Options Basics Tutorial
How to Read an Options Table
Column 1: Strike Price - This is the stated price per share for which an underlying stock may be purchased (for a call) or sold (for a put) upon the exercise of the option contract. Option strike prices typically move by increments of $2.50 or $5.00 (even though in the above example it moves in $2 increments).
Column 2: Expiry Date - This shows the termination date of an option contract. Remember that U.S.-listed options expire on the third Friday of the expiry month.
Column 3: Call or Put - This column refers to whether the option is a call (C) or put (P).
Column 4: Volume - This indicates the total number of options contracts traded for the day. The total volume of all contracts is listed at the bottom of each table.
Column 5: Bid - This indicates the price someone is willing to pay for the options contract.
Column 6: Ask - This indicates the price at which someone is willing to sell an options contract.
Column 7: Open Interest - Open interest is the number of options contracts that are open; these are contracts that have not expired nor been exercised.
Important: Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Before investing in options, please read the
Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options.