Lenny Jordan FT
Prentice Hall 1st/e 1999
DESCRIPTION
Options, Plain & Simple
is a straightforward and practical guide to the fundamentals of options. It is plain
because it includes only what is essential to basic understanding. It is simple because it
presents options in conventional terms, with a minimum of jargon.
It is thorough; it is not simplistic.
This book will benefit all newcomers to options, introducing them to the instruments and
markets, and giving them the competence and confidence to trade successfully. It opens up
new opportunities for private investors who previously felt intimidated by the mystique
and jargon surrounding options, and saves brokers much of the time they spend explaining
options fundamentals to their clients.
This is not rocket science. Options are explained in terms of real-life, everyday
circumstances and accessible language. Clarity and practical application are paramount;
unnecessary theory and jargon conspicuous by their absence. Veteran US trader Lenny Jordan
takes the secrets of options to the everyday investor.
Options, Plain & Simple will enable all investors to use options wisely, by fully
understanding the instruments, their risks and successful applications.
CONTENTS
Preface
About the author
About this book
Introduction
Part 1: Options fundamentals
1. Options in everyday life
2. The basics of calls
3. The basics of puts
4. Pricing and behaviour
5. Volatility and pricing models
6. The Greeks and risk assessment: delta
7. Gamma and theta
8. Vega
Part 2: Options spreads
Introduction
9. Call spreads and put spreads, or one by one directional spreads
10. One by two directional spreads
11. Combos and hybrid spreads for market direction
12. Volatility spreads
13. Iron butterflies and iron condors: combining straddles and strangles for reduced risk
14. Butterflies and condors; combining call spreads and put spreads
15. The covered write, the calendar spread and the diagonal spread
Part 3: Thinking about options
16. The interaction of the Greeks
17. Options performance based on cost
18. Options talk 1
19. Options talk 2: trouble shooting and common problems
20. Volatility skews
Part 4: Basic non-essentials
21. Futures, synthetics and put-call parity
22. Conversions, reversals, boxes and option arbitrage
23. Conclusion
Glossary
Suggestions for further reading
Index of underlying contracts
Index
