What are the Types of Options Trading?

Today, investing in the stock market has become the most popular way of maximising your income. While stock markets have their risk factors, options trading may be an excellent approach to expanding your portfolio. The best part about option trading is that it comes with a short payoff; thus, you may expect quick returns without waiting for long future contracts.

If you are planning to start trading options, ​​this is for you. It will help you learn about the different types of options and how they work.

What Are Options?

Options are a financial contract that allows the investor to sell or buy an underlying asset or product at a predetermined value. Through option trading, you can buy and sell the assets by fulfilling the contract on or before the specified expiration date. You may trade options on numerous financial assets, including equities, ETFs and indices.

Overview of Options Trading

Options trading is about buying or selling assets at a predetermined price on or before the expiration date. In this form of trading, you can make a contract for any period, say for a day or a couple of years. 

When you sell an option, you have an obligation but not the right to fulfil the contract. Buying an option gives you the right, though not the obligation, to trade the underlying security. These are respectively known as puts and calls.

Understanding Call Options vs. Put Options

Most people fail to develop a proper understanding of call-and-put options. Therefore, let’s discuss them in detail with appropriate call-and-put option examples.

Call options

A call option gives you the right, though not the obligation, to buy a stock at a predetermined price (the strike price) before a certain expiration date. Traders typically purchase call options when they believe the underlying asset's price will rise. If the asset's price moves above the strike price, the holder can buy it at a discount, securing the asset for less than its current market value.

For example, if you buy a call option with a strike price of ₹60, and the stock rises to ₹70, you can buy it at ₹60. You could then sell it at the market price of ₹70, making a ₹10 profit per share minus the option's premium.

Put Options

Put options give you the right, though not the obligation, to sell an asset, usually a stock, at a set strike price before a specific expiration date. This allows investors to benefit from a drop in the stock's price. If the market rate drops below the strike price, the holder can sell the asset at the higher strike price, securing a profit.

For instance, if you buy a put option with a strike price of $30, and the stock falls to $20, you can sell it at $30 despite the lower market price. This allows you to profit from the price drop minus the premium you paid for the option.

Key Types of Options Trading Strategies

You may incur considerable losses in options trading. However, this risk can be mitigated by using effective option trading strategies. Some of them are as follows.

Covered calls 

This is one of the most popular strategies for trading in options as it allows the investor to generate income while reducing the risks of long stock investment. Through the covered calls approach, you may sell your options at a pre-decided price, which is also known as a short strike price.

Married Put 

You may opt for marriage, but if you want to protect yourself from downside risk while holding stock options, you can use a strategy called a protective put. This strategy establishes the stock price floor when the stock's options price falls sharply.

Bear Put Spread

In this option strategy, a trader buys put stock options at a strike price rate while selling the same stock option at a lower strike price. You may limit your potential losses and gains through a bear put spread approach.

Differences Between American and European Options

The American and European options have no relation to religion. In fact, they differentiate the exercise options.

Conclusion

Option trading is considered one of the fastest and most secure ways to maximise your fund. However, it does come with its fair share of risks. Thus, it is advised that you use the above-listed options trading strategies. You can also consult a professional to ensure you make informed choices.

FAQs

Q1. How many types of option trading are there? 

There are different types of option chains available for trading. These include Stock Option Chains, Index Option Chains, Commodity Option Chains, Currency Option Chains, Interest, Rate Option Chains and Exotic Option Chains.

Q2. What is the safest option strategy?

Every type of option trading has some risks. However, you can minimise the number of risks by choosing selling options such as spread, long straddle, covered calls, and more.

Q3. What is the trick for option trading?

While planning for option trading, you should understand the options based on your financial conditions. Also, you should learn about different strategies before investing in them.