Introduction to the Greeks – Raging Bull

Delta

Delta is a measure of how much the price of an option will change in response to a change in the price of the underlying stock. It is expressed as a decimal ranging from 0 to 1 (for call options) or -1 to 0 (for put options).

For example, if an option has a delta of 0.5, this means that the option price is expected to move up or down by half a point for every point that the underlying stock price moves up or down. If the stock price goes up by $1, the option’s price is expected to go up by $0.50, and if the stock price goes down by $1, the option’s price is expected to go down by $0.50.

Delta can be used to determine the likelihood that an option will expire in the money (i.e., with a positive value). For example, if an option has a delta of 0.75, this means that there is a 75% chance that the option will expire in the money.

Delta is an important concept for options traders because it helps them understand how sensitive the option’s price is to changes in the stock price. By tracking the delta of their options, traders can make more informed decisions about when to buy and sell and how to manage their risks.

Gamma

Gamma is a measure of how much the delta of an option will change in response to a change in the price of the underlying stock. It is expressed as a decimal and is typically a small number (e.g., 0.01 or 0.02).

For example, if an option has a gamma of 0.02, this means that the delta of the option is expected to change by 0.02 for every $1 change in the stock price. If the stock price goes up by $1, the option’s delta is expected to increase by 0.02, and if the stock price goes down by $1, the option’s delta is expected to decrease by 0.02.

Gamma is an important concept for options traders because it tells them how quickly the delta of their options will change as the stock price moves. This is important because it can help traders understand how sensitive their options are to changes in the stock price, which can help them make more informed decisions about when to buy and sell and how to manage their risks.

Theta

Theta is a measure of how much the price of an option will change in response to a change in the time to expiration. It is expressed as a negative decimal (e.g., -0.01 or -0.02) and is typically a small number.

For example, if an option has a theta of -0.5, this means that the option price is expected to decline by half a point for every day that passes. If the option has 30 days until expiration, its theta would be -0.5 * 30 = -15. This means that the option is expected to lose $15 in value over the course of 30 days.

Theta is an important concept for options traders because it tells them how quickly the value of their options will decline

Conclusion

In conclusion, the greeks are a set of mathematical measurements that are used to determine the sensitivity of an option’s price to various factors. Delta measures how much the option price will change in response to a change in the underlying stock price, gamma measures how much the delta of an option will change in response to a change in the stock price, theta measures how much the option price will change in response to a change in the time to expiration, and vega measures how much the option price will change in response to a change in the volatility of the underlying stock. Understanding the greeks is an important part of options trading because it can help traders make more informed decisions about when to buy and sell options and how to manage their risks. Overall, the greeks provide valuable information for options traders, and tracking them can be a useful tool for making informed trading decisions.