The objective of the Option Sleuth is educate the investor on how a managed option strategy as part of a diversified portfolio can generate additional income and boost returns.
There are two basic types of options: the call and the put.
A call is an option contract that gives the holder the right to buy the underlying security at a specified price for a certain, fixed period of time.
A put is an option contract that gives the holder the right to sell the underlying security at a specified price for a certain, fixed period of time.
Option contracts may be opened as a buy (long positions) or a write (short positions).
The following common option strategies are defined in terms of a net long position, however each strategy may also be opened as a net short position.
• Buy a call
Outlook on the underlying equity: Positive
Potential gain: Unlimited
Potential loss: Limited to price paid for call
• Buy a put
Outlook on the underlying equity: Negative
Potential gain: Limited to the value of the equity
Potential loss: Limited to price paid for put
• Buy a call spread (buy a call and sell a higher strike call)
Outlook on the underlying equity: Positive
Potential gain: Limited to spread value less price paid
Potential loss: Limited to price paid for spread
• Buy a put spread (buy a put and sell a lower strike put)
Outlook on the underlying equity: Negative
Potential gain: Limited to spread value less price paid
Potential loss: Limited to price paid for spread
• Covered call (buy equity, sell higher strike call)
Outlook on the underlying equity: Positive
Potential gain: Varies
Potential loss: Limited to value of equity less price received for call
This week's featured book on options trading:
Volatile Markets Made Easy: Trading Stocks and Options for Increased Profits
by Guy Cohen
FT Press (May 2009)
From the publisher: Today's markets are more volatile than ever. That terrifies some investors. But smart investors know that volatile markets offer extraordinary opportunities to those who know how to take advantage of them. Volatile Markets Made Easy teaches how to do just that.
Guy Cohen introduces six proven strategies designed to leverage the consistent patterns and fast-changing behavior of volatile markets. With his trademark simplicity, Cohen details the exact chart patterns and timings that represent the most lucrative times to trade; then walks you through the best strategies for exploiting these opportunities without taking on unacceptable risk.
The book is replete with real-life examples and what-if scenarios designed to help you choose the right approaches based on your personal view of the markets and tolerance for risk. Along the way, you'll gain a deep and intuitive understanding of the psychology of volatile markets ... master simple fundamental and technical analysis techniques that any investor can perform ... execute start-to-finish trading plans that work... overcome the common psychological errors that lead investors to give back their gains ... earn fast, significant profits by using options straddles the right way ... keep profiting while other investors are losing sleep!
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