Learn the basics of options trading—what calls and puts are, how options work, and strategies to hedge or speculate—with practical examples for beginners.

Options trading can generate big profits, or big losses, through financial leverage. The leverage allows investors to protect their portfolio while giving speculators an opportunity to amplify profits ...

The U.S. market for exchange-listed equity option contracts was headed for another year of record-breaking trading volume in 2024 — its fifth in a row, according to data from the Options Clearing ...

Options trading volumes are booming again in 2025, as the industry heads toward what would be a sixth straight year of record activity. One subset of the market has been particularly active of late: ...

An option is a financial instrument whose value is tied to an underlying asset; this is known as a derivative. Instead of buying an asset, such as company stock, outright, an options contract allows ...