January 26, 2009
Ten Top Tips to Trade Stock Options Successfully - #5
We?re half way there in this 10 part series on how to trade options, you are doing well keep learning, practicing and applying these strategies and you will soon find yourself able to successfully and profitably trade on a regular basis. Last week we looked at ways in which to time the entry of a trade so this week we will discuss how to get out at the right time.
There are several strategies and ways to exit a trade and you must decide which way (or ways) suits you. It is infinitely more difficult to decide when to exit a trade than when to enter it because it is at this time that you will either be making a profit or taking a loss! You will be faced with a myriad of different emotions while you are in a trade, most notably fear and greed. Fear appears in several different forms, fear of losing a profit already made, fear of getting out too early, fear of taking a loss and facing a mistaken trade. Greed also rears its ugly head by encouraging you to stay too long in a winning trade and possibly giving back some or all of your gains. There is an old adage on Wall Street that says ?Bulls can make money, bears can make money but pigs always get slaughtered.?
As I mentioned you must determine what suits you when it comes to deciding how much of a loss you can handle and how much of a profit you want to take. This is a direct reflection of your risk to reward ratio. For example, I often say ?I never feel bad when taking a profit?. I like to take profits when I see them and I generally have a fixed dollar figure or percentage in mind. Unless there is no good reason to exit the trade I will take my profits and if the trade keeps going in my direction after I have exited it doesn?t bother me. Conversely I always have a fixed % loss I will accept. Some people would not be able to handle leaving money ?on the table? so they may prefer to let their trades run, but then they may need larger stop losses as well. When trading options stop losses need to be much larger than when you trade stocks because options are so much more volatile. For example if you set a 10% stop loss it could easily get triggered during a normal intraday move. Bear in mind that there is not as much at risk when trading options as opposed to trading stocks. The capital investment is much smaller so a larger stop loss will not impact your account as much.
Some good rules of thumb are: First if there is profit on the table and the underlying stock breaks down or crosses below its 7 day moving average, take the profit. It is very painful to watch a profitable trade lose value while you wait for it to reverse. Don’t let that happen. However if market conditions have not changed and your technical analysis supports staying in the trade make sure you do not exit too early. Often the most outstanding profits are made by patient traders. Second, always exit the trade if you are at a 50% loss. Chances are if you are in a trade that is losing 50% it will keep going that way. It is imperative you preserve your capital in order to trade again. Third, always exit a trade if there is 30 days or less before expiration. During the month before expiration time decay can rob you blind of the value of your option.
I trust this has given you some things to consider when deciding to exit your trades, stay tuned for next week?s installment where we will discuss how to put together a complete trading plan.
US Government required disclaimer: Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Prior to buying or selling an option, a person must receive a copy of the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options. Copies of this document may be obtained from your broker, from any exchange on which options are traded or by contacting The Options Clearing Corporation, One North Wacker Dr., Suite 500 Chicago, IL 60606 (1-800-678-4667).
By: Roger Cox
About the Author:
There are several strategies and ways to exit a trade and you must decide which way (or ways) suits you. It is infinitely more difficult to decide when to exit a trade than when to enter it because it is at this time that you will either be making a profit or taking a loss! You will be faced with a myriad of different emotions while you are in a trade, most notably fear and greed. Fear appears in several different forms, fear of losing a profit already made, fear of getting out too early, fear of taking a loss and facing a mistaken trade. Greed also rears its ugly head by encouraging you to stay too long in a winning trade and possibly giving back some or all of your gains. There is an old adage on Wall Street that says ?Bulls can make money, bears can make money but pigs always get slaughtered.?
As I mentioned you must determine what suits you when it comes to deciding how much of a loss you can handle and how much of a profit you want to take. This is a direct reflection of your risk to reward ratio. For example, I often say ?I never feel bad when taking a profit?. I like to take profits when I see them and I generally have a fixed dollar figure or percentage in mind. Unless there is no good reason to exit the trade I will take my profits and if the trade keeps going in my direction after I have exited it doesn?t bother me. Conversely I always have a fixed % loss I will accept. Some people would not be able to handle leaving money ?on the table? so they may prefer to let their trades run, but then they may need larger stop losses as well. When trading options stop losses need to be much larger than when you trade stocks because options are so much more volatile. For example if you set a 10% stop loss it could easily get triggered during a normal intraday move. Bear in mind that there is not as much at risk when trading options as opposed to trading stocks. The capital investment is much smaller so a larger stop loss will not impact your account as much.
Some good rules of thumb are: First if there is profit on the table and the underlying stock breaks down or crosses below its 7 day moving average, take the profit. It is very painful to watch a profitable trade lose value while you wait for it to reverse. Don’t let that happen. However if market conditions have not changed and your technical analysis supports staying in the trade make sure you do not exit too early. Often the most outstanding profits are made by patient traders. Second, always exit the trade if you are at a 50% loss. Chances are if you are in a trade that is losing 50% it will keep going that way. It is imperative you preserve your capital in order to trade again. Third, always exit a trade if there is 30 days or less before expiration. During the month before expiration time decay can rob you blind of the value of your option.
I trust this has given you some things to consider when deciding to exit your trades, stay tuned for next week?s installment where we will discuss how to put together a complete trading plan.
US Government required disclaimer: Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Prior to buying or selling an option, a person must receive a copy of the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options. Copies of this document may be obtained from your broker, from any exchange on which options are traded or by contacting The Options Clearing Corporation, One North Wacker Dr., Suite 500 Chicago, IL 60606 (1-800-678-4667).
By: Roger Cox
About the Author:
Roger Cox hails from New Zealand and now lives in Los Angeles. He was President of an international freight corporation before he started his own consulting company. Roger has successfully traded stock options, for more than four years and loves teaching others to do the same at http://www.prosperitywithoptions.com
Filed under Finance by Administrator
January 23, 2009
Stock Options Trading System Provides Incredible Strategy - The Secrets of Partial Compounding
Okay, now that you’ve found a good stock option trading System you are ready to rumble. You’re ready to start ‘cleaning house’ and making huge returns sending you and yours into a rapid luxurious retirement in little under a year.
Your excitement is understood. And guess what? It’s actually possible because it has been done.
We are assuming that you’ve obtained a really good stock option trading system, a method that uses excellent high probability entries, well placed stop losses and a trailing stop method of maximizing profits Now it is time to talk about the ‘good stuff’, the secrets of money management in options trading, where the real profits are created.
Options trading money management is the heart and soul of making your account grow while preventing unwelcome disasters. Trade with intelligent money management and increase your confidence.
Okay, so let’s say your stock options trading system is actually making you profits. You feel that the system can be trusted and now you are anxious to ‘up the ante’ and start making bigger returns. So what do you do next?
Well first of all, keep trading but just keep your position sizes small, for now. It’s now time to do a little tweaking with your money management of your position sizes. Doing this right could possibly make you hundreds of thousands up through millions of dollars, literally. Doing options trading money management wrong can cause you a lot of misery, pain, and suffering and wipe out your account quickly!
In essence, you want to keep your position sizes (the total amount you have invested into an options trade position) even sized and never more than 10% of your options trading portfolio (on a small account and down to 1% to 2% options position sizes on very large accounts). With options, even if you kept your ‘bet’ size the same, say 20 contracts for each and every trade, you could make a great living off just one stock even if you never increase your position size. But if you wanted to taste a little of that compounded, ‘parabolic’ growth increase your options position size by 20% to 30% max every time you double your account (never increase it to 100%!).
In case you’re reading this and do not have a profitable Stock Option Trading System or stock there are excellent systems available through doing a little reasearch. You can try and figure a system out on your own or you can short cut success by obtaining some one else’s system or service and emulate what they are doing.
Here are some basic trading system approaches that can net out consistent profits: Trade trends. Trade pivot points. Trade swings in the direction of the trend. And that pretty much covers it for successful moneymaking, directional options trading that’s worth your time.
If your profits are bigger than your losses then you have a winning trading system. You don’t necessarily have to win more than you lose. Yes you can actually make money by losing more than you win if your winners are big enough and your losers are small enough.
The issue when trading options is that when you lose you can easily take a 25 to 50% ‘haircut’ or more of your position just by simply stopping out through stock price action. This also goes to show that you will want a system that doesn’t lose too often when trading options - remember that. Plus you’ll want your winners to be able to be really big so trend and pivot point systems can perform the best.
This brings up the issue of making a fortune in options trading without losing your shirt.
There is nothing worse than making a fortune in options trading then quickly giving that fortune back. If you’ve ever done that you can understand why people jumped off bridges and have tall buildings in 1929 during the great stock market crash. It’s a most miserable feeling because you get so high and excited, and happy from your gains and then if you lose that if worse than never having had obtained it in the first place. So promise yourself now that you’ll never put your self in that position and that you’ll aggressively guard your profits at all times.
So that said let’s figure out how to grow a trading account rapidly without losing it.
By: Chris Viscaya
About the Author:
Your excitement is understood. And guess what? It’s actually possible because it has been done.
We are assuming that you’ve obtained a really good stock option trading system, a method that uses excellent high probability entries, well placed stop losses and a trailing stop method of maximizing profits Now it is time to talk about the ‘good stuff’, the secrets of money management in options trading, where the real profits are created.
Options trading money management is the heart and soul of making your account grow while preventing unwelcome disasters. Trade with intelligent money management and increase your confidence.
Okay, so let’s say your stock options trading system is actually making you profits. You feel that the system can be trusted and now you are anxious to ‘up the ante’ and start making bigger returns. So what do you do next?
Well first of all, keep trading but just keep your position sizes small, for now. It’s now time to do a little tweaking with your money management of your position sizes. Doing this right could possibly make you hundreds of thousands up through millions of dollars, literally. Doing options trading money management wrong can cause you a lot of misery, pain, and suffering and wipe out your account quickly!
In essence, you want to keep your position sizes (the total amount you have invested into an options trade position) even sized and never more than 10% of your options trading portfolio (on a small account and down to 1% to 2% options position sizes on very large accounts). With options, even if you kept your ‘bet’ size the same, say 20 contracts for each and every trade, you could make a great living off just one stock even if you never increase your position size. But if you wanted to taste a little of that compounded, ‘parabolic’ growth increase your options position size by 20% to 30% max every time you double your account (never increase it to 100%!).
In case you’re reading this and do not have a profitable Stock Option Trading System or stock there are excellent systems available through doing a little reasearch. You can try and figure a system out on your own or you can short cut success by obtaining some one else’s system or service and emulate what they are doing.
Here are some basic trading system approaches that can net out consistent profits: Trade trends. Trade pivot points. Trade swings in the direction of the trend. And that pretty much covers it for successful moneymaking, directional options trading that’s worth your time.
If your profits are bigger than your losses then you have a winning trading system. You don’t necessarily have to win more than you lose. Yes you can actually make money by losing more than you win if your winners are big enough and your losers are small enough.
The issue when trading options is that when you lose you can easily take a 25 to 50% ‘haircut’ or more of your position just by simply stopping out through stock price action. This also goes to show that you will want a system that doesn’t lose too often when trading options - remember that. Plus you’ll want your winners to be able to be really big so trend and pivot point systems can perform the best.
This brings up the issue of making a fortune in options trading without losing your shirt.
There is nothing worse than making a fortune in options trading then quickly giving that fortune back. If you’ve ever done that you can understand why people jumped off bridges and have tall buildings in 1929 during the great stock market crash. It’s a most miserable feeling because you get so high and excited, and happy from your gains and then if you lose that if worse than never having had obtained it in the first place. So promise yourself now that you’ll never put your self in that position and that you’ll aggressively guard your profits at all times.
So that said let’s figure out how to grow a trading account rapidly without losing it.
By: Chris Viscaya
About the Author:
Chris Viscaya is a head trader at OPIVO
Stock and Options Trading Systems OPIVO Trading specializes in trading a unique pivot point strategy on stocks with options offering a subscription service as well as a home study course.
Filed under Finance by Administrator
January 22, 2009
How to Successfully Trade Stock Options in Ten Easy Steps - Step 1
The amount of stock options being traded in America is exploding! This is great news because there is far greater liquidity in the options market and many more money making opportunities for individual traders just like you. During the next ten weeks I will be writing articles on how you can profit from one of the fastest growing areas of financial investment available to individuals.
In case you don’t know what a stock option is let me explain. Simply, a stock option gives you the right to control the ownership of a stock for a fraction of the price to buy it. There are two types of options; the first is a Call Option which is the option to buy a share of a certain company for a predetermined price before a predetermined date. The second is a Put Option, which is the option to sell a share of a certain company for a predetermined price before a predetermined date.
For example if you purchased 100 shares in ABC Company that traded at $50 each, you would have to invest $5000 to buy those shares. However you could buy 100 Call Options priced at $5 each, with the right to buy ABC Company at $50 any time up to a date in the future (say November 16th) and you would control the same amount of shares for only $500. If the price of ABC Company goes up by $5 and you owned the shares you would have made $500 or 10% on your $5000 investment, however because the Call Options give you the right to buy the shares at $50 and they are now worth $55 the price of the options would go up $5 as well and you would have made $500 or 100% on your $500 investment. This example demonstrates the great leverage stock options provide.
Call Options are used when you expect the price of a stock to rise, if you expect the price of a stock to fall you can buy Put Options, which as mentioned before, give you the right to sell a stock at a predetermined price. So in the example above if the price of ABC shares fell to $45 and we had bought Put Options giving us the right to sell ABC at $50, the Put Options would be worth money because you could buy ABC shares in the market for a cheaper price than you could sell them for. Wonderful isn’t it, you can make money if the stock market is rising or falling!
To summarize a stock option has four components to it:
1. The underlying stock
The stock that the option is traded on (ABC Company in the example above).
2. The exercise date
The predetermined date, before which, you can use or exercise your option. Options always expire on the third Friday of each month (November 16th in the example above).
3. The strike price
The predetermined price you can buy the stock for ($50 in the example above). 4. The type of option
Either a Call or a Put option.
Here is the first key to successful stock options investing. It is very simple: practice, practice, practice. I cannot stress enough how important practice will be to your success as a stock options trader. Trading options is an inherently risky endeavor, however by learning the keys to successful stock options trading it is possible to mitigate this risk and maximize your gains. Options are a zero sum game, which means for every winner there has to be a loser. I’m sure you want to be a winner and not a loser, right? So you must take the time to learn the fundamental theories of options trading and practice the strategies behind options trading before you risk any of your hard earned capital in the market. It is only when you are winning seven out of ten trades on paper and you are confident in your trading plan and money management techniques that you should trade in the market for real. By the time you have finished reading these articles you will have a plan and know just what those money management techniques are. Look out for Key #2 coming soon.
US Government required disclaimer: Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Prior to buying or selling an option, a person must receive a copy of the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options. Copies of this document may be obtained from your broker, from any exchange on which options are traded or by contacting The Options Clearing Corporation, One North Wacker Dr., Suite 500 Chicago, IL 60606 (1-800-678-4667).
By: Roger Cox
About the Author:
In case you don’t know what a stock option is let me explain. Simply, a stock option gives you the right to control the ownership of a stock for a fraction of the price to buy it. There are two types of options; the first is a Call Option which is the option to buy a share of a certain company for a predetermined price before a predetermined date. The second is a Put Option, which is the option to sell a share of a certain company for a predetermined price before a predetermined date.
For example if you purchased 100 shares in ABC Company that traded at $50 each, you would have to invest $5000 to buy those shares. However you could buy 100 Call Options priced at $5 each, with the right to buy ABC Company at $50 any time up to a date in the future (say November 16th) and you would control the same amount of shares for only $500. If the price of ABC Company goes up by $5 and you owned the shares you would have made $500 or 10% on your $5000 investment, however because the Call Options give you the right to buy the shares at $50 and they are now worth $55 the price of the options would go up $5 as well and you would have made $500 or 100% on your $500 investment. This example demonstrates the great leverage stock options provide.
Call Options are used when you expect the price of a stock to rise, if you expect the price of a stock to fall you can buy Put Options, which as mentioned before, give you the right to sell a stock at a predetermined price. So in the example above if the price of ABC shares fell to $45 and we had bought Put Options giving us the right to sell ABC at $50, the Put Options would be worth money because you could buy ABC shares in the market for a cheaper price than you could sell them for. Wonderful isn’t it, you can make money if the stock market is rising or falling!
To summarize a stock option has four components to it:
1. The underlying stock
The stock that the option is traded on (ABC Company in the example above).
2. The exercise date
The predetermined date, before which, you can use or exercise your option. Options always expire on the third Friday of each month (November 16th in the example above).
3. The strike price
The predetermined price you can buy the stock for ($50 in the example above). 4. The type of option
Either a Call or a Put option.
Here is the first key to successful stock options investing. It is very simple: practice, practice, practice. I cannot stress enough how important practice will be to your success as a stock options trader. Trading options is an inherently risky endeavor, however by learning the keys to successful stock options trading it is possible to mitigate this risk and maximize your gains. Options are a zero sum game, which means for every winner there has to be a loser. I’m sure you want to be a winner and not a loser, right? So you must take the time to learn the fundamental theories of options trading and practice the strategies behind options trading before you risk any of your hard earned capital in the market. It is only when you are winning seven out of ten trades on paper and you are confident in your trading plan and money management techniques that you should trade in the market for real. By the time you have finished reading these articles you will have a plan and know just what those money management techniques are. Look out for Key #2 coming soon.
US Government required disclaimer: Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Prior to buying or selling an option, a person must receive a copy of the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options. Copies of this document may be obtained from your broker, from any exchange on which options are traded or by contacting The Options Clearing Corporation, One North Wacker Dr., Suite 500 Chicago, IL 60606 (1-800-678-4667).
By: Roger Cox
About the Author:
Roger Cox is a native of New Zealand and now resides in Los Angeles. President of an international freight company he decided corporate life wasn’t for him and starting his own consulting business. Roger has been successful in trading stock options, practicing and trading for more than 4 years and teaches others about trading at
http://www.prosperitywithoptions.com
Filed under Finance by Administrator
January 16, 2009
Stock Option Trading Guide for Beginner
There are four different types of players in the stock option trading game. They are buyers of calls, sellers of calls, buyers of puts, and seller of puts. The buyers are called holders, and the sellers are called writers. Buyers of calls are said to have a long position, while buyers of puts are said to have a short position.
Calls are useful in speculation, and puts are useful in hedging. It is all going to depend on the strike price of the underlying asset on the expiration date. If all of this makes perfect sense to you, there is not much need to read on, but if it sounds a bit hazy, a little review might be in order.
The Stock Option market has its own unique language. Like many other activities, an understanding of the terminology used is essential. In many cases, it is a rather simple concept hidden behind an unknown term that leads to confusion, and makes the activity appear a lot more complex than it actually is. The following are a few definitions that might help take away some of the mystery. - Calls: A call is basically a contract giving you an option, but not an obligation to purchase a block of stocks at a set price on or before a certain date. In understanding a call, it is important to remember that you are not obligated to make the purchase. You can exercise your option or not. - Puts: A put is the opposite of a call in that it is a contract to sell a block of stock at a set price on or before a certain date. Again, this is a choice. You can make the choice not to sell. - Holders: This is the name given to the buyers of the contracts. It is the holders that give the option trading market its name since they are the ones who actually are in a position to make the decision to exercise their options. - Writers: Since it is a “trading” market, two parties are necessary. If someone is buying, than someone else must be selling. The writers are the sellers of the contracts. It is important to remember that the writers are not the ones with the options. They do have an obligation to honor the contract if the holder decides to exercise his option. - Long Position: In stock trading, long position means that you are holding the stock in anticipation of it increasing in value. - Short Position: In stock trading, short position means that you are holding the stock in anticipation of it decreasing in value. - Underlying Asset: The underlying asset, or as it is sometimes called, the underlying, is the actual stock or security that is the object of the option contract. The contract is said to derive its value from the intrinsic value of the underlying asset. - Strike price: This is the price at which the option contract will be purchased or sold. If you purchase an option to buy, or make a call, at $10 , but the value of the underlying asset is only $8, you are $2 under the strike price, and most likely would not wish to exercise your option. - Speculation: This is the risk taking side of option trading. It is generally associated with calls and long positions. It essentially means that you are expecting a stock price to rise higher than the strike price. - Hedging: This is the cautious side of option trading. It is generally associated with puts and short positions. You are anticipating that the value of the underlying asset will drop below the strike price. It is called hedging because it is often used to protect an investment, or hedge your bet, by maintaining an option to sell at a certain strike price should the underlying asset take a serious drop in value. In other words, you are able to bail out before your loss becomes too large. - Expiration date: This is the date on which your option must be exercised or it will be lost. It is the deadline. In the stock option market it is usually the third Friday of a month.
The above are a few of the terms that are used in the stock option trading market, and by understanding them completely you should be better armed to take a closer look at this interesting investment opportunity.
By: Casey Yew
About the Author:
Calls are useful in speculation, and puts are useful in hedging. It is all going to depend on the strike price of the underlying asset on the expiration date. If all of this makes perfect sense to you, there is not much need to read on, but if it sounds a bit hazy, a little review might be in order.
The Stock Option market has its own unique language. Like many other activities, an understanding of the terminology used is essential. In many cases, it is a rather simple concept hidden behind an unknown term that leads to confusion, and makes the activity appear a lot more complex than it actually is. The following are a few definitions that might help take away some of the mystery. - Calls: A call is basically a contract giving you an option, but not an obligation to purchase a block of stocks at a set price on or before a certain date. In understanding a call, it is important to remember that you are not obligated to make the purchase. You can exercise your option or not. - Puts: A put is the opposite of a call in that it is a contract to sell a block of stock at a set price on or before a certain date. Again, this is a choice. You can make the choice not to sell. - Holders: This is the name given to the buyers of the contracts. It is the holders that give the option trading market its name since they are the ones who actually are in a position to make the decision to exercise their options. - Writers: Since it is a “trading” market, two parties are necessary. If someone is buying, than someone else must be selling. The writers are the sellers of the contracts. It is important to remember that the writers are not the ones with the options. They do have an obligation to honor the contract if the holder decides to exercise his option. - Long Position: In stock trading, long position means that you are holding the stock in anticipation of it increasing in value. - Short Position: In stock trading, short position means that you are holding the stock in anticipation of it decreasing in value. - Underlying Asset: The underlying asset, or as it is sometimes called, the underlying, is the actual stock or security that is the object of the option contract. The contract is said to derive its value from the intrinsic value of the underlying asset. - Strike price: This is the price at which the option contract will be purchased or sold. If you purchase an option to buy, or make a call, at $10 , but the value of the underlying asset is only $8, you are $2 under the strike price, and most likely would not wish to exercise your option. - Speculation: This is the risk taking side of option trading. It is generally associated with calls and long positions. It essentially means that you are expecting a stock price to rise higher than the strike price. - Hedging: This is the cautious side of option trading. It is generally associated with puts and short positions. You are anticipating that the value of the underlying asset will drop below the strike price. It is called hedging because it is often used to protect an investment, or hedge your bet, by maintaining an option to sell at a certain strike price should the underlying asset take a serious drop in value. In other words, you are able to bail out before your loss becomes too large. - Expiration date: This is the date on which your option must be exercised or it will be lost. It is the deadline. In the stock option market it is usually the third Friday of a month.
The above are a few of the terms that are used in the stock option trading market, and by understanding them completely you should be better armed to take a closer look at this interesting investment opportunity.
By: Casey Yew
About the Author:
Among the Many Investment Opportunities that Exist, Option Trading Stands as Both One of the Most Exciting and Risky as well as One that Offers Some of the Best Chances for a Substantial Return. Learn Options Trading Basics, Strategies and Pricing here at http://www.option-trading-fortune.com
Filed under Finance by Administrator
January 15, 2009
Discovering the Best Day Trading Stock Tip
Learning how stock trading works is an important part of stock investment. Even if you don’t plan to pursue stock trading as s full-time career, knowing the ins and outs, and the rules that govern online and real-time stock trading is essential.
For beginners, having a working background on stock trading will make the difference in getting the best day trading stock tip and information, or losing big or a wrong stock pick. To jumpstart your stock trading education, signing up to an online trading firm is your first stepping stone.
Sign up with online trading firm that offers free registration for your account. Choose a site that offers clear and easy instructions. Don’t rely on sites and traders who state all you have to do is sign up, punch your credit card credentials, then sit back and relax, and let them do all the hard work. That could be a fraudulent operation in the works. So choose one that you’re most comfortable with and know to be reliable. Many sites will also show the steps and ways for you to manage your stocks, keep track of your stock investments, as well as offer the best day trading stock tip updates, and other stock options and news.
There are mostly trading sites that also offer online stock services to support beginners who want to learn more about buying ans selling stocks using vital stock reports and day trading stock tip updates and information. Many online brokerage sites offer real-time day trading stock tip and stock quotes to keep you informed of the shifts and movements on the floor. Some may even offer after hours stock tip and updates for your mutual fund options and stock investments.
Of course, nothing beats a site that offers ways for you to get firsthand information from the market. These sites offer day trading stock tip developments, stock quote data, and other stock trading information. Getting real-time stock information is essential especially for day trading and direct stock investments.
However, trading stocks online is not as instantaneous as it is on the floor. A lag time of twelve (even up to twenty-four hours!) may pass from the moment you act on that day trading stock tip you got, till the offer is closed, twelve or even twenty-four hours, may have elapsed. If your stock firm doesn’t tell you this, consider yourself forewarned especially if the stock you’re interested moves in a rapid clip. That day trading stock tip you got could become worthless.
The reason for this is because the internet cannot duplicate the market hours. So while you’re learning the ropes, avoid stocks that are volatile and make the most of daily news and day trading stock tip updates available to you. Keep a pulse on what’s happening on the stock market floor so you you can make the necessary adjustments.
Keep yourself updated with the latest stock information is the best way to make any day trading stock tip work for you. And keep this in mind: When you’re starting, start small, buy safe and keep away from the shares that swing wildly. As your experience grows, you can develop a working stock trading strategy, so be patient and learn as much as you can, when you’re learning about stock trading.
By: Zachary Riff
About the Author:
For beginners, having a working background on stock trading will make the difference in getting the best day trading stock tip and information, or losing big or a wrong stock pick. To jumpstart your stock trading education, signing up to an online trading firm is your first stepping stone.
Sign up with online trading firm that offers free registration for your account. Choose a site that offers clear and easy instructions. Don’t rely on sites and traders who state all you have to do is sign up, punch your credit card credentials, then sit back and relax, and let them do all the hard work. That could be a fraudulent operation in the works. So choose one that you’re most comfortable with and know to be reliable. Many sites will also show the steps and ways for you to manage your stocks, keep track of your stock investments, as well as offer the best day trading stock tip updates, and other stock options and news.
There are mostly trading sites that also offer online stock services to support beginners who want to learn more about buying ans selling stocks using vital stock reports and day trading stock tip updates and information. Many online brokerage sites offer real-time day trading stock tip and stock quotes to keep you informed of the shifts and movements on the floor. Some may even offer after hours stock tip and updates for your mutual fund options and stock investments.
Of course, nothing beats a site that offers ways for you to get firsthand information from the market. These sites offer day trading stock tip developments, stock quote data, and other stock trading information. Getting real-time stock information is essential especially for day trading and direct stock investments.
However, trading stocks online is not as instantaneous as it is on the floor. A lag time of twelve (even up to twenty-four hours!) may pass from the moment you act on that day trading stock tip you got, till the offer is closed, twelve or even twenty-four hours, may have elapsed. If your stock firm doesn’t tell you this, consider yourself forewarned especially if the stock you’re interested moves in a rapid clip. That day trading stock tip you got could become worthless.
The reason for this is because the internet cannot duplicate the market hours. So while you’re learning the ropes, avoid stocks that are volatile and make the most of daily news and day trading stock tip updates available to you. Keep a pulse on what’s happening on the stock market floor so you you can make the necessary adjustments.
Keep yourself updated with the latest stock information is the best way to make any day trading stock tip work for you. And keep this in mind: When you’re starting, start small, buy safe and keep away from the shares that swing wildly. As your experience grows, you can develop a working stock trading strategy, so be patient and learn as much as you can, when you’re learning about stock trading.
By: Zachary Riff
About the Author:
Find more day trading stock tip. Get your free stock trade guide online.
Filed under Finance by Administrator
January 9, 2009
Stock Options - What you Need to Know
Call and What?
An option is a “legal financial contract”. The holder has the right, but is under no obligation, to accrue or sell a predetermined number of stock shares. This is to be done at a price that has been predetermined which is called a strike price. It is also to be accomplished on or before a specific date.
There are just two basic types of stock options, the European and the American. An American stock option is a contract that can be exercised between the purchase date and the expiration date.
Each stock option is designated by the following:
• Name of the stock
• Strike price
• Expiration date
• The premium that was paid for the option plus the broker’s commission
Two of the most popular types of stock options are Calls and Puts. If you own a call you have the right but are not obliged to buy a stock at the strike price at any time before the stock option expires. If an option expires, it is useless and worthless.
The other most common stock option is the PUT. This is almost the exact opposite of a Call. If you own a put you have the right, but are not obliged, to sell a stock at the strike price any time before the expiration date of the option.
How in the world do people trade these stock options? Stock options traders will rarely exercise their option and purchase (or sell) the underlying security. Instead, they will buy back or sell the option. This saves on commissions.
Options officially expire on Saturday following the third Friday of the month in which the option expires. Shares of stock have a 3-day settlement interval but option settle the very next day. The option has to be traded by Friday in order to settle on Saturday.
Another thing you may hear about with regards to stock options is volume and open interest. Volume is the number of contracts that are traded on any given day. The open interest figure is the number of contracts that are outstanding at any given time.
For those who are curious, a Put-Call theorem has been formulated which defines the following relationship for the price of puts and calls:
P=C-S+E+D
• P= the price of the put
• C= the price of the call
• S= the stock price
• E= the present value of the exercise price
• D= the present value of the dividends
An ordinary investor will see a violation of the put-call parity from time to time. This is not a time to instantly buy, but it is a reason for you to check your quotations for timeliness because as you will probably see at least one of them has expired.
If you want to get into the stock option trading business, then you should probably start by writing covered call option for stocks that are currently trading below the strike price of the stock option.
There are many places on the Internet if you do a search for stock options where you can set up an account for just a small amount of money. My advice to you is to do your research well and only put up as much money as you are willing to part with.
By: Benjamin Wise
About the Author:
An option is a “legal financial contract”. The holder has the right, but is under no obligation, to accrue or sell a predetermined number of stock shares. This is to be done at a price that has been predetermined which is called a strike price. It is also to be accomplished on or before a specific date.
There are just two basic types of stock options, the European and the American. An American stock option is a contract that can be exercised between the purchase date and the expiration date.
Each stock option is designated by the following:
• Name of the stock
• Strike price
• Expiration date
• The premium that was paid for the option plus the broker’s commission
Two of the most popular types of stock options are Calls and Puts. If you own a call you have the right but are not obliged to buy a stock at the strike price at any time before the stock option expires. If an option expires, it is useless and worthless.
The other most common stock option is the PUT. This is almost the exact opposite of a Call. If you own a put you have the right, but are not obliged, to sell a stock at the strike price any time before the expiration date of the option.
How in the world do people trade these stock options? Stock options traders will rarely exercise their option and purchase (or sell) the underlying security. Instead, they will buy back or sell the option. This saves on commissions.
Options officially expire on Saturday following the third Friday of the month in which the option expires. Shares of stock have a 3-day settlement interval but option settle the very next day. The option has to be traded by Friday in order to settle on Saturday.
Another thing you may hear about with regards to stock options is volume and open interest. Volume is the number of contracts that are traded on any given day. The open interest figure is the number of contracts that are outstanding at any given time.
For those who are curious, a Put-Call theorem has been formulated which defines the following relationship for the price of puts and calls:
P=C-S+E+D
• P= the price of the put
• C= the price of the call
• S= the stock price
• E= the present value of the exercise price
• D= the present value of the dividends
An ordinary investor will see a violation of the put-call parity from time to time. This is not a time to instantly buy, but it is a reason for you to check your quotations for timeliness because as you will probably see at least one of them has expired.
If you want to get into the stock option trading business, then you should probably start by writing covered call option for stocks that are currently trading below the strike price of the stock option.
There are many places on the Internet if you do a search for stock options where you can set up an account for just a small amount of money. My advice to you is to do your research well and only put up as much money as you are willing to part with.
By: Benjamin Wise
About the Author:
Stocks Explained If you want to discover your pot of gold in the stock market, then you have to know it inside out. And for all the inside-out information on the stock market explained in simple, concise, layman terms, all you need to do is click on this link: Stock options.
Filed under Finance by Administrator
December 27, 2008
The 10 Keys to Successful Stock Options Trading
Welcome back, this week in part four of my ten part series on how to successfully trade stock options I will discuss how to enter the trade at the right. Obviously this is one of the most important aspects of trading, no matter if you are trading stocks, options or any other financial instrument.
This, however, is easier said than done! When entering a trade if you get in too early you may lose some time value of your option. If you get in too late you may miss out on a move in the stock you are trading the options on. The best way to time your entry point is to use good technical analysis. Technical analysis is the technique of reading and analyzing stock charts. Institutional investors are investing millions and millions of dollars in the stock market every day. However they are still human and because it takes a long time for them move that much money predictable patterns emerge in the stock charts. From those patterns future price moves in the stock can be predicted.
Technical analysis is a mix between an art and a science and can be quite complicated. Although the patterns are predictable, of course the stock does not always follow the pattern it should so it is important to use other indicators in conjunction with technical analysis, such as fundamental analysis (discussed in the last article), company news and political and economic events. Because of the complexity of technical analysis I will not go into the how it is performed, there are several good books that I would recommend you read that do that:
“Technical Analysis and the Financial Markets” by John Murphy.
“Getting Started in Technical analysis” by Jack Schwager.
“Technical Analysis: The Complete Resource for Financial Market Technicians” by Charles Kirkpatrick II.
Some of the main technical indicators in charts to watch for are the support and resistance levels, breakouts on volume, moving average crossovers and oversold/overbought conditions. Using and understanding technical analysis is a key component to entering the trade. Next week I will discuss the next step which is, quite aptly, how to decide when to exit the trade.
US Government required disclaimer: Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Prior to buying or selling an option, a person must receive a copy of the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options. Copies of this document may be obtained from your broker, from any exchange on which options are traded or by contacting The Options Clearing Corporation, One North Wacker Dr., Suite 500 Chicago, IL 60606 (1-800-678-4667).
By: Roger Cox
About the Author:
This, however, is easier said than done! When entering a trade if you get in too early you may lose some time value of your option. If you get in too late you may miss out on a move in the stock you are trading the options on. The best way to time your entry point is to use good technical analysis. Technical analysis is the technique of reading and analyzing stock charts. Institutional investors are investing millions and millions of dollars in the stock market every day. However they are still human and because it takes a long time for them move that much money predictable patterns emerge in the stock charts. From those patterns future price moves in the stock can be predicted.
Technical analysis is a mix between an art and a science and can be quite complicated. Although the patterns are predictable, of course the stock does not always follow the pattern it should so it is important to use other indicators in conjunction with technical analysis, such as fundamental analysis (discussed in the last article), company news and political and economic events. Because of the complexity of technical analysis I will not go into the how it is performed, there are several good books that I would recommend you read that do that:
“Technical Analysis and the Financial Markets” by John Murphy.
“Getting Started in Technical analysis” by Jack Schwager.
“Technical Analysis: The Complete Resource for Financial Market Technicians” by Charles Kirkpatrick II.
Some of the main technical indicators in charts to watch for are the support and resistance levels, breakouts on volume, moving average crossovers and oversold/overbought conditions. Using and understanding technical analysis is a key component to entering the trade. Next week I will discuss the next step which is, quite aptly, how to decide when to exit the trade.
US Government required disclaimer: Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Prior to buying or selling an option, a person must receive a copy of the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options. Copies of this document may be obtained from your broker, from any exchange on which options are traded or by contacting The Options Clearing Corporation, One North Wacker Dr., Suite 500 Chicago, IL 60606 (1-800-678-4667).
By: Roger Cox
About the Author:
Roger Cox is a native of New Zealand and now resides in Los Angeles. Former President of an international freight company he decided corporate life wasn’t for him and starting his own consulting business. Roger has been successful in trading stock options, having practiced and traded for more than 4 years and teaches others about trading at http://www.prosperitywithoptions.com
Filed under Finance by Administrator
December 23, 2008
Ten Top Tips to Trade Stock Options Successfully - #7
This week is week number seven in this ten week series on stock options trading. Key number seven is to always trade with the trend. Let’s discuss that.
As my first mentor, Dr. Stephen Cooper, says ?The trend is your friend?. Generally, when the overall market trend is upwards then trade calls, when the overall market trend is downwards trade puts. Why buck the trend? Keep it simple?
The general market direction is determined by what the institutional investors are doing. Institutional investors are large corporations such as investment banks, mutual funds and insurance companies. These corporations have billions of dollars to invest in stocks and when they invest or devest it moves the market. Small private investors such as us have very little effect on the direction of the market or a particular stock. If these corporations are investing their millions into the overall market or particular stocks then you should follow them. They may not necessarily know what they are doing but they do make the market so if the Dow Jones Industrial Average is down 200 points as a rule don?t buy calls, conversely if it is up 200 points, again as a rule, don?t buy puts.
Of course these are general rules and there are always exceptions. A particular sector or stock may be performing exceptionally well and just because the overall market is going down you may still have good fundamental and technical reasons to be buying calls in that particular sector or stock. Always double check the news sources I mentioned in Key #2, check the fundamentals explained in Key #3 and check the technical reasons for entering a trade covered in Key #4, if all of these factors combined determine a good trade then by all means take into account the overall direction of the market but do not let it stop you making the trade.
When trading it is imperative that you don?t just take any one factor into account when deciding to place a trade, always ensure there are at least two good reasons for entering the trade and make sure there are no reasons not to trade. Remember overtrading is a common mistake if there is not a good reason to trade then just wait until another day, the market is constantly providing good opportunities to make money, have patience and wait for the right one. And remember, the trend is your friend!
Until next week, happy trading.
US Government required disclaimer: Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Prior to buying or selling an option, a person must receive a copy of the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options. Copies of this document may be obtained from your broker, from any exchange on which options are traded or by contacting The Options Clearing Corporation, One North Wacker Dr., Suite 500 Chicago, IL 60606 (1-800-678-4667).
By: Roger Cox
About the Author:
As my first mentor, Dr. Stephen Cooper, says ?The trend is your friend?. Generally, when the overall market trend is upwards then trade calls, when the overall market trend is downwards trade puts. Why buck the trend? Keep it simple?
The general market direction is determined by what the institutional investors are doing. Institutional investors are large corporations such as investment banks, mutual funds and insurance companies. These corporations have billions of dollars to invest in stocks and when they invest or devest it moves the market. Small private investors such as us have very little effect on the direction of the market or a particular stock. If these corporations are investing their millions into the overall market or particular stocks then you should follow them. They may not necessarily know what they are doing but they do make the market so if the Dow Jones Industrial Average is down 200 points as a rule don?t buy calls, conversely if it is up 200 points, again as a rule, don?t buy puts.
Of course these are general rules and there are always exceptions. A particular sector or stock may be performing exceptionally well and just because the overall market is going down you may still have good fundamental and technical reasons to be buying calls in that particular sector or stock. Always double check the news sources I mentioned in Key #2, check the fundamentals explained in Key #3 and check the technical reasons for entering a trade covered in Key #4, if all of these factors combined determine a good trade then by all means take into account the overall direction of the market but do not let it stop you making the trade.
When trading it is imperative that you don?t just take any one factor into account when deciding to place a trade, always ensure there are at least two good reasons for entering the trade and make sure there are no reasons not to trade. Remember overtrading is a common mistake if there is not a good reason to trade then just wait until another day, the market is constantly providing good opportunities to make money, have patience and wait for the right one. And remember, the trend is your friend!
Until next week, happy trading.
US Government required disclaimer: Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Prior to buying or selling an option, a person must receive a copy of the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options. Copies of this document may be obtained from your broker, from any exchange on which options are traded or by contacting The Options Clearing Corporation, One North Wacker Dr., Suite 500 Chicago, IL 60606 (1-800-678-4667).
By: Roger Cox
About the Author:
Roger Cox hails from New Zealand and now lives in Los Angeles. He was President of an international freight corporation before he started his own consulting company. Roger has successfully traded stock options, for more than four years and loves teaching others to do the same at http://www.prosperitywithoptions.com
Filed under Finance by Administrator
December 22, 2008
Trading Stocks Online Provides Options For Investors
Exchanging commodities is a centuries old means of investing, trading, and managing money. It is believed by some historians that variances of the modern commodity exchange have been in existence for nearly 800 years. Exchanges that deal with company stocks are a much more recent development. It has been just over 200 years since the first American stock exchange opened on Chestnut Street in Philadelphia, and 190 years since that exchange moved to lower Manhattan and the New York Stock Exchange rang its first opening bell on Wall Street.
In the years since, the fortunes of American business and American investors have been made and lost countless times on the floors of that exchange, and usually with the help of stock brokers who, as members of the stock exchange, act as agents for buyers or sellers by facilitating transactions in accordance with the law. However, recent years have seen a change in the traditional broker-client relationship, and the advent of the Internet has spawned a new group of investors who eschew the help of brokers and try to make their fortunes trading stocks online.
When you purchase stock you are purchasing a share of ownership in a corporation. In the past, stock brokers acted as the intermediary agent that connected the client to the market. Typically, stock brokers would also be Certified Financial Planners, a qualification that allowed them to provide the client not only with market access, but with financial advice and management of their account.
In exchange for the service of the account and access to the markets the brokerage earned a commission in the form of a flat fee or a percentage of the trade, and those commissions could be quite sizable, especially if you were engaged in frequent trading. The desire to eliminate commissions while still accessing financial markets is the primary reason that so many investors can now be found trading stocks online.
The Internet has allowed investors the option of controlling their own financial direction and decisions. By trading stocks online an investor can avoid a significant portion of the fees and commissions that a traditional brokerage would charge - trades can cost as little as $5 dollars - but those savings come at a price. When trading stocks online through a discount online brokerage, the brokerage is only responsible for executing your trades in the market.
When it comes to advice, research, and account management, you are truly on your own. Therefore, trading stocks online is not something that should be entered into lightly. Successful investors usually have experience, expertise, research tools, and a basic market savvy that allows them to successfully, and profitably, navigate the complicated financial world. Investors who lack those skills are not likely to be good candidates for trading stocks online.
A hot tip on a new stock is usually not a good reason to get into trading stocks online. Experienced investors know that today’s hot tips are often tomorrow’s trash, and it takes more than some quick hits to be a successful online investor. However, if you are an individual with a strong financial background and an understanding of markets then you may be equipped to successfully manage your financial future on your own.
However, if you are not sure of the difference between a market order and a market maker, or ex-dividends and earnings per share, then saving money on commissions and fees probably will not offset the trading losses you are likely to incur. Trading stocks online is not for everyone, but if you want to try your hand then the Internet is the easiest way to access reputable discount online brokers who can provide you with the access you need to control your own financial destiny.
By: Sammy Kay
About the Author:
In the years since, the fortunes of American business and American investors have been made and lost countless times on the floors of that exchange, and usually with the help of stock brokers who, as members of the stock exchange, act as agents for buyers or sellers by facilitating transactions in accordance with the law. However, recent years have seen a change in the traditional broker-client relationship, and the advent of the Internet has spawned a new group of investors who eschew the help of brokers and try to make their fortunes trading stocks online.
When you purchase stock you are purchasing a share of ownership in a corporation. In the past, stock brokers acted as the intermediary agent that connected the client to the market. Typically, stock brokers would also be Certified Financial Planners, a qualification that allowed them to provide the client not only with market access, but with financial advice and management of their account.
In exchange for the service of the account and access to the markets the brokerage earned a commission in the form of a flat fee or a percentage of the trade, and those commissions could be quite sizable, especially if you were engaged in frequent trading. The desire to eliminate commissions while still accessing financial markets is the primary reason that so many investors can now be found trading stocks online.
The Internet has allowed investors the option of controlling their own financial direction and decisions. By trading stocks online an investor can avoid a significant portion of the fees and commissions that a traditional brokerage would charge - trades can cost as little as $5 dollars - but those savings come at a price. When trading stocks online through a discount online brokerage, the brokerage is only responsible for executing your trades in the market.
When it comes to advice, research, and account management, you are truly on your own. Therefore, trading stocks online is not something that should be entered into lightly. Successful investors usually have experience, expertise, research tools, and a basic market savvy that allows them to successfully, and profitably, navigate the complicated financial world. Investors who lack those skills are not likely to be good candidates for trading stocks online.
A hot tip on a new stock is usually not a good reason to get into trading stocks online. Experienced investors know that today’s hot tips are often tomorrow’s trash, and it takes more than some quick hits to be a successful online investor. However, if you are an individual with a strong financial background and an understanding of markets then you may be equipped to successfully manage your financial future on your own.
However, if you are not sure of the difference between a market order and a market maker, or ex-dividends and earnings per share, then saving money on commissions and fees probably will not offset the trading losses you are likely to incur. Trading stocks online is not for everyone, but if you want to try your hand then the Internet is the easiest way to access reputable discount online brokers who can provide you with the access you need to control your own financial destiny.
By: Sammy Kay
About the Author:
For more online stocks information please visit http://www.aboutonlinestocks.com - a popular online stocks website that provides tips and online stock resources. Don’t forget to check out our page on trading stocks online.
Filed under Finance by Administrator
December 19, 2008
Options Are Too Risky - Only Crazy People Invest in Stock Options
Who decided that options are too risky for the everyday investor? More importantly can somebody please explain why options are too risky? After years of research I have finally come to understand that there are 3 types of people that can be held responsible for the Myth that options are too risky. Who?
1. Financial Planners
2. Stock Brokers
3. Taxi Drivers
Is it possible for the uneducated investor to lose lots of money if they trade options? Yes of course they can, first of all the uneducated investor can lose tons of money using any trading instrument and secondly options are highly leveraged so if used incorrectly then they will increase your losses. So if this is the case then why an I saying that trading stock options isn’t risky?
The first thing that you must realize about stock options is that they were actually invested to reduce or manage risk. The whole idea of buying a put option to hedge you stocks is basically another form of insurance. When looking at your portfolio risk management options buying puts to ‘insure’ your stocks is one of the most conservative investment strategies that you can implement.
On the other hand selling call options on stocks that you already own (covered calls) is another incredibly conservative stock market strategy. This strategy actually increases your downside protection, so when used correctly the myth that options are too risky is simply not true. Of course if you start writing naked calls or naked puts then your risk levels are going to seriously increase but when used correctly options are an amazing risk reduction tool.
Let’s have a look at why financial planners, Stock Brokers, and Taxi drivers are giving Options such a bad name.
Financial Planners: If you go to your financial planner and say that you would like to include options in your trading strategies then they will almost definitely tell you that it is a very bad and risky idea. Why? Simply because 99% of financial planners wouldn’t have a clue how to use them. I recently spoke to a financial advisor who admitted that her entire financial planning degree only had one chapter on options and it was completely theoretical information. In their entire course there was not one bit of practical information about how to use options. So considering that most financial planners don’t actually know what stock options are let alone how to use them is it any wonder that their typical response is negative. Remember human’s beings fear change and looking stupid.
Stock Brokers: Surely Stock brokers don’t think that options are too risky? Aren’t they meant to be professional stock market investors? Unfortunately most stock brokers are exactly that ‘STOCK’ brokers not ‘OPTION’ brokers. To become a legal options broker there are additional courses that you need to complete so most stock brokers aren’t actually allowed to give you ‘option’ advice. Put yourself in their shoes for a minute - if a client came to you and said “What do you think of buying Options” then you are faced with two choices
1.Tell them that is a great idea but unfortunately you will need to take all of your money out of our accounts and go to another broker who is legally allowed to trade options, Good Luck with your investing.
2.Or you could tell them that options are too risky and you really should just stick to managed funds and stocks.
So what answer would you choose?
Taxi Drivers: Obviously this is a little bit of a joke but the point I am trying to make is that everybody seems to think that trading stock options is too risky. It is extremely important to remember to make up your own mind about investment strategies, whatever you do don’t take advice from a taxi driver about wealth creation.
“the most expensive advice you will ever get is free from poor people” Kurek Ashley
So are Options too risky? If used incorrectly yes but perhaps the question you should ask yourself first is ‘what are stock options’? Before you dismiss something as being too risky or scary make sure you try to understand what it actually is and how it works. There are plenty of free resources on the internet so do some research and make up your own mind about stock options. The last thing you want to do is ignore something just because that is what everybody else thinks. After all are these people achieving the results you are after or are they still driving taxis?
By: Banjo Smyth
About the Author:
1. Financial Planners
2. Stock Brokers
3. Taxi Drivers
Is it possible for the uneducated investor to lose lots of money if they trade options? Yes of course they can, first of all the uneducated investor can lose tons of money using any trading instrument and secondly options are highly leveraged so if used incorrectly then they will increase your losses. So if this is the case then why an I saying that trading stock options isn’t risky?
The first thing that you must realize about stock options is that they were actually invested to reduce or manage risk. The whole idea of buying a put option to hedge you stocks is basically another form of insurance. When looking at your portfolio risk management options buying puts to ‘insure’ your stocks is one of the most conservative investment strategies that you can implement.
On the other hand selling call options on stocks that you already own (covered calls) is another incredibly conservative stock market strategy. This strategy actually increases your downside protection, so when used correctly the myth that options are too risky is simply not true. Of course if you start writing naked calls or naked puts then your risk levels are going to seriously increase but when used correctly options are an amazing risk reduction tool.
Let’s have a look at why financial planners, Stock Brokers, and Taxi drivers are giving Options such a bad name.
Financial Planners: If you go to your financial planner and say that you would like to include options in your trading strategies then they will almost definitely tell you that it is a very bad and risky idea. Why? Simply because 99% of financial planners wouldn’t have a clue how to use them. I recently spoke to a financial advisor who admitted that her entire financial planning degree only had one chapter on options and it was completely theoretical information. In their entire course there was not one bit of practical information about how to use options. So considering that most financial planners don’t actually know what stock options are let alone how to use them is it any wonder that their typical response is negative. Remember human’s beings fear change and looking stupid.
Stock Brokers: Surely Stock brokers don’t think that options are too risky? Aren’t they meant to be professional stock market investors? Unfortunately most stock brokers are exactly that ‘STOCK’ brokers not ‘OPTION’ brokers. To become a legal options broker there are additional courses that you need to complete so most stock brokers aren’t actually allowed to give you ‘option’ advice. Put yourself in their shoes for a minute - if a client came to you and said “What do you think of buying Options” then you are faced with two choices
1.Tell them that is a great idea but unfortunately you will need to take all of your money out of our accounts and go to another broker who is legally allowed to trade options, Good Luck with your investing.
2.Or you could tell them that options are too risky and you really should just stick to managed funds and stocks.
So what answer would you choose?
Taxi Drivers: Obviously this is a little bit of a joke but the point I am trying to make is that everybody seems to think that trading stock options is too risky. It is extremely important to remember to make up your own mind about investment strategies, whatever you do don’t take advice from a taxi driver about wealth creation.
“the most expensive advice you will ever get is free from poor people” Kurek Ashley
So are Options too risky? If used incorrectly yes but perhaps the question you should ask yourself first is ‘what are stock options’? Before you dismiss something as being too risky or scary make sure you try to understand what it actually is and how it works. There are plenty of free resources on the internet so do some research and make up your own mind about stock options. The last thing you want to do is ignore something just because that is what everybody else thinks. After all are these people achieving the results you are after or are they still driving taxis?
By: Banjo Smyth
About the Author:
If you want to be rich then the easiest way to achieve this goal is to become an investor. SharesPropertyMoney.com is giving away a Free Investment DVD to the first 1000 visitors. CLICK HERE for your copy Learn an amazing Stock Market Investment Strategy that everyday people are using earn $5,000 tax free per month.
Filed under Finance by Administrator