The Four Biggest Mistakes in Option Trading


Book Description

With over 50,000 copies in print for the first edition, Kaeppel's insight has undoubtedly made its mark in the options world. Now, he strikes again with an updated and more comprehensive look at those pesky mistakes that traders continue to make in trading options. In easy-to-understand terms, he systematically breaks down each problem and offers concrete and practical solutions to overcome it in the future. There are big profits to be made in options trading. By avoiding the four most common and most costly mistakes the majority of traders make, you'll be set to win big. System and software developer Jay Kaeppel helps you thoroughly understand each mistake before showing you how to avoid them in future trades. In this new, color edition, you'll find: More in-depth analysis of the four biggest mistakes including volatility calculations, risk/reward relationships, calendar spreads, etc. More real world examples with varying scenarios updated to reflect today's market More graphs and tables to better illustrate Kaeppel's concepts More detailed discussion on the nature of options trading and how to create a consistently winning strategy Concise and to-the-point, here's an action plan you can read and put into place immediately to become a more profitable trader.




20 Most Common Trading Mistakes


Book Description

You're a trader. You live a life of glamour, fast cars, leisure and luxury -- everything you've ever dreamed of ... Of course, that's until you discover that trading can be brutally difficult. If you play the trading game, you are going to make mistakes -- maybe even some like these: agonising endlessly over when to enter or exit a trade trading like a maverick, risking too much of your capital beating yourself up when a trade goes against you losing $1 million in a single trade clicking 'buy' instead of 'sell' buying 10 000 units when you only meant to purchase 1000. 20 Most Common Trading Mistakes reveals market mishaps from some of the biggest names in trading. Everyone - from stellar traders to complete novices -- can use help learning how to trade in the black. Why not learn from the masters how to turn blunders into profit?




Option Volatility Trading Strategies


Book Description

Sheldon Natenberg is one of the most sought after speakers on the topic of option trading and volatility strategies. This book takes Sheldon’s non-technical, carefully crafted presentation style and applies it to a book—one that you’ll study and carry around for years as your personal consultant. Learn about the most vital concepts that define options trading, concepts you’ll need to analyze and trade with confidence. In this volume, Sheldon explains the difference between historical volatility, future volatility, and implied volatility. He provides real inspiration and wisdom gleaned from years of trading experience. Th is book captures the energy of the spoken message direct from the source. Learn about implied volatility and how it is calculated Gain insight into the assumptions driving an options pricing model Master the techniques of comparing price to value Realize the important part that probability plays in estimating option prices




The Options Trading Body of Knowledge


Book Description

“The author has written a truly complete reference book on options trading, from basics to strategies to taxes and theory. Newcomers to options can quickly find a clear explanation of terms or strategies they aren’t familiar with, and experienced traders can expand their understanding of how complex strategies are created.” --Jim Bittman, author, Trade Options Like a Professional “For a new perspective about options, I recommend Michael Thomsett’s comprehensive The Options Trading Body of Knowledge. Traders at all levels will enjoy his easy-to-read style as he explains options from A to Z. The options industry has needed a reference like this for a long time.” --Marty Kearney, Senior Staff Instructor, The Options Institute The Comprehensive, Up-to-Date Reference for Every Options Trader By Michael C. Thomsett, author of the global best-seller Getting Started in Options Illuminates virtually every technique and form of options trading--including options on futures and ETFs Helps you consistently choose the right options strategies and understand your true risks Options offer investors multiple opportunities to enhance their profits. However, options trading is complex, and the sheer scope of available strategies can overwhelm traders. Today, options can support a wide range of strategies, from high risk to conservative. Moreover, options are available not only for stock equities but also for futures, indices, and mutual funds. To trade successfully, traders need an authoritative, up-to-date guide to all the strategies available to them. Now, renowned options expert and best-selling author Michael C. Thomsett has created the definitive reference for options traders at all levels of experience. Thomsett systematically illuminates each key technique and strategy: how trades are structured, how to assess risk, and when each strategy is most applicable. For most strategies, Thomsett presents detailed tables and illustrations identifying profit zones, loss zones, and breakeven points. This book thoroughly explains how option premium develops based on various elements of value, walks through the calculation of returns on options trading, discusses how federal taxation works in the options market, shows how stocks are picked for options trading, and provides a complete glossary and additional resources for traders. Thoroughly Comprehend Options Trading Risks Systematically evaluate risks associated with markets, volatility, inflation, taxation, portfolios, and knowledge Understand All the Elements of Value in an Options Trade Master concepts ranging from time-to-expiration to implied volatility Use the Right Strategies at the Right Time Know when to use covered calls, spreads, straddles, combinations, and synthetic positions The Options Marketplace: History, Evolution, and Trends Understand both the “forest” and the “trees”




The Investor's Toolbox


Book Description

This book is a simple, practical guide to how you can use some of the newer investment products like spread betting, binary betting, contracts for difference, covered warrants and exchange-traded funds, as well as older ones like futures and options, to help your investing. In different ways, each of these products allows you either to: - boost the returns you get in exchange for taking on greater risk; - hedge your bets in exchange for slightly lower returns; - use much less capital to achieve the same market exposure; or - move money into and out of a range of markets and sectors efficiently. The author believes they are tools that all investors need to know about and be able to use when the occasion demands it. They should help you successfully confront any lengthy period of trendless or volatile markets. While the past three years has seen a generally strong upward trend in stock markets, this is not bound to continue. Periodic volatility is the natural order of things. Interestingly enough - despite what appears to have been a bull market - recent years have also seen increased use by private investors of many of the tools described in this book. Proof, if needed, that they work, and can be applied, in all market conditions.




Volatility Trading, + website


Book Description

In Volatility Trading, Sinclair offers you a quantitative model for measuring volatility in order to gain an edge in your everyday option trading endeavors. With an accessible, straightforward approach. He guides traders through the basics of option pricing, volatility measurement, hedging, money management, and trade evaluation. In addition, Sinclair explains the often-overlooked psychological aspects of trading, revealing both how behavioral psychology can create market conditions traders can take advantage of-and how it can lead them astray. Psychological biases, he asserts, are probably the drivers behind most sources of edge available to a volatility trader. Your goal, Sinclair explains, must be clearly defined and easily expressed-if you cannot explain it in one sentence, you probably aren't completely clear about what it is. The same applies to your statistical edge. If you do not know exactly what your edge is, you shouldn't trade. He shows how, in addition to the numerical evaluation of a potential trade, you should be able to identify and evaluate the reason why implied volatility is priced where it is, that is, why an edge exists. This means it is also necessary to be on top of recent news stories, sector trends, and behavioral psychology. Finally, Sinclair underscores why trades need to be sized correctly, which means that each trade is evaluated according to its projected return and risk in the overall context of your goals. As the author concludes, while we also need to pay attention to seemingly mundane things like having good execution software, a comfortable office, and getting enough sleep, it is knowledge that is the ultimate source of edge. So, all else being equal, the trader with the greater knowledge will be the more successful. This book, and its companion CD-ROM, will provide that knowledge. The CD-ROM includes spreadsheets designed to help you forecast volatility and evaluate trades together with simulation engines.




Positional Option Trading


Book Description

A detailed, one-stop guide for experienced options traders Positional Option Trading: An Advanced Guide is a rigorous, professional-level guide on sophisticated techniques from professional trader and quantitative analyst Euan Sinclair. The author has over two decades of high-level option trading experience. He has written this book specifically for professional options traders who have outgrown more basic trading techniques and are searching for in-depth information suitable for advanced trading. Custom-tailored to respond to the volatile option trading environment, this expert guide stresses the importance of finding a valid edge in situations where risk is usually overwhelmed by uncertainty and unknowability. Using examples of edges such as the volatility premium, term-structure premia and earnings effects, the author shows how to find valid trading ideas and details the decision process for choosing an option structure that best exploits the advantage. Advanced topics include a quantitative approach for directionally trading options, the robustness of the Black Scholes Merton model, trade sizing for option portfolios, robust risk management and more. This book: Provides advanced trading techniques for experienced professional traders Addresses the need for in-depth, quantitative information that more general, intro-level options trading books do not provide Helps readers to master their craft and improve their performance Includes advanced risk management methods in option trading No matter the market conditions, Positional Option Trading: An Advanced Guide is an important resource for any professional or advanced options trader.




Trading Options For Dummies®


Book Description

Thinking of trading options, but not sure where to start? Trading Options For Dummies starts you from the beginning with clear, step-by-step advice on how to use top option strategies to reduce your risk while boosting your income and enlarging your retirement portfolio with index, equity, and ETF options. This plain-English guide explains the common types of options and helps you choose the right ones for your investing needs. You find out how to weigh option costs and benefits, combine options to reduce risk, and build a strategy that allows you to gain no matter what the market may bring. You’ll learn the basics of market and sector analysis and what to look for when trying out a new option strategy. You’ll also find what you need to know about options contract specifications and mechanics. Discover how to: Understand option contracts and orders Determine and manage your risk Guard your assets using options Trade options on securities exchanges Protect your rights and satisfy your contract obligations Target sectors using technical analysis Minimize potential losses and optimize rewards Map out your plan of attack Limit your downside when trading the trend Combine options to limit your position risk Benefit from exchange traded funds Key in on volatility for trading opportunities Capitalize on sideways movements Trading options is serious business. Trading Options For Dummies gives you the expert help you need to succeed.




Key Concepts in Accounting and Finance


Book Description

Key Concepts in Accounting and Finance is one of a range of comprehensive glossaries with entries arranged alphabetically for easy reference. All major concepts, terms, theories and theorists are incorporated and cross-referenced. Additional reading and Internet research opportunities are identified. More complex terminology is made clearer with numerous diagrams and illustrations. With almost 600 key terms defined, the book represents a comprehensive must-have reference for anyone studying a business-related course or those simply wishing to understand what accounting and finance is all about. It will be especially useful as a revision aid.




Get Rich With Options


Book Description

In order to survive and thrive in today's financial markets, you must seriously consider the use of options in your investment endeavors. Options allow you to reap the same benefits as an outright stock or commodity trade, but with less risk and less money on the line. The truth is, you can achieve everything with options that you would with stocks or commodities?at less cost?while gaining a much higher percentage return on your invested dollars. After numerous years as a market maker in the trenches of the New York Mercantile Exchange, few analysts know how to make money trading options like author Lee Lowell. In this well-rounded resource, Lowell shows both stock and commodity option traders exactly what works and what doesn't. Filled with in-depth insight and expert advice, Get Rich with Options provides you with the knowledge and strategies needed to achieve optimal results within the options market. The book quickly covers the basics?how options are priced, strike price selection, the use of Delta, and using volatility to one's advantage?before moving on to the four options trading strategies that have helped Lowell profit in this arena time and again: buying deep-in-the-money call options, selling naked puts, selling option credit spreads, and selling covered calls. Using these strategoes decisively, he says, is the fastest route to riches in the options trading game. Get Rich with Options is packed with real-life examples of actual trades and detailed discussions of how options can be used as a hedging, speculating, or income-producing tool. You'll learn how to set up a home business with the best options trading software, tools, and Web sites. And you'll begin to see options in a whole new light and discover how to become part of a small group of investors who consistently win.