Options are short-term securities. The expiration date for most options can range from a few days to a few months. So, investors must make a decision towards the end of the options contract. If you ...

Stock options are contracts that give the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell a specific number of shares of a company's stock at a predetermined price within a set time period.

Elvis Picardo is a regular contributor to Investopedia and has 25+ years of experience as a portfolio manager with diverse capital markets experience. Thomas J. Brock is a CFA and CPA with more than ...

When you purchase an options contract, you're purchasing the right to buy or sell a stock (or other security) at a set price. Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our ...

Options can be used to implement a wide array of trading strategies, ranging from a simple buy and sell to complex spreads with names like butterflies and condors. In addition, options are available ...