9 Advanced Options Trading Terms to Know
If using options, it’s important to have education on advanced options trading terms and their definitions. The options trading terms below are commonly used and it’s to every investor’s advantage to understand the conversation. Some are more obscure, but every investor should be aware of the following options trading lingo.
Hedge – A trade that offsets, or partially offsets, the risk of owning another position. For example, when you buy one call option and sell another, your potential profits are reduced. But, so are potential losses. Hedged positions are referred to as spreads.
Spread – a) Noun; An order instructing your broker to fill two (or more) orders for different options simultaneously. Your broker must execute both parts of the order, or neither. b) Verb; To open a hedged position. A trader who buys a bullish call spread buys one option, hoping to profit when the sock moves higher. But, to reduce the cash needed, he/she may create a position by selling a different call option – with a higher strike price.
Cash-settled – Upon exercise, instead of transferring shares, the intrinsic value of the option, in cash, is transferred from the option seller to the option owner.
Derivative – An instrument whose value depends on the value of another instrument. In other words, its value is derived from the value of the other. Options are derivative products.
Equivalency – The concept that two (or more) different option positions appear to be very different, but, in fact, have identical risk and rewards. Such positions are said to be equivalent, or synthetics. For example a covered call is equivalent to a naked put (same strike and expiration) and is often referred to as a ‘synthetic put.’
Inside market – The true bid-ask market for an individual option or spread. It is often narrower that the published market. In other words, to make the trade you don’t have to pay the offer on one option and sell the bid on the other. You can do better.
NBBO – The national best bid and offer. This should be a beginner’s term, but sadly is not.
Open Interest – The number of options that have been opened (that means someone who did not own them, wrote them), but not yet closed or expired.
Settlement Risk – The risk associated with owning a position when you are at the mercy of the market’s opening price. European style options cease trading Thursday, before the 3rd Friday of the month, but the final closing price of the underlying (and hence the value of all ITM options) is not determined until the following morning. The ‘Settlement Price,’ can be very different from Thursday’s close, resulting in unexpected (large) gains or losses. Settlement risk is the money gained or lost by accepting the settlement price Friday, instead of exiting Thursday.
Mark Wolfinger is a 20 year CBOE options veteran and is the writer for the blog Options for Rookies. He also is the author of the book, The Rookie’s Guide to Options.
Further Reading, Options Trading:
- 9 Beginner Option Terms Every Investor Should Know
- 12 Intermediate Option Terms Every Investor Should Know
- 6 Great Option Strategies For Beginners
- 7 Reasons Investors Should Trade Options
- Options Basics Quiz
- Entering an Order to Buy or Sell Options Investor Series, Part I
