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Trading Options on Currency
Trading options on currency is a common means of hedging risk in international business transactions. Trading options on currency works the same as stock options trading and trading options on commodities. A trader buys calls or puts on one currency with another. But, in the case of trading options on currency, both sides of the trade are currencies. If you buy a call on US dollars with Euros it works out the same as buying puts on Euros with US dollars. As with all options trading buying a call contract gives the buyer the right to purchase at the strike price throughout the duration of the options contract. The buyer pays a premium for this right and is under no obligation to execute the contract. Likewise with a put contract the buyer can sell at the strike price throughout the duration of the contract but is under no obligation to do so. Trading options on currency helps traders hedge currency risk and allows them to leverage their trading capital.
Selling Currency Options Entails Risk
Buyers of calls or puts on Forex contracts pay a premium which is the limit of their risk. Sellers gain a premium but accept virtually unlimited risk. Over time sellers tend to make more money than buyers. However, the possibility of huge losses typically limits selling currency options to large investment banks and traders with substantial capital reserves.
Volume, Volatility and Profits
Major Forex currencies trade in high volume and occasionally with a great deal of volatility. High options trading volume makes technical analysis of trades more accurate and potentially more profitable. High options volatility can lead to more risk for sellers but also higher profits for buyers. The point of buying options in a volatile market is that buyers have limited risk and can take advantage of big swings in the market. Sellers hope for tranquil markets and routine profits.
Profit from the Value of the Options Contract
Most traders do not wait for their options contracts to expire. Rather they enter into a contract in search of short term profits. They do so by both fundamental and technical analysis of the currencies which underlie the trade. When currency prices move as anticipated the value of their options contract goes up and they can sell the call or put contract and pocket the profits. An options buyer does not need to invest any more money in this transaction than the premium. Thus a trader can gain a multiple of what he invests in a trade and then move on to the next.
2. Trading options on currency is a common
means of hedging risk in international
business transactions.
3. Trading options on currency works the same
as stock options trading and trading options
on commodities.
4. A trader buys calls or puts on one currency
with another.
5. But, in the case of trading options on
currency, both sides of the trade are
currencies.
6. If you buy a call on US dollars with Euros it
works out the same as buying puts on Euros
with US dollars.
7. As with all options trading buying a call
contract gives the buyer the right to
purchase at the strike price throughout the
duration of the options contract.
8. The buyer pays a premium for this
right and is under no obligation to
execute the contract.
9. Likewise with a put contract the buyer can
sell at the strike price throughout the
duration of the contract but is under no
obligation to do so.
10. Trading options on currency helps traders
hedge currency risk and allows them to
leverage their trading capital.
12. Buyers of calls or puts on Forex contracts
pay a premium which is the limit of their risk.
13. Sellers gain a premium but accept virtually
unlimited risk. Over time sellers tend to
make more money than buyers.
14. However, the possibility of huge losses
typically limits selling currency options to
large investment banks and traders with
substantial capital reserves.
24. They do so by both fundamental and
technical analysis of the currencies which
underlie the trade.
25. When currency prices move as anticipated
the value of their options contract goes up
and they can sell the call or put contract and
pocket the profits.
26. An options buyer does not need to invest
any more money in this transaction than the
premium.
27. Thus a trader can gain a multiple of what he
invests in a trade and then move on to the
next.
30. When someone buys a product from another
country he typically needs to pay in the
currency of that nation.
31. As an example XYZ Corp. in Japan buys
products from ABC Industries of Great
Britain.
32. They sign a contract and wait for the
products to arrive.
33. When they receive shipment they must
convert Yen to Pounds and pay the bill.
34. But what happens if the value of the Pound
goes up versus the Yen between the time
that the contract is signed and when
payment is due.
35. By trading options on currency the Japanese
company can lock in the price that they will
pay for Pounds in the case that the Pound
goes up in value.
