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Questions?

While you're getting started, you might have a few questions. Why not ask them to an Options Professional?

Call 1-888-OPTIONS
(between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT) to find the answers you're
looking for.

Getting Started

After going through the basics module you should now have a solid understanding of what a stock option is, what LEAPSŪ are and what factors contribute to an options value. You should have knowledge of how to establish an options account and what requirements your broker may impose on you to approve you for options trading.
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Index Options

Like equity options, index options offer the investor an opportunity to either capitalize on an expected market move or to protect holdings in the underlying instruments. The difference is that the underlying instruments are indexes. These indexes can reflect the characteristics of either the broad equity market as a whole or specific industry sectors within the marketplace.
Read More | Understanding Index Options (PDF)

Volatility

Volatility can be a very important factor in deciding what kind of options to buy or sell. Volatility shows the investor the range that a stocks price has fluctuated in a certain period.
Read More | View Volatility Webcast | Volatility Online Class

Black-Scholes Formula

The Black-Scholes formula was the first widely-used model for option pricing. This formula can be used to calculate a theoretical value for an option using current stock prices, expected dividends, the option’s strike price, expected interest rates, time to expiration and expected stock volatility.
Read More | Options Pricing Online Class

The Greeks

The Greeks are a collection of statistical values (expressed as percentages) that give the investor a better overall view of how a stock has been performing. These statistical values can be helpful in deciding what options strategies are best to use.
Read More | View Implied Volatility & Profit Loss Webcast

Questions? Confused? Have a question?
If you're having trouble grasping a concept or if this page doesn't answer a question, feel free to call 1-888-OPTIONS (between 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. CT), or email options@theocc.com to ask your question. You may also visit our Help Center for more information.