Investopedia

Options And Futures Articles

  1. An Overview Of Commodities Trading

    Foresight and careful observation are the keys to trading this market.
  2. Net Worth Nosedive: Can You Still Retire?

    If a dip in the economy has you worried about retirement, you still have options.
  3. The 4 Advantages of Options

    Flexible and cost efficient, options are more popular than ever. Find out why.
  4. How And When To Switch Your 529 Plan

    Just as with any investment, you should review your plan to make sure it's meeting your needs.
  5. Parents And Spinoffs: When To Buy And When To Sell

    Spinoffs can create great investing opportunities, but there's a time to stick around and a time to jump ship.
  6. Segregated Funds: Investment Protection For Canadian Citizens

    These funds contain the best of all worlds, providing opportunities for market growth with a no-loss guarantee.
  7. The Long Straddle And Price Consolidation

    With options, the direction of a stock's next major move becomes less important than its magnitude.
  8. Peer-To-Peer Lending Breaks Down Financial Borders

    Banks are no longer the only option for a loan - the P2P lending system operates without them.
  9. Surviving On An Irregular Income

    Being self-employed provides freedom, but only if you learn to make your money last.
  10. Iceland's Near Collapse: What Can We Learn?

    This thriving country was brought to its knees by the rapid growth - and subsequent decline - of its banking industry.
  11. Profit From Earnings Surprises With Straddles And Strangles

    These option strategies allow traders to play on earnings announcements without taking a side.
  12. Municipalities Free Up Cash With Chapter 9

    Find out what happens to municipalities when they need money, but have no other option than bankruptcy.
  13. Reduce Tuition With A Work-Incentive Program

    Find out how to gain valuable work experience and cut the cost of your education.
  14. Commodity Funds 101

    These funds make investing in gold, oil or grain an easier prospect.
  15. Borrowing Smart In A Debt-Filled World

    Leveraging your money can have many perks, but it's not always the smartest financial plan.
  16. Banking Profits In Bull And Bear Markets

    Both parts of the market cycle present major opportunities for savvy investors.
  17. Housing Deals That Fall Through

    Find why buyers back out and what you can do if you're left holding the bag.
  18. Moral Hazards: A Bump In The Contract Road

    Learn how this phenomenon can cause a party in an agreement to behave differently than expected.
  19. Profiting From Stock Declines: Bear Put Spread Vs. Long Put

    If you're bearish, you should compare the risk/reward characteristics of these two strategies.
  20. For Top-Notch Insurance Coverage, Compare Quotes

    Find out how to use and compare policy options to get the best coverage at the best price.
  21. 8 Ways To Help Family Members In Financial Trouble

    Find out how to help the ones you love without hurting yourself.
  22. Market Bottom: Are We There Yet?

    No one rings a bell when the bear market's over, but that doesn't mean there's no way to predict a bottom.
  23. Gauging Major Turns With Psychology

    Knowing what the market is thinking is the best way to determine what it will do next.
  24. Tales From The Trenches: The Rising Wedge Breakdown

    Learn how to short this reversal pattern with a favorable risk/reward ratio.
  25. Pursuing Alpha In A Well-Diversified IRA

    This strategy is not as complex as some investment gurus would like you to believe.
  26. Collecting Option Premium In The Grain Market

    Believe it or not, there are some great income-generating strategies that are lower in risk.
  27. Pencil In Profits In Any Market With A Calendar Spread

    This options spread strategy provides many advantages over plain old puts and calls.
  28. Taking The Bite Out Of Annuity Losses

    If this investment product has caused you sleepless nights, it's time to consider alternatives.
  29. How Your Annuity Company Determines Renewal Rates

    Find the firm that's right for you by uncovering how it makes its investment choices.
  30. Socially Responsible Investing Vs. Sin Stocks

    Can your principles make you richer or poorer? Find out if it pays pick your portfolio based on ethics.
  31. Retirement Funds To Fund Startups

    Retired entrepreneurs who have "played it safe" and retirees who want to stretch their dollars are looking to invest here.
  32. Trading's 6 Biggest Losers

    These "rogue traders" are famous for their billion-dollar mistakes.
  33. How To Make $1 Million In Finance

    Find out what it takes to get a spot in these ultra-lucrative areas of finance.
  34. Questioning The Virtue Of A Short Sale

    This controversial strategy is blamed for making and breaking markets. Read on to learn more.
  35. Putting Collars To Work

    Find out which protective or bullish collar will result in your optimal risk/return level.
  36. Using The VIX For Shorting Opportunities

    Find out how to use this tool to identify opportunities.
  37. Strategic Ways To Distribute Your RMD

    We give you some tips on preserving your nest egg in the face of unavoidable withdrawals.
  38. This ARM Has Teeth

    Find out how to avoid getting bitten when your mortgage rate resets.
  39. Spotlight On The Solar Industry

    Before you buy into the hype, learn how the industry works and how to spot the winners.
  40. How To Break Up With Your Bank

    Whether you're moving or have just found a better no-fee plan, find out how to switch banks with ease.
  41. Terrorism's Effects On Wall Street

    Terrorist activity tends to have a negative impact on the markets. Find out how to take cover.
  42. Oil As An Asset: Hotelling's Theory On Price

    Not sure where oil prices are headed? This theory provides some insight.
  43. Gamma-Delta Neutral Option Spreads

    Find the middle ground between conservative and high-risk options strategies.
  44. Should You Flock To Iron Condors?

    This market neutral strategy isn't for everyone. Read on to find out if it is for you.
  45. Basic Investment Objectives

    You might know about different asset types, but do you know how each type contributes to a particular goal?
  46. Invest In Your Education With An RESP

    All Canadians should know the benefits of these flexible education savings plans.
  47. Subprime Is Often Subpar

    Proceed with caution when considering these short-term, high-interest mortgages.
  48. Has Your Fund Manager Been Through A Bear Market?

    How to find a portfolio that will survive when the bulls stop charging.
  49. Offset Risk Without Investing Abroad

    With a little know-how, you can keep risk from topling your portfolio of domestic equities.
  50. Update Your Variable Annuity With Section 1035

    Thanks to a special tax code clause, you can surrender a variable annuity without paying income tax.
  51. How Restricted Stock And RSUs Are Taxed

    This form of executive compensation limits how these stocks can be sold. Find out more here.
  52. Combining Credit For A Happy Financial-Ever-After

    A couple's finances may not always be a match made in heaven. Find out when to say "I Do".
  53. 10 Tips For Choosing An Online Broker

    This important investment decision happens before you pick your first stock. Find out how to get it right.
  54. Oil And Gas Industry Primer

    Before jumping into this hot sector, learn how these companies make their money.
  55. Does It Still Pay To Invest In Gold?

    This asset's appeal dates back thousands of years. Find out whether it can live up to the hype.
  56. The Copper King: An Empire Built On Manipulation

    Find out how Yasuo Hamanaka's actions in the copper market forever changed the rules for commodity traders.
  57. Solving Mixed Options Problems On The Series 7

    Learn to ace the questions that involve both options contracts and stock positions.
  58. Iron Condors Fly On Fragile Wings

    Do the rewards outweigh the risks for this trading strategy? Read on to find out.
  59. An Investor's Checklist To Financial Footnotes

    Footnotes to the financial statements contain very important information, but reading them takes skill.
  60. Delving Into Insider Investments

    Keeping tabs on company executives can provide clues about where a stock is headed.
  61. Be Mortgage-Free Faster

    Getting rid of this debt faster has bigger benefits than you might think.
  62. Analyzing Auto Stocks

    Find out what to consider before taking a ride with stocks from this industry.
  63. 10 Steps To Retire A Millionaire

    Making this dream come true takes work, but it's well worth the effort.
  64. Warren Buffett: How He Does It

    We look at the Sage of Omaha's methodology for evaluating value stocks.
  65. Trading Psychology: Consensus Indicators - Part 2

    Professional market players are some of the best models for the individual small trader to mimic.
  66. Unearth Profits In Oil Exploration And Production

    Drill down into financial statements to tap into the right companies and let returns flow.
  67. Giants Of Finance: John Maynard Keynes

    This rock star of economics advocated government intervention at a time of free-market thinking.
  68. Strike Gold With Junior Mining

    Learn what to watch out for to ensure your "sure thing" isn't another Bre-X.
  69. Prices Plunging? Buy A Put!

    You can make money on a falling stock. Find out how going long on a put can lead to profits.
  70. Selecting A Hot SPOT Option

    These options allow investors to have full control over their investments.
  71. Let Life Insurance Riders Drive Your Coverage

    Find out how these additional benefits can help you customize your policy.
  72. Insider Selling Isn't Always A Bad Sign

    Predated trades at regular intervals can instill confidence, not fear, for investors.
  73. Due Diligence In 10 Easy Steps

    Got a hot stock tip? Follow up on it with these tips to avoid getting burned.
  74. Should You Offer Alternative Investments?

    Find out what problems arise for reps when they start to diversify their client offerings.
  75. Asset Protection For The Business Owner

    Could incorporating your business help protect it? Find out here.
  76. Older Parents Face New Financial Challenges

    Older parents are becoming the norm, but when it comes to finances, this choice has special considerations.
  77. Handicap The Market, Rack Up Gains

    Investing on Wall Street and gambling on The Strip are not as different as they may seem.
  78. Taking The Sting Out Of Investment Loss

    Get a hold of yourself! Take losses in stride and learn to invest dispassionately.
  79. Volatility Index Uncovers Market Bottoms

    VIX can gauge when the market has hit bottom - a welcome sign of better things to come.
  80. Pay Attention To The Proxy Statement

    Don't overlook this overview of a company's well-being.
  81. Different Needs, Different Loans

    Find out what options are available when it comes to borrowing money.
  82. Car Shopping: New Or Used?

    Don't get taken for a ride. Learn the pros and cons before the salesperson makes a pitch.
  83. Common Risks That Can Ruin Your Retirement

    These unexpected bumps can sideline your post-work plans and prevent you from riding out your assets.
  84. Cut Credit Card Bills By Negotiating A Lower APR

    Reducing the rate charged on your credit card balance is the first step to getting out of debt.
  85. Evaluating Country Risk For International Investing

    Investing overseas begins with a determination of the risk of the country's investment climate.
  86. Henry Ford: Industry Mogul And Industrial Innovator

    This man made his dream of bringing the automobile to the masses a reality.
  87. The Gatekeepers: Consultants Hold The Key

    Institutional investment consultants help match up asset managers with large institutions.
  88. Investing Seasonally In The Corn Market

    Each month can bring new growth opportunities, if you know where the right investment seeds are.
  89. Reining In CEO Rewards

    Could bloated CEO compensation be to blame for the widening gap between the rich and the ultra-rich?
  90. Principal-Protected Investments: Risks, Fees And Regulations

    Discover if these instruments hit the right note for you.
  91. Understanding The Escrow Process

    Learn the 10 steps that lead up to closing the deal on your new home and taking possession.
  92. The Kingpin Of Wall Street: J.P. Morgan

    From robber baron to the hero of the Panic of 1907, this man helped shape Wall Street as we know it.
  93. The ABCs Of Option Volatility

    The mystery of options pricing can often be explained by a look at implied volatility (IV).
  94. Price Pivots Circle Big Profits

    Reading pivots will help you spot trends and use them to your advantage.
  95. How To Avoid Closing Options Below Intrinsic Value

    Find out how to get a better price for your option and increase your trading profits.
  96. Keeping An Eye On The Activities Of Insiders And Institutions

    These transactions reveal much about a stock. We go over what to consider and where to find it.
  97. REX Agreements Climb As House Prices Decline

    These purchase options let you hedge against a decline in your home's value without having to sell the house.
  98. Buy High And Sell Low With Relative Strength

    The RS strategy seems counterintuitive, but there is evidence to show that it works.
  99. Immunization Inoculates Against Interest Rate Risk

    Big-money investors can hedge against bond portfolio losses caused by rate fluctuations.
  100. Sell Growth Stocks The IBD Way

    Savvy investing is all about learning some smart rules and sticking to them. We give you the rundown.
Marketplace
Trading Center