Thursday, November 12, 2009

Currency Options Trading To Make It Big!

By Nigel Limpini

The huge trading volume on the FOREX has increased the interest in the currency options trading market. Like equity options if a trader believes that the price of the currency is moving higher they will buy calls on the currency. This gives them the option to buy the currency at a set price with a specified time period. If currency prices look like they will decline the trader will purchase puts, giving him/her the option to sell the currency at a specific price for a certain period of time.

Trading currency options is a little bit more complex than trading equity options. Currencies trade in pairs so currency options do too. One type of contract is the traditional option contract. In the scenario the trader selects the strike(exercise) price. They also select the date of expiration. The broker uses these two factors to determine the option premium. If it is acceptible to the trader the contract/contracts are purchased. If it appears that the Japanese yen will rise against the dollar soon, the trader would purchase puts on the USD/JPY. If the trade works, the trader will buy the dollar in the market and sell(put) it at the strike price realizing a profit. If the yen does not rise against the dollar, the option will expire. The trader will realize a loss of the premium paid.

The SPOT contract is a bit different from the traditional option. It does not have to be exercised in order to realize the profit that has been generated. Just like the traditional contract the trader is the one who selects the strike price and the expiration date. The broker sets the premium based on these two factors. Premiums for SPOT contracts are higher than for traditional options. If you think a currency base price will move down you would purchase puts. If you are correct, the profit will automatically be credited to your account with the broker. If you are wrong, you will lose the premium at expiration.

There are several factors that will affect the premium level on an option contract. Obviously, the more time there is until expiration the higher the premium will be. The closer the strike price is to the market price the higher the premium will be. Volatility of the underlying currency price will also increase the premium.

There are a number of reasons people get involved in the currency options trading market. Speculation is the top reason. Pure profit is the motivation. In this high volume market, with it's limitation of risk exposure traders find it easier to take advantage of price changes in the currency market.

Many people use currency options trading as a tool to hedge themselves from wide price swings when they own actual currencies. They may be in a business that hires foreign workers, or purchases raw materials from other countries. Hedging is used not to make money but to protect them from losing money on business transactions.

Traders can sell options as well. They receive the premium. If the option expires rather than being exercised the person makes a small amount of money. Due to the higher risk exposure, the broke will require a much higher capital deposit on these types pf transactions.

Currency options trading is an exciting field of endeavor. You can participate in the highly popular FOREX market while limiting your risk to losses. If you trade correctly your profits will be multiplied. - 22871

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