Stock Options Buying And Selling Essentials

By Adam Wickham

The classical definition of a stock option entails the right to buy or sell stock at a specified price, usually within a specified period of time. The stock option trader and buyer of a stock option can choose to take action on the option called exercising the option. The right to exercise has a time limit. If within the specified period of time the purchaser has the right to exercise it or to not take action and let the option expire. Trends and counter trends are actively discussed in the Wall Street Journal, Stock Option Trader and other leading financial papers.

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.

The options buyer may choose not to exercise the right and let the option expire. The underlying asset has value however the option expires worthless under such circumstances.

Statistical models are used to determine the actual value of options allowing one to gauge risk and tolerance levels more accurately. These models form a backbone for one?s assumptions in calculating risk vs. reward.

Over-the-counter options are traded between private parties, often well-capitalized institutions that have negotiated separate trading and clearing arrangements with each other.

There are many indicators and tools used to predict price movement. Don?t try and use all of the indicators and signals at the same time since you will never see all of them in agreement, and you will get far more information than you can process. Information gleaned from stock option trader sources, the Wall Street Journal and other sources aid in option and stock trends.

As such there are leading and lagging indicators. A leading indicator gives a buy signal before the new trend or reversal occurs. A lagging indicator, as you may guess, gives a signal after the trend has been initiated, and trend momentum is established.

Oscillators are useful indicators for market direction. Momentum indicators, although lagging in their construction, are helpful when combined with oscillators. You want to catch a trend early and not enter it when the large gains have already passed by.

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