Option Trading Tutorial Part 2: Introducing Payoff Functions: Options, Futures, Derivatives & Commodity Trading

Option Trading Tutorial Part 2: Introducing Payoff Functions


In the first part of the derivatives and options trading tutorial, we had seen that RISK of any project or investment is always the most intimidating aspect.

But how do we quantify risk?


For the moment, let’s only confine our discussion to stocks and investments, as this article is a tutorial about financial investment and trading activities.

In a simplest way, let’s assume that there is a stock that is available for free – means, the price of that stock is zero. Also assume that there are no brokers involved in the transaction and we don’t have to pay any security transaction taxes. To make the discussion easy, let’s name the stock – let’s call it GOOGOL.

So, you buy this googol stock for zero dollars today (date 7th September). Hence, you will have this position:

Buy Price

0

Date

Stock Price

Profit/Loss

(Stock price- Buy Price)

07-Sep-07

0

0

Since you bought this stock for zero on 7th September, and the price stayed at zero for the whole day, your profit/loss will be zero.

Suppose, tomorrow on 8th September, the price rises to 1 dollar. So we will have the following situation:

Buy Price

0

Date

Stock Price

Profit/Loss

(Stock price- Buy Price)

07-Sep-07

0

0

08-Sep-07

1

1

With respect to the buying price of zero, your profit/loss on 8th September will be 1, because the stock price has gone upto 1.

Suppose, the next day on 9th September, the price rises to 2 dollars. Then we will have the following situation.

Buy Price

0

Date

Stock Price

Profit/Loss

07-Sep-07

0

0

08-Sep-07

1

1

09-Sep-07

2

2

Suppose, even negative prices are possible. So, if the next day, on 10th September, the price falls from 2 dollars to -1 dollars, then we will have:

Buy Price

0

Date

Stock Price

Profit/Loss

07-Sep-07

0

0

08-Sep-07

1

1

09-Sep-07

2

2

10-Sep-07

-1

-1

Therefore, our profit and loss will move as per our Stock price movement, as listed in the above table.

Now, let’s draw a graph for the Stock Price and Profit/Loss. We will have the following:



As you can observe, that we have plotted the Stock price values on the horizontal axis (x-axis), and the profit/loss values on the vertical axis (y-axis) – and we arrive at the above graph. The negative values on vertical axis indicate loss, while positive values indicate profits.

Let's head over to the next part Options Payoff Functions Continued

Have Comments or Questions? Post them using the "Post Your Comments" link below. Your queries will be responded for free in 24 hrs!

0 Comments: Post your Comments

Wish you all profitable derivatives trading and investing activities with safety! = = Post a Comment

Copyright Information:
© FuturesOptionsETC.com
Please see Our Copy Right Policy. All the articles, posts and other materials on this website/blog are copyrighted to the authors & publishers of this site. The content should NOT to be reproduced on any other website or through other medium, without the author's permission. Contact: contactus(AT)futuresoptionsetc.com

DISCLAIMER: Before using this site, you agree to the Disclaimer. For Any questions or comments, please mail contactus(AT)futuresoptionsetc.com.

About Us Advertise With Us Copyright Policy & Fair Use Guide Privacy Policy Disclaimer