What Are Options?
Options are a useful tool for investors looking to bet on a directional price move, generate income and hedge portfolio positions. Options are part of an asset class known as "derivatives," which means they derive their value from an underlying asset. For our purposes here, we'll focus on equity, index and exchange-traded fund (ETF) options, which are among the most actively traded.Formally, options are contracts that give the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell a predetermin