

A call option gives the buyer the right to buy the underlying asset; a put option gives the buyer of the option the right to sell the underlying asset. If the buyer chooses to exercise this right, the seller is obliged to sell or buy the asset at the agreed price. An option trading tutorial or often free Wall Street reference guide is essential to successful trading.

Exercising the option at the right time if the market moves in your favor, determines if you win or lose. If, for instance, the underlying asset expires worthless, you only lose your protracted option price.

The theoretical value of a stock option can be evaluated according to several statistical models. These models, which are developed by quantitative analysts and attempt to predict how the value of the option will change in response to changing conditions. Because of these proven models, the risks associated with granting, owning, or trading options may be quantified and managed with a great precision.

Low cost leveraging on a ?sure? bet is desirable, especially if one can get a handle on risk. Options provide that vehicle, and if used employing prudent controls, can be highly profitable. Low-cost leverage can be used to protect a position as well as take advantage of a developing market situation.

Various financial indicators can used to gage technical market direction. Instead, find the ones that work best for you and your strategic style, and learn to master them. Relying on news sources such as the Wallstreet Journal, option stock trading services are very helpful. Most successful financial experts found that the best trading systems are the simplest ones.

Market behave in a cyclical manner and behave in a wave composed of individual data points. Leading and lagging indicators signal direction of the wave and helps positioning strategies.

Lagging indicators give a buy signal after the trend has been established whereas a leading indicator give a signal before a trend is initiated. With leading indicators there are many fake-outs. Relying on lagging indicators only would preclude one from catching large gains found early in a trend. - 29969

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