Options Symbols Are Changing

by Kent Hunter
November 9, 2009

Find out how you can be prepared for the upcoming change in options symbols.
 

Why Trade Foreign Currency Options

by Randy Frederick
October 13, 2009

You can use FX options to hedge or speculate on the US dollar relative to other major currencies.

To Trade or Not to Trade: Putting the Greeks to Work

by Randy Frederick
September 14, 2009

Forecasting the future value of an option contract using the Greeks can help you decide whether to trade or not.

Electronic Buy/Writes

by Randy Frederick,
Updated September 9, 2009

Learn how to implement covered calls and covered puts using electronic buy/writes on StreetSmart Pro®.
 

Finding an Options Strategy

by Randy Frederick
Updated September 4, 2009

Schwab options traders have a valuable tool at their disposal—our Option Strategy Finder. Use it to help identify an options strategy based on your market outlook.

Go Greek

by Randy Frederick, Director of Trading and Derivatives, Schwab Center for Financial Research 
August 10, 2009

Armed with Greeks, an options trader can make more informed decisions about which options to trade, and when to trade them.
 

Chart Studies to Love!

by Randy Frederick, Director of Trading and Derivatives, Schwab Center for Financial Research 
August 7, 2009

Our new volatility and trader-sentiment studies can help you assess where an option may be heading.
 

Trading Options for Retirement

by Randy Frederick, Director of Trading and Derivatives, Schwab Center for Financial Research 
June 17, 2009

How to use covered calls, collars and CSEPs to help save for retirement.
 

New Options Screeners

by Randy Frederick 
April 16, 2009

Can't decide which option to trade? Find out how these Schwab.com screening tools can help.
 

Options Q&A: We Answer Your Questions

by Randy Frederick, Director of Trading and Derivatives, Schwab Center for Financial Research 
March 27, 2009

Answers to top questions about options, order types, and hedging your trades and investments in the current market.
 

Measuring Investor Fear—the VIX®

by Randy Frederick, Director of Trading and Derivatives, Schwab Center for Financial Research 
March 11, 2009

Find out how this measure of market turbulence may be used to take a position on volatility or help create a hedge.
 

Bearish Spreads: Finding Good Candidates

by Randy Frederick, Director of Trading and Derivatives, Schwab Center for Financial Research 
January 29, 2009

How to structure a bearish spread to help match your level of bearishness.
 

Best Practices for Trading Options in Volatile Markets

by Randy Frederick, Director of Trading and Derivatives, Schwab Center for Financial Research 
December 3, 2008

Six steps to help reduce risk and help keep your options trading on track despite the volatility.
 

Bullish Spreads: Finding Good Candidates

by Randy Frederick, Director of Trading and Derivatives, Schwab Center for Financial Research
November 25, 2008

How to structure a bullish spread to match your level of bullishness.
  

Reducing Risk With Credit Spreads

by Randy Frederick, Director of Trading and Derivatives, Schwab Center for Financial Research
October 29, 2008

Find out how credit spreads can substantially reduce the risk of trading uncovered options.

Managing Risk Using Options: Equity Collars and Cash-Secured Equity Puts

by Randy Frederick, Director of Trading and Derivatives, Schwab Center for Financial Research 
October 10, 2008

Part three of a three-part series: How to use collars and cash-secured equity puts (CSEPs) to help limit the risks of equity positions.
    

Don't Forget Debit Spreads

by Randy Frederick, Director of Trading and Derivatives, Schwab Center for Financial Research 
September 12, 2008

Complicated options strategies may sound intriguing, but a basic debit spread can be an effective way of generating small profits while also helping to manage risk.

Help! How Do I Track Volatility?

by Randy Frederick, Director of Trading and Derivatives, Schwab Center for Financial Research 
September 10, 2008

What to do if the volatility indicators you previously used to trade options no longer work.
 

Managing Risk Using Options: Protective Puts and Protective Calls

by Randy Frederick, Director of Trading and Derivatives Schwab Center for Financial Research 
July 1, 2008

Part two in a three-part series: How to use protective puts and protective calls.

Putting Options to Work

by Randy Frederick, Director of Trading and Derivatives, Schwab Center for Financial Research 
July 1, 2008

How to use basic options strategies in your portfolio.

Getting Started With Options

by Randy Frederick, Director of Trading and Derivatives, Schwab Center for Financial Research 
July 1, 2008

The basics of options, and how they can offer sensible and effective ways for investors to help protect against loss.
   

Managing Risk Using Options: Covered Calls and Covered Puts

by Randy Frederick, Director of Trading and Derivatives, Schwab Center for Financial Research 
July 1, 2008

Part one in a three-part series: How to use covered calls and covered puts.