Trading Futures Options

[ktm]

You mean that if futures option ends up in the money today, it will be always assigned after its settlement for the day?

No. It's only on expiration day.

Also for the OP, as Robert said you will wind up short/long the futures contract depending on your position and which leg was in the money. Worst case scenario is that the futures contract moves hard against you before you get a chance to close it out.

I try to square most of my stuff before 3:30pm expiration day.

 

[slb3]

Most options on futures settle for the future, is if one leg is in the money, you will have a futures positions the next day. If both are, you won't.

This is what I had figured but thought I would ask the group to confirm this for me. Thanks for your reply.

 

[slb3]

No. It's only on expiration day.

Also for the OP, as Robert said you will wind up short/long the futures contract depending on your position and which leg was in the money. Worst case scenario is that the futures contract moves hard against you before you get a chance to close it out.

I try to square most of my stuff before 3:30pm expiration day.

Thanks for your input. BTW, does your screen name refer to the KTM motorcycle brand or something else?

 

[Zzzz1]

Anyone who trades futures options for purely speculative purpose would never have the contracts exercised at expiration, given it is a non-cash settled contract. Unless it makes economic sense to exercise early (if they are American style options), traders would simply close out the position by expiration. Hence, again, the max risk is the premium paid on long contracts.

No. It's only on expiration day.

Also for the OP, as Robert said you will wind up short/long the futures contract depending on your position and which leg was in the money. Worst case scenario is that the futures contract moves hard against you before you get a chance to close it out.

I try to square most of my stuff before 3:30pm expiration day.

 

[ktm]

Thanks for your input. BTW, does your screen name refer to the KTM motorcycle brand or something else?

My initials.

 

[ktm]

Anyone who trades futures options for purely speculative purpose would never have the contracts exercised at expiration, given it is a non-cash settled contract. Unless it makes economic sense to exercise early (if they are American style options), traders would simply close out the position by expiration. Hence, again, the max risk is the premium paid on long contracts.

The OP's question was

"My question is can anyone explain the worst case scenario with letting a futures option credit spread expire ITM."

That's what we were answering.

 

[Zzzz1]

sorry, I missed the part "expire ITM". My wrong.

The OP's question was

"My question is can anyone explain the worst case scenario with letting a futures option credit spread expire ITM."

That's what we were answering.

 

[MattZ]

ADM offer a tool on their web portal called "MAP"where you can see how much each Option you place will affect your margin. This gets updated with each of the SPAN arrays. Most options traders today get jacked up margins, especially if they are net short, so these type of tools are valuable in managing risk.

 

[Dolemite]

Thanks for your input. BTW, does your screen name refer to the KTM motorcycle brand or something else?

Great bikes! I never understood the appeal until my father in law let me ride his old one in the Colorado mountains.

 

[kcgoogler]

No. It's only on expiration day.

Not exactly. Assignment risk exists anytime when premium is small enough to offset carry cost for the assignment. It happens rarely but you can get assigned anytime a leg is in the money - specially deep in the money (has happened to me once or twice in about 2 years of trading fop's).

-gariki