If an option doesn’t have enough trading volume, then the bid-ask spread will be greater. With all else being equal, it’s better to trade options that are highly active. Why Should You Trade Stocks With Active Options? You can also take the other side of the trade and sell options to boost the odds in your favor. For most situations, it’s better to trade options that are highly liquid and active. However, not all options are created equal. When buying an option, you’ll need to forecast whether the stock price will rise or fall, how much it will change, and what time frame it will change within. Successful options trading requires you to have a talent for prediction, not to mention nerves of steel. Trading options instead of stocks can be a smart choice if you prefer to take an active, tactical role and you want to have flexibility in your investments. Changes in the underlying asset’s value offer opportunities to sell or exercise the options profitably. Those purchasing options are more likely to realize gains when the underlying asset is volatile.
They generate income from the premiums they charge when selling the contract. Investors who write and sell options contracts are betting that the underlying stock price won’t move past the strike price. It is common to let options expire with no action, generally because exercising the options at the strike price would not benefit the investor holding the option. The individual holding the contract doesn’t have to buy or sell the underlying asset. Options are contracts that give the contract owner the right to buy or sell a specific asset at a predetermined price (the strike price) within a certain timeframe (the expiration date).