I do want to do a couple. There are that have unlimited downside right? Selling options and selling puts, is that right?NRD09 said:62strat said:so can you explain exactly what this is?Talon2DSO said:
Picked up AAPL 225c Jan 15, 2021 at 1.60
Aapl call at $225 strike price? Obviously jan 15 expiry date, what is the 1.60?
So what exactly is the situation/outcome if it hits 225 before 1/15 and if it doesn't.
Mcinnis already covered it but i just typed this all on my phone so here goes anyway
If market closes 1/15 and aapl price is 225.00, your option is at the money (atm) and worth nothing. You lost the $160 (1.60 per share) you paid for the contract. Any price below that (out of the money/otm) and it's also worth nothing. Any price above (in the money/itm) and you have the option (get it?) to exercise and buy the shares at the discounted price of $225/shr. You can also exercise at any time before the expiration date, whether it's it., atm, or otm. But it usually doesn't make sense to do so (unless you're trying to snag a dividend but let's keep it simple). For the most part we sell options before they expire, as the price fluctuates with the price of the underlying equity as well as a few other factors, and generally your premium decays as you get closer to expiration.
Really you need to just do it and it'll make sense. Buy a call and sell it. Buy a call and exercise it. Sell a covered call of something you have 100 of and let it expire worthless. Do it again and get your shares called out. Sell a cash covered put and let it expire worthless, do it again and get assigned shares, then you'll have a pretty good understanding of how most of this stuff works.
I want to stay away from that until I really understand what's going on. So buying call and buying puts are the 'safer' options?