Forex Options Market Overview

The forex options market started as an over-the-counter (OTC) financial vehicle for large banks, financial institutions and large international corporations to hedge against foreign currency exposure. Like the forex spot market, the forex options market is considered an "interbank" market. However, with the plethora of real-time financial data and forex option trading software available to most investors through the internet, today's forex option market now includes an increasingly large number of individuals and corporations who are speculating and/or hedging foreign currency exposure via telephone or online forex trading platforms.

Forex option trading has emerged as an alternative investment vehicle for many traders and investors. As an investment tool, forex option trading provides both large and small investors with greater flexibility when determining the appropriate forex trading and hedging strategies to implement.

Most forex options trading is conducted via telephone as there are only a few forex brokers offering online forex option trading platforms.

Forex Option Defined - A forex option is a financial currency contract giving the forex option buyer the right, but not the obligation, to purchase or sell a specific forex spot contract (the underlying) at a specific price (the strike price) on or before a specific date (the expiration date). The amount the forex option buyer pays to the forex option seller for the forex option contract rights is called the forex option "premium."

The Forex Option Buyer - The buyer, or holder, of a foreign currency option has the choice to either sell the foreign currency option contract prior to expiration, or he or she can choose to hold the foreign currency options contract until expiration and exercise his or her right to take a position in the underlying spot foreign currency. The act of exercising the foreign currency option and taking the subsequent underlying position in the foreign currency spot market is known as "assignment" or being "assigned" a spot position.

The only initial financial obligation of the foreign currency option buyer is to pay the premium to the seller up front when the foreign currency option is initially purchased. Once the premium is paid, the foreign currency option holder has no other financial obligation (no margin is required) until the foreign currency option is either offset or expires.

On the expiration date, the call buyer can exercise his or her right to buy the underlying foreign currency spot position at the foreign currency option's strike price, and a put holder can exercise his or her right to sell the underlying foreign currency spot position at the foreign currency option's strike price. Most foreign currency options are not exercised by the buyer, but instead are offset in the market before expiration.

Foreign currency options expires worthless if, at the time the foreign currency option expires, the strike price is "out-of-the-money." In simplest terms, a foreign currency option is "out-of-the-money" if the underlying foreign currency spot price is lower than a foreign currency call option's strike price, or the underlying foreign currency spot price is higher than a put option's strike price. Once a foreign currency option has expired worthless, the foreign currency option contract itself expires and neither the buyer nor the seller have any further obligation to the other party.

The Forex Option Seller - The foreign currency option seller may also be called the "writer" or "grantor" of a foreign currency option contract. The seller of a foreign currency option is contractually obligated to take the opposite underlying foreign currency spot position if the buyer exercises his right. In return for the premium paid by the buyer, the seller assumes the risk of taking a possible adverse position at a later point in time in the foreign currency spot market.

Initially, the foreign currency option seller collects the premium paid by the foreign currency option buyer (the buyer's funds will immediately be transferred into the seller's foreign currency trading account). The foreign currency option seller must have the funds in his or her account to cover the initial margin requirement. If the markets move in a favorable direction for the seller, the seller will not have to post any more funds for his foreign currency options other than the initial margin requirement. However, if the markets move in an unfavorable direction for the foreign currency options seller, the seller may have to post additional funds to his or her foreign currency trading account to keep the balance in the foreign currency trading account above the maintenance margin requirement.

Just like the buyer, the foreign currency option seller has the choice to either offset (buy back) the foreign currency option contract in the options market prior to expiration, or the seller can choose to hold the foreign currency option contract until expiration. If the foreign currency options seller holds the contract until expiration, one of two scenarios will occur: (1) the seller will take the opposite underlying foreign currency spot position if the buyer exercises the option or (2) the seller will simply let the foreign currency option expire worthless (keeping the entire premium) if the strike price is out-of-the-money.

Please note that "puts" and "calls" are separate foreign currency options contracts and are NOT the opposite side of the same transaction. For every put buyer there is a put seller, and for every call buyer there is a call seller. The foreign currency options buyer pays a premium to the foreign currency options seller in every option transaction.

Forex Call Option - A foreign exchange call option gives the foreign exchange options buyer the right, but not the obligation, to purchase a specific foreign exchange spot contract (the underlying) at a specific price (the strike price) on or before a specific date (the expiration date). The amount the foreign exchange option buyer pays to the foreign exchange option seller for the foreign exchange option contract rights is called the option "premium."

Please note that "puts" and "calls" are separate foreign exchange options contracts and are NOT the opposite side of the same transaction. For every foreign exchange put buyer there is a foreign exchange put seller, and for every foreign exchange call buyer there is a foreign exchange call seller. The foreign exchange options buyer pays a premium to the foreign exchange options seller in every option transaction.

The Forex Put Option - A foreign exchange put option gives the foreign exchange options buyer the right, but not the obligation, to sell a specific foreign exchange spot contract (the underlying) at a specific price (the strike price) on or before a specific date (the expiration date). The amount the foreign exchange option buyer pays to the foreign exchange option seller for the foreign exchange option contract rights is called the option "premium."

Please note that "puts" and "calls" are separate foreign exchange options contracts and are NOT the opposite side of the same transaction. For every foreign exchange put buyer there is a foreign exchange put seller, and for every foreign exchange call buyer there is a foreign exchange call seller. The foreign exchange options buyer pays a premium to the foreign exchange options seller in every option transaction.

Plain Vanilla Forex Options - Plain vanilla options generally refer to standard put and call option contracts traded through an exchange (however, in the case of forex option trading, plain vanilla options would refer to the standard, generic forex option contracts that are traded through an over-the-counter (OTC) forex options dealer or clearinghouse). In simplest terms, vanilla forex options would be defined as the buying or selling of a standard forex call option contract or a forex put option contract.

Exotic Forex Options - To understand what makes an exotic forex option "exotic," you must first understand what makes a forex option "non-vanilla." Plain vanilla forex options have a definitive expiration structure, payout structure and payout amount. Exotic forex option contracts may have a change in one or all of the above features of a vanilla forex option. It is important to note that exotic options, since they are often tailored to a specific's investor's needs by an exotic forex options broker, are generally not very liquid, if at all.

Intrinsic & Extrinsic Value - The price of an FX option is calculated into two separate parts, the intrinsic value and the extrinsic (time) value.

The intrinsic value of an FX option is defined as the difference between the strike price and the underlying FX spot contract rate (American Style Options) or the FX forward rate (European Style Options). The intrinsic value represents the actual value of the FX option if exercised. Please note that the intrinsic value must be zero (0) or above - if an FX option has no intrinsic value, then the FX option is simply referred to as having no (or zero) intrinsic value (the intrinsic value is never represented as a negative number). An FX option with no intrinsic value is considered "out-of-the-money," an FX option having intrinsic value is considered "in-the-money," and an FX option with a strike price at, or very close to, the underlying FX spot rate is considered "at-the-money."

The extrinsic value of an FX option is commonly referred to as the "time" value and is defined as the value of an FX option beyond the intrinsic value. A number of factors contribute to the calculation of the extrinsic value including, but not limited to, the volatility of the two spot currencies involved, the time left until expiration, the riskless interest rate of both currencies, the spot price of both currencies and the strike price of the FX option. It is important to note that the extrinsic value of FX options erodes as its expiration nears. An FX option with 60 days left to expiration will be worth more than the same FX option that has only 30 days left to expiration. Because there is more time for the underlying FX spot price to possibly move in a favorable direction, FX options sellers demand (and FX options buyers are willing to pay) a larger premium for the extra amount of time.

Volatility - Volatility is considered the most important factor when pricing forex options and it measures movements in the price of the underlying. High volatility increases the probability that the forex option could expire in-the-money and increases the risk to the forex option seller who, in turn, can demand a larger premium. An increase in volatility causes an increase in the price of both call and put options.

Delta - The delta of a forex option is defined as the change in price of a forex option relative to a change in the underlying forex spot rate. A change in a forex option's delta can be influenced by a change in the underlying forex spot rate, a change in volatility, a change in the riskless interest rate of the underlying spot currencies or simply by the passage of time (nearing of the expiration date).

The delta must always be calculated in a range of zero to one (0-1.0). Generally, the delta of a deep out-of-the-money forex option will be closer to zero, the delta of an at-the-money forex option will be near .5 (the probability of exercise is near 50%) and the delta of deep in-the-money forex options will be closer to 1.0. In simplest terms, the closer a forex option's strike price is relative to the underlying spot forex rate, the higher the delta because it is more sensitive to a change in the underlying rate

Online Currency Trading - Risky Business

You can see the claims on some FOREX web sites, implying that FOREX is a risk-free pastime. No investment is risk-free.

In FOREX you are trading substantial sums of money, and there is always a possibility that a trade will go against you. There are several trading tools that can minimize your risk, yes, but eliminate it, no. With caution, and above all education, the FOREX trader can learn how to trade profitably and minimize loss.

The Scams

FOREX scams were fairly common a few years ago. The industry has cleaned up considerably since then. Still, you should exercise caution before signing up with a FOREX broker by checking their background.

Reputable FOREX brokers will be associated with large financial institutions like banks or insurance companies, and they will be registered with the proper government agencies. In the United States, brokers should be registered with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission or a member of the National Futures Association. You can also check with your local Consumer Protection Bureau and the Better Business Bureau.

The Risks

Assuming you are dealing with a reputable broker, there are still risks to FOREX trading. Transactions are subject to unexpected rate changes, volatile markets and political events.

Exchange Rate Risk: refers to the fluctuations in currency prices over a trading period. Prices can fall rapidly, resulting in substantial losses unless stop loss orders are used (see below).

Interest Rate Risk: can result from discrepancies between the interest rates in the 2 countries represented by the currency pair in a FOREX quote. This discrepancy can result in variations from the expected profit or loss of a particular FOREX transaction.

Credit Risk: is the possibility that 1 party in a FOREX transaction may not honor their debt when the deal is closed. This may happen when a bank or financial institution declares insolvency. Credit risk can be minimized by dealing on regulated exchanges, which require members to be monitored for credit worthiness.

Country Risk: is associated with governments that may become involved in foreign exchange markets by limiting the flow of currency. There is more country risk associated with "exotic" currencies than with major countries that allow the free trading of their currency.

Limiting Your Risk

FOREX trading can be risky, but there are ways to limit risk and financial exposure. Every trader should have a trading strategy; i.e., knowing when to enter and exit the market, and what kind of movements to expect. Developing strategies requires education, which is the key to limiting risk. At all times follow the basic rule: Never use money that you cannot afford to lose.

Every FOREX trader needs to know at least the basics about technical analysis and how to read financial charts. He should study chart movements and indicators and understand how charts are interpreted. There is a vast amount of information on FOREX trading available both on the Internet and in print. If you want to be successful at FOREX, then educate yourself.

Stop-Loss Orders

Even the most knowledgeable traders, however, can't predict with absolute certainty how the market will behave. For this reason, every FOREX transaction should take advantage of available tools designed to minimize loss.

Stop-loss orders are the most common way to minimizing risk. A stop-loss order contains instructions to exit your position if the price reaches a certain point. If you take a long position (expecting the price to rise) you would place a stop loss order below the current market price. If you take a short position (expecting the price to fall) you would place a stop loss order above the current market price.

Stop loss orders can be used in conjunction with limit orders to automate FOREX trading. Limit orders specify that an open position should be closed at a specified profit target.

Online Currency Trading - Three Money Making Tips

Currency trading is a great way to make money fast and here we are going to give you 3 tips (that go against a lot of common currency advice) but don’t let that put you off 95% of currency traders lose and don’t make money fast.

Here are your 3 tips for making money fast in currency trading:

1. Don’t Diversify

I read a lot about how diversification spreads your risk and it does, but it also cuts your profit potential.

If you are trading currencies and you are a small trader (under $50,000) diversification will simply ensure that you dilute your profit potentia,or worse help you lose.

When you see a trade that looks good (in line with your trading methodology) hit it hard and risk as much as you can.

You will hear a lot of advice saying you should risk 2 – 5% well you won’t make money that way! risking 5% on a $10,000 account is $500.00 and that wont get you much in the way of open positions.

Risk up to 10% and have the courage of your conviction.

Many currency traders try so hard to restrict risk, they never make any decent profits, as they place their stops to close.

This means they are bumped out of good trends even though they have the direction right, by normal volatility.

This is an error most novice traders make - they need to study standard deviation, but most don't even know what it means and they should - look it up and understand it fully if you want to trade successfully.

Don’t make this mistake.

If you think the above sounds risky it is – but currency trading involves taking calculated risks.

If you don’t like risk then don’t trade currencies.

2. Be Patient

If you are risking more per trade and not diversifying, then you need to be very selective in the trades you take.

Patience is the key.

Many FOREX traders think the more they trade the greater their chances of success, but the opposite is true.

You don’t get rewarded for how often you trade - you get rewarded for getting your trades right.

3. Trade In Relation To What’s In The Bank

Judge progress by what’s in the bank.

If you have had a good run you can afford to be a bit more aggressive (if conditions are right) and risk a bit more.

Generally, try not to have too many open positions, once you hit target bank and move on, this keeps you focused and is good for confidence.

Personally, I like to have only one or two trades open at any time

I will then shift position size and risk depending on how well I am doing.

It’s always easier to risk profits you have made than your own cash.

So there you have 3 tips to make money fast in currency trading.

Many currency traders will see the above is risky, but that’s the nature of currency trading:

Taking calculated risks when the conditions are right and waiting patiently for them.

Its logical and can and does make money fast.

How to Create Fantastic Wealth Through Online Currency Trading

If you search on the internet you’ll find millions of investment programs such as real estate, stock trading, bond trading, mutual funds, CDs, auction programs and various internet programs.

I have not done many internet income opportunities or programs or affiliate programs because I had been lucky to discover a very easy way to make money through forex trading, (Foreign currency trading) safely on the internet.

Perhaps you know about only stock trading or bond trading which are common, but not forex trading.

Forex trading is the most profitable and attractive internet income opportunity because you can do it from home or office and from any country in the world.

In forex trading, you don’t need to do any marketing or selling or internet promotion to succeed.

In forex trading, you don’t need to spend thousands of dollars to do any internet promotion.

In forex trading, you don’t need any stocks or warehousing.

In forex trading , all that you’ve to do is open an account with one of the brokers with as little as $300 or $2000.

Then follow simple instructions to buy and sell the currencies.

When the price of the currency is low, you buy.

In a few seconds or minutes, the price will go up, and you sell it and make a profit.

By so doing , in a day, you can easily make $500-$1000 by just buying, selling and trading these foreign currencies for about 3 or 4 hrs!

And get this:

You don’t even have to be stuck sitting behind your computer buying and selling these foreign currencies.

You can enter all your buy trades and specify the sell prices you desire and then log off.

Whenever the values of these foreign currencies rise and your selling prices reach, the currencies will be automatically sold for you and you make money!

You can do forex trading and at the same time keep your day job, because in forex trading, there is no work to do.

In the future when you have made hundreds of thousands of dollars, you may then quit your job and just keep doing currency forex trading forever and go on permanent vacation!

To understand the beauty of forex trading Picture this:

In the morning, you get up from sleep at 6 am.

You go to your bathroom and have your shower.

At 7am, you hurry and eat your breakfast.

At 7.20 am, you login into your forex trading account on the internet and spend 10 minutes to buy about 3 or 4 different currencies, [for example British Pound, Euro, CHF (Swiss Currency) and Yen (Japanese currency).

You can specify the price at which you wish to sell each currency.

Then you can log off.

By 9 am, you’re at work in your office or business place.

You do your job as usual and by 5 pm, you’re finished and heading home.

When you get back home around 6.30 pm, you login into your forex trading account to see how much money you’ve made.

Holy Molly, there in your account it says you have made $750!

“Is this for real?”, you wonder…

Yes, it is. (Your eyes are not deceiving you…)

$750 in a day for just clicking your mouse twice and doing no work?

(Whereas at your job, you work 8 hrs, but make only probably $150..)

This is how easy it is to make money from forex trading.

But before you use real money to open a live forex trading account, you have to open a free trial (demo) forex trading account and practice first, to understand how it works and to acquire the right skills.

This free demo (trial) forex trading account (forex simulation trading) will help you to reduce a lot of risks that can lead to loss.

In forex trading, you can choose how much money to invest, how much money to make and when to make it.

You can make money daily, 365 days all year from forex trading.

Your computer can be transformed into an “ATM” machine that cranks out cash for you daily (without large investment or hassles) from forex trading.

In forex trading, you can choose what type of risk you can manage, when to invest and when not to invest.

In forex trading, you’re the boss. You may do as you please.

When forex trading is compared to other investment programs such as stock trading, bond trading, mutual funds, real estate and regular business, it is evident that forex trading is the fastest and greatest way to make money in the world.

Forex trading is a 2.5 trillion dollars daily business and it is larger than all the stock trading in the world combined.

These are some of the reasons why I believe that forex trading is the fastest and best way to create fantastic wealth.

Perhaps from reading this article you’ll now come to know why forex trading is the secret behind the greatest wealth on earth and why it has been kept hidden from the average people of the world and therefore little known to the masses.

May these forex trading insights open your eyes to the possibility of infinite wealth and success that can be yours from forex trading.

Three Things You Need To Know

Forex currency trading is the perfect investment opportunity for the beginner investor. It’s easy to get involved in, as very few restrictions, and offers a standard and mini version for those that aren’t quite comfortable with putting the $10,000 in account. With the mini $500 is all you need. Oh yes and there are three things you need to know in online currency trading.

1. You will need a dealer

Number one of the three things you need to know in online currency trading if you want to play on the Forex market you will need to find yourself a dealer. It’s really not too difficult to find one on the net by doing a search through Google or one of the search engines. These dealers are your key as they will make possible your entry into the Forex trade market. You want to start trading without a bunch of worries haunting you and the three things you need to know in online currency trading will help.

2. Knowledge About Global Currency Markets

Number two of the three things you need to know in online currency trading is about global currency markets and understanding them. There are all kinds of services on different online Forex sites so find the right site. With the three things you need to know in online currency trading under your belt and your dealer and services lined up with access to global currency markets you’ll be playing the game.

3. Margin Trading

The leverage amount given to the trader to trade in the currency market is called margin trading and it is an important tool in currency trading. In fact the three things you need to know in online currency trading include margin trading. Traders can trade foreign currencies with a very high margin. The stock exchange gives you a 1:1, the equity market gives you 2:1, the futures market gives you 15:1, where as the Forex will give you a whopping 100:1, 150:1, and 200:1. How impressive is that? Now you can control a lot of money with very little cash.

Now that you are aware of the three things you need to know in online currency trading you’re ready to get busy and start to put what you’ve learned to practice.

If there were only there three things you need to know in online currency trading it would be great but it’s only the beginning. A building block to wealth and riches.

Forex Trading Advice

Technological Advances

FOREX has changed dramatically in the last 10 years due to technological advancements. With real-time streaming technology and faster computer systems, almost anything is available at the click of a button. I would like to go over a few of the benefits of online FOREX trading. Consult with your broker to determine if trading online is right for you.

Take a class

If you are new to the world of technology or online FOREX trading, you may want to consider taking an online FOREX trading class. I recommend you get the course by Peter Bain. Click here to learn more. There are a wide variety of options out there if you are looking for a quick easy way to improve your skill set.

Many will include a free trial of their particular software and tips on how to make the most out of your trades. Consult your broker to see if they recommend a particular company or program. Most are free, and you can be well on your way to trading within hours!

Try it before you buy

Before you spend any money on an online FOREX trading program or subscription, ask about free trial offers. Many companies will allow potential customers to try out their software and tools before making an investment. This is a quick and easy way to begin trading immediately. Spend some time reading through the system tutorials and practice a few test trades. There will no doubt be a learning curve, and you want to make sure that you don’t have a large investment riding on that curve. If you have a friend or family member that is in the online FOREX trading market, find out what program or system they use. They may be willing to walk you through a trade and give you their opinion on the program. This is an excellent way to find out if a program is really worth it or not.

Practice makes perfect

One of the best ways to get a feel for the market or a particular program is to try it out. No one wants to experiment with their own money however; so many companies have come up with an innovative way to take all the risk out of trying a new program. It’s called simulation trading and the premise is simple. The program is an exact copy of the broker or trading systems real-time trading program. The main difference is that they allow you to “play” the market just as you would if you were actually investing. You can do a simulation with a set amount of money, usually around $100,000 dollars. You can practice setting bid and ask prices, and using their various analysis tools.


The benefits of such a system are two-fold. First, you get a feel for the program itself, so that you can determine if it is right for your needs and skill level. Second, you get to practice trading in the market. You can practice using the various tools and research available to you to make good trading decisions. Don’t worry if you don’t get it right away- since its play money, you don’t lose anything!

The amount of time needed to understand the system will vary depending on your level of experience. Many programs offer similar functions, so if you are simply in the market for a different program you may be able to switch over quickly.

Benefits of online FOREX trading

1. Real-time access- this is one of the great benefits of online FOREX trading. Most brokers and trading companies offer their clients real-time quotes and data. This is very important when making decisions. Currencies are a very volatile market, and things can change at anytime. So having your thumb on the pulse of the market is very important to long term success.

2. 24-hour availability- another great feature about online FOREX trading. In today’s hectic world many traders find it difficult to manage their portfolio during normal business hours. The internet allows traders the ability to access their portfolio virtually anywhere and anytime. This is great for part-time traders that have a full-time day job.

3. Speed of transactions- can’t be beat! With a good computer and a high speed connection you can process a transaction within minutes. This is a far cry from having to call up your brokerage firm or worse yet make an office visit. This is perhaps the main reason that day trading has become as popular as it has!

In Summary

Brokerage firms have become very skilled in online FOREX trading over the past 10 years, and can serve as your guide into the technological world. Be patient with yourself during the learning process, and keep your eye on the prize. The more research and preparation that you partake in before trading; the better your chances are for success. So keep an open mind, and explore all the benefits that online FOREX trading has to offer.

Three Ways to Profit With Forex Trading

Online currency trading is an excellent way to make good money online. Suddenly what was once barriers is now a chance to become wealthy. And here is a business opportunity like never before. These three ways to profit with Forex trading will have you thinking.

1.Develop a better trading system – each system can help make more profits. This is even more so when it is not connected to another system. Do ongoing research so that you find a new system that can make better projects. Sometimes a trading system will just stop working for whatever reason. You need to keep on top of this and dump out what ever isn’t working.

2.Add more traders – each of your traders can only do so much work well. The trader will reach a point where there effectiveness is no longer of value. Let’s say your best trader trades 75 million dollars effectively but when he goes above that total he is no longer effective. The best thing to do is to add more traders. That is if you want to grow your business bigger.

You can also optimize the traders that you have making them more effective at what they are doing for your trading business. Coaching is a great way to help them improve and sometimes a bonus incentive program will be very beneficial.

3.Optimize your position by meeting all of the objectives that you have set out. You must start by clearly drawing out what those objectives are for the business. Too often this step is missed and it is quickly reflected on the profit margin.

You also need to determine your R value on the distribution of each system. You need to know this in order to make the right changes. You must also simulate different algorithms so that you can decide from the many thousands of possibilities that will best meet your obligations. Finally you have to apply that algorithm that you choose to your system.

Don’t expect to be able to pull off all three ways to profit with Forex trading at the same time. Sure it would be great if you can but don’t be too disappointed if you are unable to do so. After all it is all about the bottom line and you will want to get more efficient while at the same time not jeopardizing your income flow.