Options On Futures
Educational materials provided to assist intermediate traders improve their commodities trading
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Buying Options on Futures Contracts
"Buying Options on Futures Contracts" is a 27-page futures trading report put out by the National Futures Association as a guide to the uses and risks of options trading as it is used in commodities trading.
Futures options are a relatively recent choice as an investment opportunity, after their success in a pilot program in 1982 they have grown to widespread use on agricultural and financial futures trading. Options on futures options allow for a wide range of investment opportunities, but are still a speculative investment and thus investors should be aware of the risk of loss involved.
Some of the most common contracts investors trade options on are listed below, though this list is by no means complete.
- - Mini S&P 500, S&P 500, Mini Dow Jones, Mini Nasdaq future options
- - U.S. 30 year bonds future options
- - Options on currency futures contracts: euro currency, Japanese yen
- - Options on metal futures contracts: gold future options, silver future options
- - Options on other commodities contracts: soybeans, wheat, corn, cocoa, sugar, and coffee futures options
- - Energies contracts: crude oil, natural gas and unleaded gasoline futures options
This futures options trading booklet produced by the NFA does a good job of introducing futures traders to options trading, starting off with the vocabulary of the market and the special meaning it may have when used in the context of options trading. In Part two it then introduces the arithmetic of options premiums, describing the factors that affect price movements as well as the relationship between options prices and futures prices. The third section then goes over the mechanics of buying and writing options, describing the basic steps and risks involved. Finally, the final section includes additional factors to take into consideration before getting involved in trading options on futures.
The table of contents is reproduced below in order to give you an idea of what the future options report contains:
- Introduction
- Part One: The Vocabulary of Options Trading
- Part Two: The arithmetic of Options Premiums
- Intrinsic Value
- Time Value
- Part Three: The Mechanics of Buying and Writing Options
- Commission Charges
- Leverage
- The First Step: Calculate the Break-Even Price
- Factors Affecting the Choice of an Option
- After You Buy and Option: What Then?
- Who Writes Options and Why
- Risk Caution
- Part Four: A Pre-Investment Checklist
- NFA Information and Resources
This link will open the futures options report as a PDF: National Futures Association: Buying Options on Futures Contracts
Trading commodity futures and options involves substantial risk of loss. The recommendations contained are of opinion only and do not guarantee any profits. These are risky markets and only risk capital should be used. Past performances are not necessarily indicative of future results. This is not a solicitation of any order to buy or sell, but a current futures market view. Any statement of facts herein contained are derived from sources believed to be reliable, but are not guaranteed as to accuracy, nor they purport to be complete. No responsibility is assumed with respect to any such statement or with respect to any expression of opinion herein contained. Readers are urged to exercise their own judgment in trading!
