Login

Option Spreads

Chapter 3

Option Spreads

Option Spreads

Chapter 3

Option Spreads

Spreads involve combining options to formulate suitable option trading strategies on the same underlying and of same type (call/ put) but with different strikes and maturities. These are limited profit and limited loss positions. They are primarily categorized into three sections as:

    • Vertical Spreads
    • Horizontal Spreads
    • Diagonal Spreads

Vertical Spreads

Vertical spreads are created by using options having the same expiry but different strike prices. These can be created by using calls of same expiry but different strike prices, or can be created by using puts with similar nuance.

Horizontal Spreads

Horizontal spread involves options with the same strike, same type but different expiry dates. This is also known as calendar spread or time spread. The underlying reasoning for executing and participating in horizontal spreads is that these two options would have different time values and the trader believes that difference between the time values of these two options would widen or shrink. This is actually a strategic play on premium difference between two options prices squeezing or widening.

If the implied volatility on the near-term option is higher than the IV for the far-dated option and also one is expecting the volatility to fall over the term suggests that one should sell the near-term expiry option and buy the far-expiry option; of the same underlying.

Diagonal Spreads

Diagonal spread involves a combination of options having same underlying but different expiry dates as well as different strikes.

FAQs

What is an Option Spread?

Spreads are limited profit and limited loss strategies that involve combining options on the same underlying and of same type (call/ put) but with different strikes and maturities.

What is a vertical put spread

Vertical put spread is created by the purchase and sale of different strikes of put options of the same underlying and same expiry.

How to do a vertical spread

Vertical spread is created by the purchase and sale of different strikes of options of the same type (either call or put), of the same underlying and same expiry.

What are the 3 types of spreads?

The 3 types of option spreads are vertical spread, horizontal spread and diagonal spread.

    • Vertical spread is created by the purchase and sale of different strikes of options of the same type (either call or put), of the same underlying and same expiry.
    • Horizontal spread is created by the purchase and sale of the same strike of options of the same type (either call or put), of the same underlying, but different expiry.
    • Diagonal spread involves a combination of options having same underlying but different expiry dates as well as different strikes.

What are different types of vertical spreads?

The different types of vertical spreads are as follows:

    • Bullish vertical spread using calls
    • Bearish vertical spread using puts
    • Credit spreads, which are,
    • Bearish vertical spread using calls
    • Bullish vertical spread using puts