Listed options trading has become increasingly popular in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as it allows traders to take advantage of specialised strategies not available through other forms of investing. Traders must know all their options and understand the risks and rewards of different strategies.
This article will discuss how traders can push the limits when trading listed options in the UAE, reviewing each method in detail so that you have a better understanding of how they may benefit or hurt your portfolio.
Leverage
One of the main advantages of listed options trading is its ability to provide traders with high leverage. Leverage allows traders to increase their exposure without investing more money, thus allowing them to take on more significant positions and potentially generate greater returns.
However, this increased risk can also have a detrimental effect if the market moves against you, as losses could also be amplified.
Traders must understand how much leverage they are comfortable taking on before making trades and closely monitor their positions to mitigate potential losses due to volatile markets.
Spread trading
Another popular strategy listed options traders employ is spread trading, which involves simultaneously entering into a long and short position on the same underlying asset to capture any potential price movements between them.
Traders can use spreads to hedge against downside risk or speculate on upside appreciation if they are confident that the spread will widen. Spreads offer good flexibility, but traders must understand how specific fees, such as options commissions, may affect their overall profitability.
Furthermore, a stop-loss strategy should consistently be implemented when trading spread strategies to ensure losses don’t exceed expectations.
Vertical spreads
Vertical spreads are another popular strategy used by listed options traders and involve simultaneously buying and selling options of differing strike prices and expirations on the same underlying asset.
This strategy is often employed when traders want to take advantage of significant price movements on either side of the current market price. Like other strategies, vertical spreads offer a way to reduce risk and increase return on investment.
However, they can also be challenging to manage as incorrect positioning of strike prices could result in losses if the underlying asset moves away from your expectations.
Calendar spreads
Calendar spreads are another versatile strategy used by listed options traders, which involve simultaneously buying and selling positions with different expiration dates but the same strike price.
This strategy is usually employed when traders want to take advantage of time decay without taking on too much risk due to large potential price movements of the underlying asset. They can also be used for hedging purposes or speculation if traders think that volatility will remain low.
Before entering a calendar spread, traders must assess their risk tolerance and understand how the fees associated with listed options trading will affect their profitability.
Straddles
Straddles are another common strategy used by listed options traders that simultaneously purchase both calls and put options with the same strike price and expiration date on the same underlying asset.
This strategy is often employed when traders want to take advantage of potential significant moves in either direction and can be used for speculative or hedging purposes. However, this strategy also carries considerable risk as losses could be amplified if prices move away from your expectations. Traders must use stop-loss strategies and manage their positions closely when trading straddles.
Credit spread
Credit spreads are another popular strategy employed by listed options traders and involve simultaneously selling a call option while buying a put option on the same underlying asset with different strike prices.
This strategy is often used to generate income as traders receive a premium for selling the call option, but they must be aware of any potential losses if the market moves against them. Understanding how much risk you are comfortable taking on before entering this strategy and using stop-loss strategies to protect your capital from large market price movements is essential.