Futures and Options (F&O) - Meaning, Types, Difference (2024)

FAQs

Futures and Options (F&O) - Meaning, Types, Difference? ›

A future is a contract to buy or sell an underlying stock or other assets at a pre-determined price on a specific date. On the other hand, options contract gives an opportunity to the investor the right but not the obligation to buy or sell the assets at a specific price on a specific date, known as the expiry date.

While options are a type of derivative, there are key distinctions between the two. Obligation vs. right: Derivatives, such as futures contracts, often come with an obligation to buy or sell the underlying asset. Options, on the other hand, provide the right, but not the obligation, to execute the contract.

An option on a futures contract gives the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell a specific futures contract at a strike price on or before the option's expiration date. These work similarly to stock options, but differ in that the underlying security is a futures contract.

There are different types of futures, both in the financial and commodity markets. Stock, index, currency, and interest futures are examples of financial futures. Futures are also available for agricultural products, gold, oil, cotton, oilseed, and other commodities.

For example, if you buy a futures contract for 100 barrels of oil at ₹50 per barrel, you are obligated to buy the oil for ₹50 per barrel even if the market price of oil has risen to ₹60 per barrel by the expiration date. The opposite is true if you sell a futures contract.

A future is a contract to buy or sell an underlying stock or other assets at a pre-determined price on a specific date. On the other hand, options contract gives an opportunity to the investor the right but not the obligation to buy or sell the assets at a specific price on a specific date, known as the expiry date.

The choice between futures and options depends on your investment goals and risk tolerance – Both instruments can be used for hedging, but options offer more flexibility and limited risk. Futures offer higher potential profits but also higher risk, while options provide limited profit potential with capped losses.

Futures and options are financial derivatives that allow traders to speculate on the price movements of an underlying asset without actually owning it.

1. Which one is safer futures or options? Options are generally considered safer than futures because the potential loss in options trading is limited to the premium paid, whereas futures carry higher risk due to potential unlimited losses resulting from leverage and market movements.

There are 185 futures stocks on NSE whose contracts you can trade in India.

What is a simple example of futures? ›

For example, a trader may buy grain futures if they expect the price of grain to increase before the delivery date. Any unexpected changes to the weather or growing conditions may cause the futures price to rise or drop.

In finance, a futures contract (sometimes called futures) is a standardized legal contract to buy or sell something at a predetermined price for delivery at a specified time in the future, between parties not yet known to each other.

An option is a derivative, a contract that gives the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell the underlying asset by a certain date (expiration date) at a specified price (strike price). There are two types of options: calls and puts.

A Future is a right and an obligation to buy or sell an underlying asset at a predetermined price. Options are a right without an obligation to buy or sell equity or index. While a Call Option is a right to buy while a Put Option is a right to sell.

You can trade options on futures contracts much like you trade options on other securities, by buying or writing call or put options depending on the direction you believe the underlying product will move.

Futures are an obligation (that you get out of by closing the trade) to buy or sell the underlying asset in the future to another party, whereas buying an option provides the right – not the obligation – to buy or sell the underlying asset at a future date.

They both entail an agreement between two parties to buy or sell an asset on a specific date in the future, at the terms decided today. The only difference is that forwards are over the counter (OTC) contracts while futures are exchange traded contracts and hence standardized and also more secure.

Both options and futures contracts are standardized agreements that are traded on an exchange such as the NYSE or NASDAQ or the BSE or NSE. Options can be exercised at any time before they expire while a futures contract only allows the trading of the underlying asset on the date specified in the contract.

Equity and futures and options trading are trading methods used in the stock market to earn decent profits. Equity trading involves purchasing and selling shares in the market. Futures and options are derivative contracts. 'Derivative' implies that it does not have a value of its own.