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Stock Options

A form of derivative, options are contracts between two parties that give the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell a stock or asset at an agreed-upon price within a certain period of time. Investors can make use of options to profit from a market view or grow and hedge their portfolios over time. Currently, options trading are available in the Hong Kong and US markets and can be conducted on UTRADE HK Options*.

*Hong Kong Stock Options Only

Benefits of Trading Stock Options

Purchasing a popular or top trading stock outright can be a costly and risky investment. Options can be bought at a fraction of the cost of the actual stock. This way, investors require a much lower financial commitment to acquire a position, which can result in significant cost savings and higher-percentage returns.

Options have proven to be liquid and efficient. This allows more markets to be traded at any given time, creating more investment opportunities. More cost-efficient than purchasing a stock outright, investors can also capitalise on fast-changing price movements, whether they are up or down, to take advantage of market situations as they evolve.

A multi-faceted and lucrative asset vehicle that can make a difference to any portfolio, options can be traded to build positions and hedge against risks. This can help investors manage short to long term goals, regulate risks, and calibrate investment strategies to plan for retirement or grow investments.

Trade Now with UTRADE Stock Options

Trade stock options by downloading the UTRADE HK Options(Desktop/Mobile version). Get equipped with the latest technology and resources for the elasticity to trade anytime anywhere so you never miss an opportunity again.

We put up-to-the-second data at your fingertips to help you make informed decisions in the fast-moving options market. Our powerful platform also ensures that orders are carried out swiftly so you can be assured that your trades are followed through.

Investors need all the help they can get to beat the market. We provide free real-time quotations and detailed market information to help you do just that. With our competitive pricing, we ensure you always get the best value.

Product Information Statement

An option is a contract giving you the right to buy or sell an underlying asset at an agreed price before or when the contract expires. Underlying asset refers to the asset to be bought or sold if the option is exercised. It can be a stock, a commodity (e.g. gold), a bond, a currency or an index (e.g. Hang Seng Index).

Exercise Price / Strike Price

The pre-determined price at which the underlying asset can be bought or sold.

Expiry Date

The last day on which a buyer of an option contract can exercise the right to buy or sell the underlying asset.

Exercise Style

It refers to when an option can be exercised. There are two exercise styles: American and European. The American-style option can be exercised during any trading day on or before the expiry date. The European-style option can only be exercised on the expiry date.

Contract Size

The amount of the underlying asset that an option contract represents. For example if the underlying asset of an option contract is a certain stock, the contract size will be the number of shares (e.g. 1,000 shares).

Settlement Method

It refers to how the buy/sell of the underlying asset will be settled when the option is exercised. There are two ways of settlement - either by physical delivery of the underlying asset or in cash.

It is available for Professional Investor or Non- Professional Investor.

Basis Risk

The prices of futures contracts/options may not always go in line with/be perfectly correlated to the value of the underlying assets in the spot markets. For example, an increase in the spot price of the underlying asset may not cause the NAV of the futures and options fund to rise by the same magnitude. In fact, the NAV of the futures and options fund may not change at all or may even fall.

Volatility Risk

With substantial investment in futures contracts and options, the funds' prices may be subject to the risk of very volatile price movements of futures contracts and options. Futures contracts/options price movements may be caused by other factors such as changes in government policies, supply and demand, changes in interest rates and economic conditions. Futures contracts'/options' prices are highly volatile, and so are prices of the futures and options funds. Furthermore, many futures and options funds may invest in futures contracts/options with underlying asset classes such as commodities and foreign currencies which are generally more volatile. Besides, some futures exchanges may impose limits on daily futures price movement. In this case, even if a futures and options fund tries to close out its futures position to limit loss, the orders may not be executed due to such limits.

Margin Risk & Liquidity Risk

If the market moves against the futures position, the futures and options funds may be required to pay additional margins, to maintain the trading positions on short notice. The fund may need to liquidate its assets at unfavorable prices in order to meet these margin calls and suffer substantial losses. Some futures and options funds can only be redeemed at limited intervals (e.g. monthly). If you invest in such a fund, you may not be able to cash in on your investment at your desired price or when you are in need of cash.

Leverage Risk

Trading of futures contracts and options may carry a high degree of risk. The amount of initial margin/premium for entering into futures contracts/options is small relative to the value of futures contracts/options so that transactions are leveraged. In this way, a small change in contracts prices may result in magnified profit or loss, depending on the extent of leverage employed by the funds. A futures and options fund may or may not be leveraged. Although a futures and options fund may not invest all of its assets in futures contracts/options, where a futures and options fund is leveraged, the fund may lose all of its assets in its entirety due to the leverage effect of futures contracts/options. You should pay attention to the leverage level of a futures and options fund in which you invest, as well as the attendant risks.

Model Risk

The performance of futures and options fund depends mainly on success of its investment strategy, which is generally model-based. However, the use of model does not guarantee positive performance and any unexpected changes in market could hurt the model's performance. Moreover, it is not guaranteed that the model can be fully executed in an accurate and timely fashion.

Performance Fee Risk

The manager of a futures and options fund may charge a performance fee, which is payable to the manager annually if a pre-determined net appreciation of the fund's NAV is achieved. As the performance fee usually accrues on a daily basis and if payable, is deducted from the fund's net assets value on a daily basis, this gives rise to the risk that an investor redeeming his/her units may still need to bear a performance fee in respect of those units, even though a loss in the investment capital has been suffered by such redeeming investor.

Counterparty Risk

When a futures and options fund invests in options or other derivative instruments that are traded over-the-counter, the fund will be subject to the risk of default of its counterparties in performing any of their obligations. It may result in losses to the fund.

Option buyer's risk is only limited to the premium paid, the option seller's loss can be far greater than the premium received.

The potential gain when buying an option is unlimited, but the option buyer's risk is only limited to the premium paid.

An option seller's profit is limited to the premium received. Given the option seller must meet the buyer's decision on exercise, the option seller's loss can be far greater than the premium received.

This product is not principal protected.

Options contracts may be traded between parties in markets operated by an exchange (exchange-traded).

The product is a complex product and investors should exercise caution in relation to the product.

In the worst case scenario (e.g. insolvency of issuer), the investor may get nothing back and the potential maximum loss could be 100% of investment amount.

If the offering documents provided by the issuer have not been reviewed by the SFC; investors are advised to exercise caution in relation to the offer.

SFC authorization does not imply official recommendation or endorsement of a product nor does it guarantee the commercial merits of a product or its performance.

The product is available for professional investors / non- professional investors.

The above information is provided for reference only. The information may not contain all material terms, in and of itself should not form the basis for any investment decision. Potential investors must seek their own independent advice in relation to any legal, tax, accounting or regulatory issues relating to the matters discussed herein, By accepting receipt of this information the reader will be deemed to represent that they posses, either individually or through their advisor, sufficient investment expertise to understand the risks involved in any purchase or sale of any investment products, referenced herein, and investor has made its own independent judgment. The value, price or income from investments may fall as well as rise.

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