Options 101

What are Options?

An option is a securities contract, a “call” or a “put,” that gives you the right to buy (call) or sell (put) the underlying equity, index, or ETF.

Options Basics: How to Sell Covered Calls

Covered calls provide an alluring introduction into the options realm for traders looking to not only improve returns, but also attain some downside protection.

Need Income? You Need Covered Calls

This conservative options strategy generates a steady flow of cash in stocks you want to hold.

7 Reasons Not to Fear a Quadruple Witching

Get the answers to some common questions about this quadruple witching expiration day.

How to Manage Expiring Options Positions

With August options coming off the board Friday, it's a good time to review how to extend profits or reduce losses.

5 Popular Stocks Get the VIX Treatment

CBOE Stock VIXes track the implied volatility of AAPL, AMZN, GS, GOOG and IBM.

8 VIX Trading Myths Debunked

When it comes to the VIX, nothing trades quite like you think it should.

6 Options Expiration Day Traps to Avoid

Find out what you need to know and what steps you should take to avoid unpleasant surprises on expiration day.

Do You Know How to Trade the VIX?

With all the new ways to trade volatility, we're going to give you a primer on some VIX products.

Trade Your Way to Big Profits With Commodity Futures

Demand for crude oil, metals and other materials is increasing, so now is the perfect time to learn how to trade commodity futures.

4 Critical Tips for Every Options Trader

Four rules every options trader should follow.

5 Things You Must Know to Trade Index Options

A tutorial on trading index options like the S&P 500 (CBOE: SPX), CBOE Volatility Index (CBOE: VIX), Russell 2000 (.RUT), and the Nasdaq-100 Index (.NDX).

What are Options Contracts?

When you purchase options contract, the price quoted will be per share and not per contract. Here's a simple calculation to determine options contract price.

Choosing an Options Broker

Before you open an options trading account here are a few considerations you'll encounter when choosing an options broker. Getting approval for trading options.

Options Trading Strategies

There are many fairly complex options trading strategies. Here's a listing of options trading strategies for novice and seasoned options traders.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Trading Options

In addition to risk, time decay, and overly aggressive positions, there are a few other common mistakes that option traders make. Avoid these Options Mistakes.

Understanding Options Risk

By understanding options risk, you can become a better and more profitable options trader. While big returns are achievable savvy traders understand the risk.

How to Read Options Quotes

How to read options quotes and make sense of open interest, volume and expiration cycles.

How to Price Options

The price of an option is influenced by the stock price, time left until the option expires, and the volatility of the stock. Learn how to price options.