Options trading is a complex but powerful financial instrument that allows investors to speculate on the price movements of assets such as stocks, commodities, and indices. Traders can make a profit from these speculative prices without any heavy risks.

It is a derivative contract that gives the buys the power to buy or sell a security at a chosen price at some point in the future.  It is a great tool to protect traders from risks while leveraging higher capital returns.

Options trading is perceived as “not so beginner-friendly” because of the complex strategies and risks. However, with the help of this beginners guide to options trading online, individuals can quickly get involved in this form of trading without significant losses.

What is Options Trading?

In simple words, options trading is a financial mechanism that allows (not obligation) you to buy or sell an underlying asset at a given time.

Options are financial derivatives that give the holder the right but not the obligation to buy or sell a specific asset at a predetermined price on a predetermined date.

In options trading, the investor speculates on the stock market’s future direction and gives the trader the option but not the obligation to buy or sell an underlying asset at a specific price on a specific date. 

There are primarily two types of options:

Call options: A call option provides the holder the right to buy an underlying asset at the strike price. This option is used when the trader speculates a rise in the price of an underlying asset.

Put option: The put option gives the holder the right to sell an underlying asset at the strike price. This option is used when the trader speculates a decline in the price of an underlying asset.

If the asset price moves opposite the strike price, you don’t utilize the call or the put option and let the contract expire. In this situation, the trader’s only loss is the amount they paid for the contract.

Different Strategies Used in Options Trading

In options trading, the trader uses various strategies to achieve their objectives, from hedging risks, generating income, or speculating price movement.

Some of the popular strategies used in options trading are: 

Buying calls: If you think the price of an asset will rise, you can buy a call option. This is a bullish strategy, and the potential loss is limited to the capital invested to buy the call option.

Buying puts: If you think the underlying asset’s price will decrease, you can purchase a put option. This is a bearish strategy that provides limited profit from falling prices but has less risk.

Covered calls: This strategy combines owning the underlying asset with a selling call option. This strategy has the potential to generate substantial income but limited potential gain against the asset’s price rise.

Protective puts: This strategy protects a long position in an asset. Traders buy a put option to limit potential losses if the asset price decreases. This option puts a lower limit below, which you can’t lose anymore. 

Protective puts: Traders use this strategy to protect a long position in an asset. They buy a put option to limit potential losses if the asset prices decline. This acts as a protection against price drops.

Long straddles: This strategy enables you to capitalize on the volatility of the assets without taking a bet on whether the prices will rise or decline.

How does Option Trading Work?

You can deploy the strategies mentioned above in options trading. The strategies can be complex or straightforward, depending on your experience and the market conditions. 

Broadly speaking, options trading helps you take advantage of the rising prices of the assets while trading a put option on the falling prices. Options trading gives the trader the option to buy or sell the assets. However, there is no obligation to exercise these options if the situation is not profitable. In option trading, the only money the trader risks is the premium they paid while buying the contract. 

To employ options trading, select the asset you want to speculate on. Now, depending on the market outlook, you can choose the different options and strategies. Then, you need to select a strike price at which you will have the right to buy or sell the asset.

You also have to select an expiry date for your options trading contract. You must remember that to buy an options contract, you must pay a premium. Premiums vary depending on asset volatility, expiry time, etc. Now, you need to exercise your options in your strategies to make a profit. This can be done at any time before the expiration of the contract.

Is Options Trading Beginner Friendly?

Options trading is complex and may not be appropriate for beginners. However, most online brokers today offer option trading. With these experts’ guidance, you can trade options even if you are a beginner.

For this, you will need a margin account. Now, with the help of online resources that provide information about asset prices, market speculations, implied volatility, and expert guidance, options trading can also be done by beginners.

Conclusion

Options trading is a dynamic financial trading mechanism that allows investors to speculate on price movements, manage risks, and create a range of strategies that will suit the current position of the market. While it offers a significant potential profit, it also comes with potential risks. Therefore, it is wise to understand the strategies and how they work and take professional help if you are a beginner.