26 Proven Option Strategies PDF
26 Proven Option Strategies PDF
26 Proven Option Strategies PDF
Options Strategies
26 proven options strategies
Bullish
An illustration is used with each strategy to demonstrate
the effect of time decay on the total option premium
involved in the position.
The basic diagram in the black shows the profit/loss scale
on the left vertical axis. The horizontal zero line in the
middle is the break even point, not including transaction
costs. Therefore, anything above the line indicates profits,
anything below it, losses. The price of the underlying
Bearish
instrument would be represented by a scale along the
bottom, with lower prices to the left and higher prices to
the right. “A”, “B”, “C” and “D” in the diagrams indicate the
strike price(s) involved.
Arrows on the diagrams indicate what impact the decay of
option prices over time has on the total position. The green
line reflects the situation with three months left until
expiration, the maroon line the status with 1 month left and
the teal line the situation at expiration, which is also
Neutral
reflected in the orange box at the top of each strategy
page. Note that decay accelerates as expiry approaches.
3 month
1 month
Profit
Event Driven
At expiry
0
Stock Combinations
A Strike price
Loss
asx 20607 27/8/09 1:09 PM Page 2
1 LONG CALL
Construction:
Buy 1 Call at strike price A.
Margins: No.
Your Market Outlook: Bullish. The share price will rise well above the
strike price A. The more bullish your view the further out of the
money you can buy to create maximum leverage.
Profit: The profit increases as the market rises. The break-even point
will be the options strike price A, plus the premium paid for the
option.
Loss: The maximum loss is the premium paid for the option. Any
point between the strike price A, and the break-even point you will
make a loss although not the maximum loss.
Volatility: The option value will increase as volatility increases (good)
and will fall as volatility falls (bad).
Time Decay: As each day passes the value of the option erodes.
Profit
A
Loss
asx 20607 27/8/09 1:09 PM Page 3
2 SHORT PUT
Bullish
Construction:
Sell 1 Put at strike price A.
Margins: Yes.
Your Market Outlook: Bullish. The share price will not fall below the
strike price A. If it does you are obligated to buy at the strike price A,
or buy the option back to close.
Profit: The maximum profit is the premium you sold the option for.
The break-even point will be the options strike price A, minus the
premium received for the option.
Loss: The maximum loss is the strike price A, less the premium
received.
Volatility: The option value will increase as volatility increases (bad)
and will decrease as volatility decreases (good).
Time Decay: As each day passes the value of the option erodes (good).
Profit
0
A
Loss
asx 20607 27/8/09 1:09 PM Page 4
Your Market Outlook: Bullish. The share price rise above A and not
fall below A. It is similar to holding the underlying share.
Profit: The maximum profit is unlimited. As the share price rises
above the strike price A, so does your profit.
Loss: The maximum loss for this trade is the strike price A, as the
share price is limited to zero, plus or minus the cost of the trade.
Volatility: You are not affected by volatility.
Time Decay: You are not affected by time decay.
Profit
0
A
Loss
asx 20607 27/8/09 1:09 PM Page 5
Bullish
Construction:
Sell 1 Put at strike price A and Buy 1 Call at
strike price B.
Margins: Yes.
Your Market Outlook: Bullish. The share price will rise above B and
not fall below A.
Profit: The maximum profit is unlimited. As the share price increases
above the strike price B, so does your profit.
Loss: The maximum loss for this trade is the strike price A, as the
share price is limited to zero.
Volatility: Volatility effect is minimal.
Time Decay: It depends on the underlying share price. If it is below A,
then time decay works for you. If it is above B, then it works against
you.
Profit
A
0
B
Loss
asx 20607 27/8/09 1:09 PM Page 6
5 BULL SPREAD
Construction:
Buy 1 Call at A and Sell 1 Call at B, or
Buy 1 Put at A and Sell 1 Put at B.
Margins: No for Calls and Yes for Puts.
Your Market Outlook: Bullish. The share price will expire above B and
not below A. The strategy provides protection if your view is wrong.
Profit: The maximum profit is limited to the difference between A and
B less the cost of the spread. If A and B are $1 apart and you bought
the spread for $0.40, then maximum profit is $0.60.
Loss: The maximum loss is also limited to the cost of the spread
(Calls).
Volatility: You are not affected by volatility.
Time Decay: It depends on the underlying share price, if it is below
A, then time decay works against you. If it is above B, then it works
for you.
Profit
B
A
Loss
asx 20607 27/8/09 1:09 PM Page 7
Bullish
Construction:
Sell 1 Call at A and Buy 2 Calls at B.
Margins: Yes.
Your Market Outlook: Bullish. The share price will expire well above
B, the strategy provides protection if the share price falls.
Profit: The maximum profit is unlimited on the upside and limited on
the downside to the net credit received when opening the trade.
Loss: The maximum loss is at strike price B. It is equal to the
difference between A and B less the net credit received.
Volatility: Generally volatility will be beneficial to this trade, as volatility
increases the value of Calls increases.
Time Decay: It depends on the underlying share price, if it is below A,
then time decay works for you on the Sold option. If it is above B,
then it works against you on the 2 Bought options.
Profit
B
Loss
asx 20607 27/8/09 1:09 PM Page 8
7 LONG PUT
Construction:
Buy 1 Put at strike price A.
Margins: No.
Your Market Outlook: Bearish. The share price will expire well below
A. It is used to profit from an expected fall in a share. This strategy is
commonly used to provide protection to stocks held in your portfolio. If
the share price falls, the profit from the Put will offset the loss on the
Share.
Profit: The maximum profit is limited to the strike price A less the
cost of the option, as the share can only fall as low as zero.
Loss: The maximum loss is equal to the amount of premium paid for
the option.
Volatility: The option value will increase as volatility increases (good)
and will fall as volatility falls (bad).
Time Decay: As each day passes the value of the option erodes (bad).
Profit
A
Loss
asx 20607 27/8/09 1:09 PM Page 9
8 SHORT CALL
Construction:
Sell 1 Call at strike price A.
Margins: Yes.
Bearish
Your Market Outlook: Bearish. The share price will expire below the
strike price A. If it does you will get to keep the option premium.
Profit: The maximum profit is the premium you sold the option for.
The break-even point will be the options strike price A, plus the
premium received for the option.
Loss: The maximum loss for this trade is unlimited.
Volatility: The option value will increase as volatility increases (bad)
and will decrease as volatility decreases (good).
Time Decay: As each day passes the value of the option erodes (good).
Profit
0
A
Loss
asx 20607 27/8/09 1:09 PM Page 10
Your Market Outlook: Bearish. The share price will fall below the
strike price A, but will not rise above that price. It is similar to short
selling the underlying share.
Profit: The maximum profit is limited to the strike price, as the share
can’t fall below zero. As the share price increases above the strike
price A, so do your losses.
Loss: The maximum loss for this trade is unlimited.
Volatility: You are not affected by volatility.
Time Decay: You are not affected by time decay.
Profit
0
A
Loss
asx 20607 27/8/09 1:09 PM Page 11
Bearish
Your Market Outlook: Bearish. The share price will fall below the
strike price A, and the share price will not rise above the strike price
B.
Profit: The maximum profit is limited to the strike price A, as the
shares can’t fall below zero. As the share price increases above the
strike price B, so do your losses.
Loss: The maximum loss for this trade is unlimited.
Volatility: Volatility effect is minimal.
Time Decay: It depends on the underlying share price, if it is below
A, then time decay works against you. If it is above B, then it works
for you.
Profit
B
0
A
Loss
asx 20607 27/8/09 1:09 PM Page 12
11 BEAR SPREAD
Construction:
Sell 1 Put at A and Buy 1 Put at B, or
Sell 1 Call at A and Buy 1 Call at B.
Margins: No for Puts and Yes for Calls.
Your Market Outlook: Bearish. The share price will expire below A,
the strategy provides protection if your view is wrong as your
maximum loss is at B, no matter how far above B the share price
increases.
Profit: The maximum profit is limited to the difference between A and
B less the cost of the spread. If A and B are $1 apart and you bought
the spread for $0.40, then maximum profit is $0.60.
Loss: The maximum loss is also limited to the cost of the spread.
Volatility: You are not affected by volatility.
Time Decay: It depends on the underlying share price, if it is below
A, then time decay works for you. If it is above B, then it works
against you.
Profit
A
B
Loss
asx 20607 27/8/09 1:09 PM Page 13
Bearish
Your Market Outlook: Bearish. The share price will expire well below
A. The strategy provides protection if the share price increases as you
will profit from the sold Put.
Profit: The maximum profit is limited on the downside to the strike
price plus the net credit received, as the share price can’t fall below
zero. It is limited on the upside to the net credit received when opening
the trade.
Loss: The maximum loss is equal to the difference between B and A
less the net credit received and it occurs at A, as your bought Puts
expire worthless and you lose on the sold Put.
Volatility: Generally volatility will be beneficial on this trade, as volatility
increases the value of Puts increases.
Time Decay: It depends on the underlying share price, if it is below A,
then time decay works against you on the 2 bought options. If it is
above B, then it works for you on the 1 sold option.
Profit
A
Loss
asx 20607 27/8/09 1:09 PM Page 14
13 SHORT STRADDLE
Construction:
Sell 1 Call at A and Sell 1 Put at A.
Margins: Yes.
Your Market Outlook: Neutral. The share price will expire around the
strike price A. If it does you will get to keep the option premium from
both sold options. This strategy is also used if your view is that
volatility will decrease.
Profit: The maximum profit is the combined total premium you
received for the sale of the options. One break-even point will be the
strike price A, plus the combined options premium received. The
other break-even point will be the strike price A, minus the combined
options premium received.
Loss: The maximum loss for this trade is unlimited on the upside and
limited on the downside to the strike price, as the share can’t fall
below zero.
Volatility: The option value will decrease as volatility decreases which
is good for both options. Alternatively an increase in volatility will be
bad for both options.
Time Decay: As each day passes the value of the option erodes (good).
Profit
Loss
asx 20607 27/8/09 1:09 PM Page 15
14 SHORT STRANGLE
Construction:
Sell 1 Call at B and Sell 1 Put at A.
Margins: Yes.
Your Market Outlook: Neutral. The share price will expire between the
strike prices A and B. If it does you will get to keep the option premium
from both sold options. This strategy is also used if your view is that
volatility will decrease.
Profit: The maximum profit is the combined total premium you
received for the sale of the options. One break-even point will be the
strike price A, minus the combined options premium received. The
other break-even point will be the strike price B, plus the combined
options premium received.
Loss: The maximum loss for this trade is unlimited on the upside and
Neutral
limited on the downside to the strike price, as the share can’t fall
below zero.
Volatility: The option value will decrease as volatility decreases which
is good for both options. Alternatively an increase in volatility will be bad
for both options.
Time Decay: As each day passes the value of the option erodes (good).
Profit
A B
Loss
asx 20607 27/8/09 1:09 PM Page 16
15 LONG BUTTERFLY
Construction (any of the following):
Buy 1 Call at A and Sell 2 Calls at B and Buy 1 Call at C.
Buy 1 Put at A and Sell 2 Puts at B and Buy 1 Put at C.
Buy 1 Call at A and Sell 1 Call and 1 Put at B and Buy 1
Put at C.
Buy 1 Put at A and Sell 1 Put and 1 Call at B and Buy 1
Call at C.
Margins: Depends on how it is constructed.
Your Market Outlook: Neutral. The share price will expire around the
strike price B. This strategy is also used if your view is that volatility
will decrease, the bought options at A and C provide protection for
the strategy.
Profit: The maximum profit will occur at the strike price B.
Loss: The maximum loss for this trade is limited. The break-evens are
at A plus the cost of the spread and at C less the cost of the spread.
Volatility: The option value will decrease as volatility decreases which
is generally good for the strategy. Alternatively an increase in volatility
will be generally bad for the strategy.
Time Decay: As each day passes the value of the option erodes
(good). Most of the decay will occur in the final month before expiry.
Profit
B
A C
Loss
asx 20607 27/8/09 1:09 PM Page 17
16 LONG CONDOR
Construction (any of the following):
Buy 1 Call at A and Sell 1 Call at B and Sell 1 Call at C
and Buy 1 Call at D.
Buy 1 Put at A and Sell 1 Put at B and Sell 1 Put at C
and Buy 1 Put at D.
Buy 1 Call at A and Sell 1 Call at B and Sell 1 Put at C
and Buy 1 Put at D.
Buy 1 Put at A and Sell 1 Put at B and Sell 1 Call at C
and Buy 1 Call at D.
Margins: Depends on how it is constructed.
Your Market Outlook: Neutral. The share price will expire between
the strike prices B and C. This strategy is also used if your view is
that volatility will decrease, the bought options at A and D provide
protection for the strategy.
Profit: The maximum profit will occur anywhere between the strike
price B and C.
Loss: The maximum loss for this trade is limited. The break-evens are
at A plus the cost of the spread and at D less the cost of the spread.
Neutral
Volatility: The option value will decrease as volatility decreases which
is generally good for the strategy. Alternatively an increase in volatility
will be generally bad for the strategy.
Time Decay: As each day passes the value of the option erodes
(good). Most of the decay will occur in the final month before expiry.
Profit
B C
A D
Loss
asx 20607 27/8/09 1:09 PM Page 18
Your Market Outlook: Neutral. The share price will expire around the
strike price B. If you are wrong you see the risk as a price fall. The
strategy provides protection if the share price falls as you will profit
from the sold calls. If the stock rises strongly you will lose.
Profit: The maximum profit is limited to B minus A minus net cost of
position.
Loss: The maximum loss is unlimited on the upside and limited to the
net cost of the position on the downside.
Volatility: Generally as volatility decreases this will benefit the position.
Time Decay: It depends on the underlying share price, if it is below A,
then time decay works against you on the bought option. If it is at B,
then it works for you on the 2 sold options.
Profit B
Loss
asx 20607 27/8/09 1:09 PM Page 19
Your Market Outlook: Neutral. The share price will expire around the
strike price A. If you are wrong you see the risk as a price rise. The
strategy provides protection if the share price rises as you will profit
from the sold puts. If the stock falls sharply you will lose.
Profit: The maximum profit is limited to B minus A minus net cost of
position.
Loss: As the stock price can only fall to zero the maximum loss is
limited on the downside and limited to the net cost of the position on
the upside.
Volatility: Generally as volatility decreases this will benefit the position.
Neutral
Time Decay: It depends on the underlying share price, if it is at A,
then time decay works for you on the sold options. If it is above B,
then it works against you on the bought option.
Profit
A
Loss
asx 20607 27/8/09 1:09 PM Page 20
19 LONG STRADDLE
Construction:
Buy 1 Call at A and Buy 1 Put at A.
Margins: No.
Profit
A
Loss
asx 20607 27/8/09 1:09 PM Page 21
20 LONG STRANGLE
Construction:
Buy 1 Call at B and Buy 1 Put at A.
Margins: No.
Profit
Event Driven
0
A B
Loss
asx 20607 27/8/09 1:09 PM Page 22
21 SHORT BUTTERFLY
Construction (any of the following):
Sell 1 Call at A and Buy 2 Calls at B and Sell 1 Call at C.
Sell 1 Put at A and Buy 2 Puts at B and Sell 1 Put at C.
Sell 1 Call at A and Buy 1 Call and 1 Put at B and Sell 1
Put at C.
Sell 1 Put at A and Buy 1 Put and 1 Call at B and Sell 1
Call at C.
Margins: Depends on how it is constructed.
Profit
A C
B
Loss
asx 20607 27/8/09 1:09 PM Page 23
22 SHORT CONDOR
Construction (any of the following):
Sell 1 Call at A and Buy 1 Call at B and Buy 1 Call at C
and Sell 1 Call at D.
Sell 1 Put at A and Buy 1 Put at B and Buy 1 Put at C
and Sell 1 Put at D.
Sell 1 Call at A and Buy 1 Call at B and Buy 1 Put at C
and Sell 1 Put at D. Sell 1 Put at A and Buy 1 Put at B
and Buy 1 Call at C and Sell 1 Call at D.
Margins: Depends on how it is constructed.
Profit
A D Event Driven
B C
Loss
asx 20607 27/8/09 1:09 PM Page 24
Your Market Outlook: Neutral to slightly Bullish. The share price will
not rise above the strike price A. Your objective is to earn income
from the sale of the Call option, OR, it is also used to exit a stock at
the strike price you sold the option which is when you would write an
out of the money option.
Profit: The maximum profit is the premium you sold the option for
plus the difference between where you bought the stock and the
strike price of the option you wrote.
Loss: The maximum loss for this trade is the stock price that you paid
less the premium received from the sale of the option.
Volatility: The option value will increase as volatility increases (bad)
and will decrease as volatility decreases (good).
Time Decay: As each day passes the value of the option erodes (good).
Profit
0
A
Loss
asx 20607 27/8/09 1:09 PM Page 25
Your Market Outlook: Cautiously bullish. The share price will rise but
you are concerned of a possible fall below the strike price A. Your
objective is to protect the capital value of your shares as you have the
right to sell your shares at any time at the strike price A.
Profit: The maximum profit is unlimited, you will profit from an
increase in the share price.
Loss: The maximum loss for this trade is the strike price plus the
premium you paid for the option.
Volatility: The option value will increase as volatility increases (good)
and will decrease as volatility decreases (bad).
Time Decay: As each day passes the value of the option erodes (bad).
Profit
A
Loss
Stock Combinations
asx 20607 27/8/09 1:09 PM Page 26
Your Market Outlook: Bullish. The share price will rise but you are
concerned of a possible fall below the strike price A. Your objective is
to protect the capital value of your shares as you have the right to sell
your shares at any time at the strike price A. You pay for this
protection by selling the Call at B. Depending on the strike prices you
choose this could be done for zero cost or even a net credit.
Profit: The maximum profit is limited to the gain made on the share
up to the strike price B plus (minus) the net credit (net debit) of the
option trades.
Loss: The maximum loss is limited to the loss made on the share
down to the strike price A plus (minus) the net credit (net debit) of the
option trades.
Volatility: You are not affected by volatility.
Time Decay: You are not affected by time decay.
Profit
B
A
Loss
asx 20607 27/8/09 1:09 PM Page 27
26 BOX SPREAD
Construction (any of the following):
Long a Bull Spread and Long Bear Spread at the same
strikes.
Short a Bull Spread and Short a Bear Spread at the
same strikes.
Long the underlying and Synthetic Short.
Short the Underlying and Synthetic Long.
Margins: Depends upon how it is constructed.
Profit
Loss
Stock Combinations
page28.pdf 1 11/05/11 4:35 PM
GLOSSARY
Assignment: The random allocation of an exercise obligation to an
option seller.
At-the-money: When the price of the shares equals the exercise price.
Call Option: A contract that entitles the buyer to buy a fixed number of
shares at a stated price on or before the expiry date.
Exercise Price (Strike Price): The amount of money that is paid by the
taker or writer for the transfer of the share upon exercise.
Expiry Day: The date on which option series expire.
Fair Value: The theoretical value generated using an options pricing
model.
In-the-money: An option with intrinsic value.
Intrinsic value: The difference between the market value of the shares
and the exercise price of the option.
Margin: An amount calculated by ASX Clear to cover the obligations
arising from option contracts.
Open Interest: The number of outstanding contracts in a particular
class or series.
Out-of-the-money: When the exercise price is above the market price
for a Call option, and below the market price for a Put option.
Premium: The amount payable by the buyer to the seller for entering
into the option.
Put option: A contract that entitles the buyer to sell a fixed number of
shares at a stated price on or before the expiry date.
Time Value: The amount investors are willing to pay for the possibility
they could profit from their option position.
Volatility: A measure of the expected amount of fluctuation in the share
price. For more detail on volatility visit our website at
www.asx.com.au/options
Options Strategies
26 proven options strategies