A block trade is, as the name suggests, a single large order that hits the Unusual Options Activity Tape all at once.
A Sweep is a large order that is broken up and hits the tape in many different small orders.
Here is an example of Block Trade:
And here is an example of a Sweep ( admittedly not the biggest one) but note how it was broken up.
The holder of a physical delivery XYZ call option has the right to purchase shares of XYZ Corporation stock at the specified exercise price upon exercise prior to the expiration of the option. The holder of a physical delivery XYZ put option has the right to sell shares of XYZ Corporation at the specified exercise…
Options with intrinsic value, or in-the-money options, are automatically exercised at expiration so that option holders don’t inadvertently leave money on the table. Since June 2008 , all options that are a penny or more in-the-money at expiration are exercised at expiration.
A Box Spread is simply a combination of two vertical spreads. These spreads are used by professional Options traders who are trying to take advantage of a situation where the cost of the spreads (both verticals) is less than what the verticals would be worth when they expire. They consider this to be a type…
A binary option is a cash-settled option having only two possible payoff outcomes: either a fixed amount or nothing at all. Some binary options are referred to as “fixed return options.” As of the date this product was approved for trading, the only binary options approved for trading (other than credit default options, as defined…
To anyone new to trading options. You need to understand, this is a craft. A skill. You must learn and respect it, or it is going to disrespect you. Very violently in some cases. You HAVE to know what you’re doing, not just THINK you know what you’re doing. You must understand the Greeks. This is essentially what your option is. If you…
These are Option contracts that have intrinsic value. A call option is ITM if the market price of the underlying asset is greater than the strike price of the option. A put is ITM if the price of the underlying asset is less than the strike price. In the image below, “A” marks the In…
