A n option is a contractual agreement that gives the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell a fixed quantity of a security or commodity at a fixed price within a specified period of time. It is a type of derivative that investors use to hedge their risks against market volatilities or to exchange a floating rate of return for a fixed rate of return.
Developments in financial instruments have led to a variety of hybrids, including index options. An option can either be standardized, exchange-traded and government regulated, or over-the-counter customized and non-regulated. To satisfy the need for timely options data, information, and education, ...