Options techniques to maximize gains and lower risk in flat and volatile market conditions Adam Hayes, Ph.D., CFA, is a financial writer with 15+ years Wall Street experience as a derivatives trader.

Options allow investors and traders to enter into positions and to make money in ways that are not possible simple by buying or selling short the underlying security. If you only trade the underlying ...

There are plenty of ways to profit on a stock's movement, beyond investing in the actual stock itself. Options provide a nearly endless array of strategies, due to the countless ways you can combine ...

Somer G. Anderson is CPA, doctor of accounting, and an accounting and finance professor who has been working in the accounting and finance industries for more than 20 years. Her expertise covers a ...

The straddle is an options trading strategy, so named for the shape it makes on a pricing chart; your position literally “straddles” the price of the underlying asset. With the straddle, you trade on ...

In 19 of the last 20 trading sessions, corn closed within a tight range of $3.83 to $3.98. It seems farmers are willing to make sales at $4 and end users are willing to buy at or below $3.80. I expect ...

The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) is down nearly 50% from the beginning of the year. It’s the biggest year-to-date drop at this point in the year in the history of the "fear index" (data back to 1990).

Volatility has eased in recent days as the market digests the tech sector continues to lead the way. However, volatility could rear its ugly head again at any time. The VIX Index closed at 18.92 ...

Options strategies can seem complicated, but that's because they offer you a great deal of flexibility in tailoring your potential returns and risks to your specific needs. One interesting strategy ...