Illiquid Option

Filed Under » ,
Dictionary Says

Definition of 'Illiquid Option'

An option contract that cannot be sold for cash quickly at the prevailing market price. Illiquid options have very low or no open interest. 
Investopedia Says

Investopedia explains 'Illiquid Option'

Most options are illiquid when they are far away from their expiration dates. If you're holding an illiquid option, you will usually notice a very large bid-ask spread on the contract.  This is because there are not enough buyers to accommodate those wanting to sell. 

Unfortunately, if you are trying to sell an illiquid option, there is a good chance you'll be selling at a discount, if at all.

Related Definitions

Search results for

'Illiquid Option'

  • Options Hazards That Can Bruise Your Portfolio

    http://www.investopedia.com/articles/optioninvestor/07/option_risks.asp
    ... American style option holders might exercise their options early, such as when the
    stock is going ex-dividend or the market for the option is illiquid. ...
  • Series 7 Study Guide - Packaged Securities - Investment Companies ...

    http://www.investopedia.com/exam-guide/series-7/packaged-securities/investment-company.asp
    ... 8.10 Option Styles; 8.11 Spread Option Strategies; 8.12 Straddle Option Strategies; ...
    are permitted to invest in a greater amount of illiquid securities - ones that ...
  • CFA Level 1 Study Guide - Fixed Income Investments - Liquidity ...

    http://www.investopedia.com/exam-guide/cfa-level-1/fixed-income-investments/liquidity-risk.asp
    ... Values for Options; 15.32 Straddles and Strangles; 15.33 Option Prices and
    the Time to Expiration; 15.34 Put-Call Parity; 15.35 Effect ...
  • 13 Pre-Issue Corporate Bond Questions For Businesses

    http://www.investopedia.com/articles/bonds/09/corporate-bonds.asp
    ... factors to weigh in deciding whether a corporate bond is your best financing option. ...
    If the company's debt is illiquid, it is likely to be relatively expensive ...
  • 3 Dangers Of Checking Your Stock Portfolio Everyday - Investopedia ...

    http://financialedge.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0811/3-Dangers-Of-Checking-Your-Stock-Portfolio-Everyday.aspx
    ... (The option to bolster after-tax stock returns through tax-loss harvesting can ... However,
    for smaller and other illiquid stocks, spreads can be substantial. ...
  • Be Mortgage-Free Faster

    http://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/07/acceleratedpayments.asp
    ... Option 1: Buying a boat The decision to buy a boat is both a ... Adding household debt
    to purchase an illiquid, depreciating asset adds risk to the household ...
  • Traders: Which Markets Should You Trade?

    http://www.investopedia.com/articles/trading/10/know-your-trading-alternatives.asp
    ... Even while avoiding abstract and illiquid markets, traders can find trades within ...
    Therefore, the option is not ownership of an underlying asset (though rights ...
  • Getting Into The Gold Market

    http://www.investopedia.com/articles/basics/08/gold-strategies.asp
    ... sight, their large size (up to 400 troy ounces) makes them illiquid, and therefore ...
    These give the owner of the option the right to buy the futures contract ...
  • How To Invest In Private Companies

    http://www.investopedia.com/articles/basics/11/investing-in-private-companies.asp
    ... Private equity is also an option, and ironically a number of the largest ... Overall,
    it is important to reiterate that private companies are illiquid and require ...
  • Alternative Assets For Average Investors

    http://www.investopedia.com/articles/financial-theory/08/alternative-assets.asp
    ... or more defined times during its life, or to let the option expire as ... been the province
    of high net worth investors; these assets' illiquid secondary markets ...

Related Articles

Partner Links