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Options Blueprint Series: Tailoring Yen Futures Delta ExposureIntroduction In options trading, a Bull Call Spread is a popular strategy used to capitalize on price increases in the underlying asset. This strategy involves buying a call option at a lower strike price while simultaneously selling another call option at a higher strike price. The net effect is a debit trade, meaning the trader pays for the spread, but the risk is limited to this initial cost, and the profit potential is capped by the sold call option's strike price. For traders interested in Japanese Yen Futures, the Bull Call Spread offers a way to potentially profit from expected upward movements while managing risk effectively. Delta exposure, which measures the sensitivity of an option's price to changes in the price of the underlying asset, is a crucial aspect of this strategy. By carefully selecting the strike prices of the options involved, traders can tailor their delta exposure to match their market outlook and risk tolerance. In this article, we will delve into the mechanics of Bull Call Spreads, explore how varying the sold unit's strike price impacts delta exposure, and present a practical case study using Japanese Yen Futures to illustrate these concepts. Mechanics of Bull Call Spreads A Bull Call Spread is typically constructed by purchasing an at-the-money (ATM) call option and selling an out-of-the-money (OTM) call option. This strategy is designed to take advantage of a moderate rise in the price of the underlying asset, in this case, Japanese Yen Futures. Components of a Bull Call Spread: Buying the ATM Call Option: This option is purchased at a strike price close to the current price of the underlying asset. The ATM call option has a higher delta, meaning its price is more sensitive to changes in the price of the underlying asset. Selling the OTM Call Option: This option is sold at a higher strike price. The OTM call option has a lower delta, reducing the overall cost of the spread but also capping the profit potential. Delta in Options Trading: Delta represents the rate of change in an option's price concerning a one-unit change in the price of the underlying asset. For call options, delta ranges from 0 to 1: ATM Call Option: Typically has a delta around 0.5, meaning if the underlying asset's price increases by one unit, the call option's price is expected to increase by 0.5 units. OTM Call Option: Has a lower delta, typically less than 0.5, indicating less sensitivity to changes in the price of the underlying asset. By combining these two options, traders can create a position with a desired delta exposure, managing both risk and potential reward. The selection of strike prices is crucial as it determines the overall delta exposure of the Bull Call Spread. Impact of Strike Price on Delta Exposure Delta exposure in a Bull Call Spread is a crucial factor in determining the overall sensitivity of the position to changes in the price of the underlying asset. By adjusting the strike price of the sold call option, traders can fine-tune their delta exposure to align with their market expectations and risk management preferences. How Delta Exposure Works: Higher Strike Price for the Sold Call Option: When the strike price of the sold call option is higher, the overall delta exposure of the Bull Call Spread increases. This is because the sold option has a lower delta, contributing less to offsetting the delta of the purchased call option. Lower Strike Price for the Sold Call Option: Conversely, a lower strike price for the sold call option decreases the overall delta exposure. The sold option's higher delta offsets more of the delta from the purchased option, resulting in a lower net delta for the spread. Examples of Delta Exposure: Example 1: Buying a call option with a strike price of 0.0064 and selling a call option with a strike price of 0.0065. Purchased call option delta: 0.51 Sold call option delta: 0.34 Net delta: 0.51 - 0.34 = 0.17 Example 2: Buying a call option with a strike price of 0.0064 and selling a call option with a strike price of 0.0066. Purchased call option delta: 0.51 Sold call option delta: 0.21 Net delta: 0.51 - 0.21 = 0.29 As illustrated, the higher the strike price of the sold call option, the greater the net delta exposure. This increased delta indicates that the position is more sensitive to changes in the price of Japanese Yen Futures, allowing traders to capitalize on more significant price movements. Conversely, a lower strike price reduces delta exposure, making the position less sensitive to price changes but also limiting potential gains. Case Study: Japanese Yen Futures Market Scenario: Recently, a downtrend in Japanese Yen Futures appears to have potentially reversed, presenting an opportunity to capitalize on a new potential upward movement. To take advantage of this potential uptrend, we will construct a Bull Call Spread with specific entry, stop loss, and target prices based on Yen Futures prices (underlying). Underlying Trade Setup Entry Price: 0.0064 Stop Loss Price: 0.00633 Target Price: 0.00674 Point Values and Margin Requirements Point Values: For Japanese Yen Futures, each tick (0.0000005) equals $6.25. Therefore, a movement from 0.0064 to 0.0065 represents a 200-tick change, which equals $1,250 per contract. Margin Requirements: Margin requirements for Japanese Yen Futures vary but are currently set at $2,800 per contract on the CME Group website. This amount represents the minimum amount of funds required to maintain the futures position. Valid Bull Call Spread Setup Given the current market scenario, the following setup is selected: 1. Purchased Call Option Strike Price: 0.0064 (ATM) Delta: 0.51 2. Sold Call Option Variations Strike Price 0.0068: Delta: 0.08 3. Net Delta: 0.42 Reward-to-Risk Ratio Calculation Due to the limited risk profile of Debit Spreads, where the maximum potential loss is confined to the initial debit paid, stop loss orders will not be factored into this reward-to-risk ratio calculation. Debit Paid: 0.000085 (call purchased) - 0.000015 (call sold) = 0.00007 Potential Gain: Sold Strike - Strike Bought - Debit Paid = 0.0068 - 0.0064 - 0.00007 = 0.00033 Potential Loss: Debit Paid = 0.00007 Reward-to-Risk Ratio: 0.00033 / 0.00007 ≈ 4.71 This ratio indicates a favorable risk-reward setup, as the potential reward is significantly higher than the risk. Conclusion In this article, we have explored the intricacies of using Bull Call Spreads to tailor delta exposure in Japanese Yen Futures trading. By strategically selecting the strike prices for the options involved, traders can effectively manage their delta exposure, aligning their positions with their market outlook and risk tolerance. Key Points Recapped: Bull Call Spreads: This strategy involves buying an at-the-money (ATM) call option and selling an out-of-the-money (OTM) call option to capitalize on moderate upward price movements. Delta Exposure: The delta of the options involved plays a crucial role in determining the overall sensitivity of the spread to price changes in the underlying asset. Strike Price Variations: Adjusting the strike price of the sold call option can significantly impact the net delta exposure, offering traders the flexibility to fine-tune their positions. Case Study: A practical example using Japanese Yen Futures illustrated how varying the sold unit's strike price changes the delta exposure, providing concrete insights into the strategy. Risk Management: We always emphasize the importance of stop loss orders, hedging techniques, avoiding undefined risk exposure, and precise entries and exits ensures that trades are structured with proper risk controls. By understanding and applying these principles, traders can enhance their ability to navigate the complexities of options trading, making informed decisions that align with their trading objectives. When charting futures, the data provided could be delayed. Traders working with the ticker symbols discussed in this idea may prefer to use CME Group real-time data plan on TradingView: www.tradingview.com This consideration is particularly important for shorter-term traders, whereas it may be less critical for those focused on longer-term trading strategies. General Disclaimer: The trade ideas presented herein are solely for illustrative purposes forming a part of a case study intended to demonstrate key principles in risk management within the context of the specific market scenarios discussed. These ideas are not to be interpreted as investment recommendations or financial advice. They do not endorse or promote any specific trading strategies, financial products, or services. The information provided is based on data believed to be reliable; however, its accuracy or completeness cannot be guaranteed. Trading in financial markets involves risks, including the potential loss of principal. Each individual should conduct their own research and consult with professional financial advisors before making any investment decisions. The author or publisher of this content bears no responsibility for any actions taken based on the information provided or for any resultant financial or other losses.
CME:6JU2024Education
by traddictiv
2
Option Strike Price "Secrets" In this article you will learn... - what a strike price is, - the different intervals for strike prices, - how to pick the right strike price, … and much more. Let’s get started. 1.) The basics: What is the strike price? Strike Price Definition: The strike price of an option is the price at which the option buyer has the right to buy or sell an underlying security. As an example, if you are buying a CALL option of AAPL with a strike price of 126, then you have the right to BUY 100 shares of AAPL for $126. And if you are buying a PUT option of AAPL with a strike price of 125, then you have the right to SELL 100 shares of AAPL for $125. Strike Price Intervals When you open an options chain, you will see all the different strike prices that are available. The strike price intervals are set by the options exchange and will change depending on market conditions and the price of the underlying stock. There are four commonly used strike price intervals: $1, $2.50, $5, and $10. There are currently no strict standards and the exchange reviews and decides on the strike price interval of each optionable stock from time to time in order to adjust policies to better cater to trading needs. Here are some general guidelines provided by the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE): - 2.50 points strike price interval is used when the underlying stock is trading between $5 and $25, - 5 points strike price interval is used when the stock is trading between $25 and $200, - and 10 points strike price interval is used when the stock price is over $200. But these are just guidelines. The options exchanges decide on strike price intervals based on market demand and trader’s needs) more than any strict mathematical formula. In the example above, you see that AAPL is trading at about$127. So according to the guidelines, the strike price interval should be $5. But since AAPL is a very volatile stock that currently moves $2.50 per day on average, which is around 2% per day, the $5 strike price intervals wouldn’t make sense. That’s why the exchange decides to only offer $10 intervals to best serve the trader. Strike Price, Option Premium & “Moneyness” When buying or selling an option, you must choose a strike price, and often you will hear terms like: - In-The-Money (ITM), - At-The-Money (ATM), - or Out-Of-The-Money (OTM). I call this the “Moneyness” of an option. In-The-Money Options Strike Prices (ITM) TM Call Options will have strike prices below the current stock price. And ITM Put Options will have strike prices above the current stock price. In the example above, AAPL is trading at around $127 right now. Therefore, the strike prices of 125 and below are considered ITM for Call options. And the strike prices of 128 and above are considered ITM for Put options. At-The-Money Options Strike Price (ATM) An ATM option would be the closest strike price to the current market price of the stock. For our AAPL example (The current price is about $127), the strike prices of 126 and 127 are the closest strikes to the market. So these strikes are considered ATM for both Call and Put options. Out-Of-The-Money Options Strike Prices (OTM) An OTM Call Option’s strike price would be above the current market price of the stock. With an OTM Put Option, the strike price would be below the current market price of the stock. For our AAPL example (The current price is about $127), the strike prices of 128 and above are considered OTM for Call options. And the strike prices of 125 and below are considered OTM for Put options. 2.) How to Pick the Right Strike Price Wow! So many strike prices! So how do you pick the right option strike price? Are some strike prices more desirable than others? Absolutely! It really depends on what you are trying to accomplish: Do you want to BUY an option and make money? Do you want to SELL an option, collect premium and let it expire worthless or Do you want to SELL an option, collect premium, and get assigned? For now, let’s keep it easy. Let’s say you want to make money with a CALL option. Call option strike price example We will use AAPL again as an example. Right now, AAPL is trading at about $127. Let’s say you’re bullish AAPL and expect Apple to move up to 135 within the next month. If you were to look at an options chain, you would have several choices. a.) You can buy a cheap OTM option with a strike price of 135. The last price of the option was $0.86. Since options come in “100 packs”, you would have to pay $86 for the option. This would allow you to buy 100 shares of AAPL at a price of $135. b.) You can buy an ATM option with a strike price of 127. This option is more expensive. The last traded price was $3.80, so you would have to invest $380 for this option. And this option would allow you to buy 100 shares of AAPL at a price of $127. c.) You can buy an ITM option with a strike price of 124. This option is the most expensive. The last traded price was $5.90, so you would have to invest $590 for this option. And this option would allow you to buy 100 shares of AAPL at a price of $124. Now let’s say that AAPL never goes back up to $135. Let’s say that on expiration day (June 11), AAPL is trading at $134: a.) OTM Option with a strike price of 135 This option allows you to buy 100 shares of AAPL at $135. Since AAPL is trading at 134, that wouldn’t make sense. Why would you pay MORE for 100 shares of AAPL than the underlying stock price? So this option is worth nothing, and you lose the $86 option premium that you paid. b.) ATM Option with a strike price of 127 This option allows you to buy 100 shares of AAPL at $127. Since AAPL is trading at 134, you could buy 100 shares at $127 and immediately sell them for $134. In this case, you would make 134–127 = 7 per share. 1 option allows you to buy 100 shares, so your profit is $700. You paid $380 for this option and make $700. That’s a net profit of 700–380 = 320 or 84% based on your initial investment! c.) ITM Option with a strike price of 124 This option allows you to buy 100 shares of AAPL at $124. Since AAPL is trading at 134, you could buy 100 shares at $124 and immediately sell them for $134. In this case, you would make 134–124 = $10 per share. 1 option allows you to buy 100 shares, so your profit is $1,000. But you paid $590 for this option to make $1,000. So the net profit of this trade is 1,000–590 = 410 or 69% based on your initial investment. Let’s review: OTM Option: $86 loss ATM Option: $320 profit = 84% ITM Option: $410 profit = 69% As you can see from this example, it’s super important to pick the right strike price. The underlying security (AAPL) moved from $127 to $134. That’s a 5.5% move. Often traders who are new to options pick the cheapest options contract, i.e. the OTM option. But you would have lost the whole option premium. So should you pick the most expensive one? As you can see in this example, picking the most expensive option (i.e. ITM option) would have yielded the higher DOLLAR amount. But in terms of Return on Investment (ROI), the ITM option was best. Based on the trading strategy that you use, I can give you several guidelines on how to pick the right strike price. In a nutshell, when you are BUYING options, you want to buy an ATM or ITM options contract. And when you are SELLING options, you want to sell OTM options. More about that later. 3.) Three Important Things You Need To Know There are 3 more things you need to know when about strike prices when trading options: What happens when a call option hits the strike price? What would have happened if AAPL would have traded above the strike price of $135 before expiration? Nothing — unless you choose to exercise the option. But if this happens before the expiration date, then it would be better to sell the option since you would make more money. How do I change my strike price once the trade has been placed already? You can’t. You need to choose a strike price when you enter the trade, and you can’t change it while you are in a trade. You can only “roll” the option, and here’s how it works: Let’s say you bought the OTM option with a strike price of $135. And you realize that it was too ambitious and that AAPL probably won’t hit 135 before the expiration date. So you could “roll” the option by selling your 135 call and simultaneously buying the 132 call. What Is Spot Price and Strike Price? The SPOT PRICE is the current price of the underlying security, so using AAPL as an example, Apple’s current spot price, at the time of this writing, is $126.76 which is the price it’s currently trading. The STRIKE PRICE is the price at which you can buy or sell the shares of the underlying security on or before expiration. Summary s you can see, picking the right option strike price is extremely important. It will affect your returns and it could even make or break you in the market. In a nutshell, when you are a BUYER, you want to buy ATM or ITM options since even a small move in the underlying stock price can yield double-digit returns. When you are a SELLER, it’s the opposite: You want to sell OTM options that have a low probability of getting assigned.
NASDAQ:AAPLEducation
by rockwelltrading
2
Trader's Guide to Options Part 2The information in this guide is intended to get you started with your understanding of options, the terminology, and their basic characteristics. In addition to this guide, it is recommended that you study all information available under the education section of your broker’s website. Most brokers who cater to options traders provide good information that will help you learn. Types of Options: Call Options: Call options increase in value when the underlying stock rises. Buyers of calls have the right, without any obligation, to buy the underlying stock at the strike of the options contract. They retain their right until the option no longer exists, defined by the expiration date. Call buyers anticipate the value of the underlying stock will rise. When it does, the value of the option will also increase at approximately the rate of the Delta. Buyers pay for the right to buy the stock in the future, sometime before expiration of the option. When buying the option, they pay the ask price. The premium they pay is less than buying the stock, yet they will still benefit from any appreciation in the value of the stock. Say you wanted to buy XYZ stock because you think it is going to move up from its current price of $84. Instead of buying the stock a trader could buy a call option for a fraction of the price of the stock. Remember, all the trader is doing is buying the right to buy the stock without any obligation to actually buy it. The option only costs $4.00 for the right to buy the stock at some future date. Buying 1,000 shares of the stock would require $84,000 but buying 10 options contracts would only cost $4,000. Call Options – The Sellers… Sellers of call options are selling to someone else the right to buy the underlying stock from them. When/if the buyer chooses to buy the stock from the seller, (remember, the buyer has no obligation to do so) it is referred to as an exercise…the buyer is exercising the right to buy the stock. The seller is obligated to deliver the stock to the buyer. A seller’s obligation ends when the stock is exercised, the option expires, or the option is bought to close (BTC). Call sellers receive a premium from the buyer. The buyer is paying the seller for the right to buy the stock in the future. Sellers want the price of the stock to go down. Why? If the price goes down, the buyer will have no reason to exercise since they could buy the stock for less at the current market price. In this case, the seller gets to keep the premium paid by the buyer. So, what does this mean in plain English? The concept of a call option is present in many situations. For example, you discover a painting that you would love to purchase. Unfortunately, you will not have the cash to buy it for another two months. You talk to the owner and negotiate a deal that gives you an option to buy the painting in two months for a price of $1,000. The owner agrees, and you pay the owner a premium of $50 for the right to buy the painting. Consider two possible scenarios that can impact the value of this “option”: Scenario 1: It is discovered that the back of the painting has a signature of a famous artist, which drives the value of the painting up to $10,000. Because the owner sold you an option which gives you the right but no obligation to purchase the painting at the previously agreed price, he is obligated to sell the painting to you, the buyer, for $1,000. The buyer would make a profit of $8,950 ($10,000 value – $1,000 purchase price – $50 for the cost of the option). Scenario 2: After closer review of the painting, it is discovered that the signature on the back is not of a famous artist, but is the brother of a famous artist. This actually drives the value of the painting down to $500. If the buyer exercised their option to purchase the painting it would cost $1,000. This would not make sense because the buyer could instead just buy it at “market price” for just $500. Since the buyer had no obligation to purchase based on the option contract, the agreement, or contract, would just expire and the buyer would lose the $50 premium paid. The example demonstrates two important points. When you buy an option, you have a right, but not an obligation, to do something. You can always let the expiration date pass, at which point the option becomes worthless. If this happens, you lose 100% of your investment, which is the money you paid for the option. Put Options Put options increase in value when the underlying stock decreases in value. Buyers of puts have the right, without any obligation, to “put” the underlying stock to someone else at the strike price of the options contract. They retain their right until they sell to close (STC) the option or it no longer exists, defined by the expiration date. Put buyers anticipate the value of the underlying stock will go down. When it does, the value of the option will increase at approximately the rate of the Delta. Buyers pay a premium for the right to be able to put (sell) the stock to someone else in the future, sometime before expiration of the option. When buying the option, they pay the ask price. Say you thought XYZ stock is going to move down from its current price of $84. Buying a put with a strike of $85 gives the buyer the right in the future to sell or put the stock to someone else at $85. So, if the stock declined to $75, the buyer of the option could buy the stock at $75 and immediately exercise their right to sell/put the stock at $85, making a $10 profit. Remember, all the trader is doing is buying the right but has no obligation. Put Options – The Sellers… Sellers of put options are selling to someone else the right to sell/put the underlying stock to them. When/if the buyer chooses to put their stock to the seller, this is referred to as being assigned……the buyer of the put option is assigning the stock to the seller. The seller is obligated to buy the stock based on the strike price of the contract. A seller’s obligation ends when the option expires or the option is bought to close (BTC). Put sellers receive a premium from the buyer. The buyer is paying the seller for the right to sell the stock to the seller in the future. Put sellers want the price of the stock to go up. Why? If the price goes up, the buyer will have no reason to assign the stock since they could sell the stock for more at the current market price. In this case, the seller gets to keep the premium paid by the buyer. Exercise and Assignment Most stocks and ETF’s are American style options. This means that if the buyer of an option chooses to exercise or assign their rights they may do so at any time prior to expiration. Indexes such at SPX , NDX and RUT are European style options. This means that any exercise or assignment may only occur at expiration. Who wins when the stock moves? 1. Buyers of Calls – win when the stock goes up 2. Sellers of Calls – win when the stock goes down 3. Buyers of Puts – win when the stock goes down 4. Sellers of Puts – win when the stock goes up Are you new to options trading? Stay tuned for Part 3 of Trader's Guide to Options which will include in-the-money, at-the-money, and out-of-the-money options as well as the reality of trading.
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