Featured Class: Volatility

Does all the up and down movement in the markets have you feeling seasick? Perhaps our volatility class can help you understand how these market ups and downs may be impacting option prices. This class discusses how historical volatility can be measured for both underlying securities and indices and how theoretical implied volatility is derived from the options market price. With a better understanding of this topic, it may help you make better educated decisions for your overall portfolio. Get started now.

New Webcast: Implied Volatility and Profit Loss

In this new webcast from The Options Industry Council, hear options instructor Steve Meizinger of the International Securities Exchange discuss implied volatility as it relates to historical and expected volatility. Steve will also discuss how implied volatility can affect the profit and loss of your options positions. Learn how changing implied volatility's effect on options prices can be quantified through the concept of Vega, one of the Greeks. You'll be introduced to the generally-expected behavior of implied volatility in today's market, and how to prepare yourself to take advantage of its changing levels. Take a look!

Featured Topic: Volatility and the Greeks

Wondering why your call option on a particular stock did not increase in value on a day when that stock increased in price by several dollars? Perhaps a better understanding of the option "Greeks" can provide some insight into this phenomena. Although we expect call option prices to move in the same direction as the underlying security, we often find, in times of high volatility, this may not to be the case. Refer to our Volatility and the Greeks section for further explanations on why option prices may behave in this fashion. You may also find this section of our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) to provide additional information on option price behavior: click here.

Have you tried the OIC Help Desk?

Are you having difficulty understanding a particular options strategy? Want to discuss a potential contract adjustment? Did an options investment not work out the way you planned? Our Investor Services Specialists are here to assist you with these and other questions regarding options. Simply dial 1-888-OPTIONS (1-888-678-4667) and we will do our best to help you.

Options Industry Sets New Volume Record

The Options Clearing Corporation (OCC) announced that a new daily trading volume record was set on Thursday, August 16, 2007 when 23,745,650 contracts were traded, 11 percent higher than the previous record of 21,313,025 contracts set on July 26, 2007. To learn more click here.

FIA & OIC Present Investor Education Day

The Options Industry Council and the Futures Industry Association have partnered to coordinate the second Investor Education Day. The seminars are targeted towards retail investors and promote the responsible use of options, an approach that highlights both the risks and rewards of using the product. Learn more.

Options Education,
Your Way

Overwhelmed at the prospect of learning about options? Don't get flustered, we have heard your feedback and as a result have redesigned our homepage to help you get started with your options education. Whether it's taking a class, listening to a podcast, viewing one of our many webcasts or attending a live event, our web site has been thoroughly planned to better help you more easily educate yourself on options.

Help Desk Now Offers Live Chat

Wondering how to use options to hedge your positions or portfolio? Visit our web site, where you can now instant message our options professionals. After numerous customer requests, we are offering this additional line of communication to our experienced Options Help Desk during this special pilot. We are available to chat and answer your options questions every trading day. Why not give it a try today?