As a finance term, an option is a contract between a buyer and a seller that gives the buyer the right—but not the obligation—to buy and sell a particular underlying asset at a later day at an agreed price. In return for granting the option, the seller collects a payment (called premium) from the buyer. A call option gives the buyer the right to buy the underlying asset; a put option gives the buyer of the option the right to sell the underlying asset. If the buyer chooses to exercise this right, the seller is obliged to sell or buy the asset at the agreed price. The buyer may choose not to exercise the right and let it expire. The underlying asset can be a piece of property, or shares of stock or some other security, such as, among others, a futures contract. In order to give an example, buy a call option provides the right to buy a specified quantity of a security at a set agreed amount, known as the ’strike price’ at some time on or before expiration, while buying a put option provides the right to sell. Upon the option holder’s choice to exercise the option, the party who sold, or wrote the option, must fulfill the terms of the contract in progress.

The theoretical value of an option can be evaluated according to several math models. These models, which are developed by quantitative analysts, attempt to predict how the value of the option will change in response to changing conditions. Hence, the risks associated with granting, owning, or trading options may be quantified and managed with a greater degree of precision, perhaps, than with some other investments. Exchange-traded options form an important class of options which have standardized contract features and trade on public exchanges, facilitating trading among independent parties. Over-the-counter options are traded between private parties, often well-capitalized institutions that have negotiated separate trading and clearing arrangements with each other. Another important class of options, particularly in the U.S., are employee stock options, which are awarded by a company to their employees as a form of incentive compensation. The other types of options exist in many financial contracts, like real estate options are often used to assemble large parcels of land, and or prepayment options are usually included in mortgage loans. However, many of the valuation and risk management principles apply across all financial options types.

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