Option

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1. Derivative instrument.

A financial option is a derivative instrument giving the holder the right - but not the obligation - to buy or sell an underlying asset on or before a future date at a specified price.

Options are more commonly ‘cash settled’ by paying or receiving a net cash amount, rather than being settled by physical delivery of the underlying asset.


Like other derivative instruments, options can be used to:

• Speculate by creating new exposures to market rates.

• Hedge existing exposures to changes in market rates.

• Arbitrage in combination with other related instruments to achieve 'risk free' profits.


When used for hedging purposes, options generally provide insurance-like protection against worst case outcomes. (Contrasted with 'fixing' hedging instruments - such as FRAs - which effectively fix the market rate being hedged.)


2.

More generally, choice.


3.

A real option is an option relating to an operational decision or outcome.


See also