Bull spread

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In options trading, a bull spread is a bullish, vertical spread options strategy that is designed to profit from a moderate rise in the price of the underlying security.

Because of put-call parity, a bull spread can be constructed using either put options or call options. If constructed using calls, it is a bull call spread. If constructed using puts, it is a bull put spread.

Contents 1 Bull call spread 1.1 Example 2 Bull put spread 3 See also 4 References

[edit] Bull call spread

A bull call spread is constructed by buying a call option with a low exercise price, and selling another call option with a higher exercise price.

Often the call with the lower exercise price will be at-the-money while the call with the higher exercise price is out-of-the-money. Both calls must have the same underlying security and expiration month.

[edit] Example

Take an arbitrary stock XYZ currently priced at $100. Furthermore, assume it is a standard option, meaning every option contract controls 100 shares.

Assume that for next month, a call option with a strike price of $100 costs $3 per share, or $300 per contract, while a call option with a strike price of $115 is selling at $1 per share, or $100 per contract.

A trader can then buy a long position on the $100 strike price option for $300 and sell a short position on the $115 option for $100. The net debit for this trade then is $300 - 100 = $200.

This trade results in a profitable trade if the stock closes on expiry above $102. If the stock's closing price on expiry is $110, the $100 call option will end at $10 a share, or $1000 per contract, while the $115 call option expires worthless. Hence a total profit of $1000 - 200 = $800.

The trade's profit is limited to $13 per share, which is the difference in strike prices minus the net debit (15 - 2). The maximum loss on the trade equals $2 per share, the net debit.

[edit] Bull put spread

A bull put spread is constructed by selling higher striking in-the-money put options and buying the same number of lower striking out-of-the-money put options on the same underlying security with the same expiration date. The options trader employing this strategy hopes that the price of the underlying security goes up far enough such that the written put options expire worthless.

[edit] See also

• Bear spread
• Options spread
• Option

[edit] References

• McMillan, Lawrence G. (2002). Options as a Strategic Investment, 4th ed., New York : New York Institute of Finance. ISBN 0-7352-0197-8. 

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