F&O (Futures and Options) TradingNifty Bank IndexNSE_DLY:BANKNIFTYTechnicalExpress1. What Are Derivatives? Futures and Options are derivative instruments, meaning their value is derived from an underlying asset. This underlying can be: Stocks Indices (NIFTY, BANKNIFTY) Commodities Currencies The underlying’s price movement directly influences the F&O contract. 2. What Are Futures Contracts? A Futures contract is an agreement to buy or sell an asset at a predetermined price on a specific future date. Both parties are obligated to fulfill the contract. Key Features of Futures Obligation: Buyer must buy, seller must sell. Standardized: Lot size, expiry date, and price movement rules are fixed by the exchange. Margin Required: Traders don’t pay full contract value; they pay a margin (~10–20%), which offers leverage. Daily MTM: Profits or losses are settled daily through Mark-to-Market. Example If you buy NIFTY Futures at 22,000 and NIFTY rises to 22,200, you gain 200 points × lot size. If NIFTY falls, you face losses. Where Futures Are Used Speculation: To profit from price movements Hedging: To protect portfolios from adverse market moves Arbitrage: To profit from price differences between spot and futures markets Futures are powerful but risky due to high leverage. 3. What Are Options? An Option is a contract that gives the buyer the right, but not the obligation*, to buy or sell an underlying asset at a specific price before (or on) expiry. Two Types of Options Call Option (CE) – Right to buy Put Option (PE) – Right to sell Two Sides of Options Buyer (Holder): Pays premium, risk limited Seller (Writer): Receives premium, risk can be unlimited Strike Price The price at which you may buy or sell the underlying. Premium The price paid by option buyers. 4. How Option Buyers Make Money Call Buyer Profits when underlying price goes above strike price + premium. Put Buyer Profits when underlying price goes below strike price – premium. Buyers have limited loss (premium) and unlimited profit potential. 5. How Option Sellers Make Money Sellers receive the premium upfront. They profit when: Price does not move beyond breakeven Option expires worthless Time decay eats option value But sellers face unlimited loss risk, especially in naked selling. That’s why option selling must be done with proper hedging and risk management. 6. Expiry and Settlement F&O contracts expire on: Weekly expiry: Every Thursday (Index options) Monthly expiry: Last Thursday of every month After expiry, contracts settle based on closing prices of the underlying. 7. Margin and Leverage Futures require margin to control large positions. Example: NIFTY lot size: 50 NIFTY at 22,000 → Contract Value = 11,00,000 Margin required ≈ ₹1,40,000 This leverage amplifies gains and losses. Options buyers pay only the premium, no margin. Options sellers must pay heavy margins because of high risk. 8. Why Traders Use F&O? A. Hedging Investors use F&O to protect their portfolios. Example: If you own Reliance shares, you can buy a Put Option to hedge downside risk. B. Speculation Traders try to profit from price movements using leverage. Example: Buy BANKNIFTY 500-point movement with small capital by using options. C. Arbitrage Exploiting price differences between: Spot and Futures Option prices (mispricing) Arbitrage is low-risk and often executed by institutions. 9. Option Pricing Factors Option premiums are affected by: 1. Intrinsic Value Value if exercised today. 2. Time Value More time → higher premium. 3. Volatility Higher volatility → higher premium. 4. Interest Rates Small effect, but important for indices. 5. Demand/Supply Market sentiment impacts prices. The most important factors in India’s F&O market are volatility and time decay. 10. Greeks: The Heart of Options Trading 1. Delta Measures price sensitivity. Call Delta: 0 to 1 Put Delta: 0 to –1 2. Gamma Rate of change of Delta. 3. Theta Time decay. Option buyers hate Theta; sellers love it. 4. Vega Effect of volatility on premium. 5. Rho Effect of interest rates (least used). Understanding Greeks is essential for advanced F&O trading. 11. Popular F&O Strategies Directional Strategies Long Call Long Put Short Futures Long Futures Non-Directional Strategies Straddle Strangle Iron Condor Butterfly Hedging Strategies Protective Put Covered Call Collar Strategy Traders use these based on market conditions and risk appetite. 12. Risks in F&O Trading 1. Leverage Risk Small price movements can cause huge losses. 2. Unlimited Loss in Option Selling Selling naked options is extremely risky. 3. Margin Shortfall If losses exceed margin, broker issues margin calls. 4. Time Decay Options buyers lose value every day. 5. Volatility Crush After major events (budget, result days), volatility drops, premiums fall rapidly. 13. Benefits of F&O Trading 1. High Liquidity Especially in NIFTY and BANKNIFTY. 2. Hedging Power Protects portfolio from adverse moves. 3. Leverage Makes it possible to trade large positions with moderate capital. 4. Strategy Flexibility Works in bull, bear, and sideways markets. 5. Potential for High Returns When used correctly. 14. F&O in Indian Markets India is one of the world’s largest F&O markets due to: High retail participation Weekly indexes options Attractive margins High volatility in indices Index Options (NIFTY & BANKNIFTY) dominate over stock options. 15. How to Trade F&O Safely Use stop-loss always Avoid naked option selling Stay aware of global markets Track volatility (India VIX) Use hedged strategies Do not overleverage Maintain discipline Book profits regularly Conclusion F&O trading is a powerful tool for traders and investors, offering leverage, hedging benefits, and the ability to profit from different market conditions. However, F&O trading carries significant risk, especially due to leverage, time decay, and volatility. With proper risk management, strategy, and knowledge of options Greeks, traders can use F&O to enhance returns and protect their portfolios. For beginners, understanding the basics and practicing with small positions is crucial before jumping into advanced strategies or large trades.