Knowledge Center

Option Chain

For investors looking for option trading opportunities, the Option Chain tool offers real-time quotes on option contracts for an underlying symbol. To stream a specific option contract, right-click on the strike price for the underlying symbol you entered in the Symbol drop-down menu and select Add to Quote Grid.

To View an Option Chain:

1. Click the Option Chain button at the top of the Quote Grid window.

2. Input an underlying symbol into the entry field provided. To choose an underlying symbol from the stock list displaying in the Quote Grid window, open the Enter Symbol drop-down menu and click on a symbol from the drop-down menu.

3. The Scottrader Option Chain window is programmed to use the current month as the default expiration date and display all strike prices listed for that month. To define your search by expiration or strike pricing, use the Expiry and Strike Price drop-down menus.

4. A quote for the symbol you entered will display at the top of the Option Chain window. Below the quote, a list of available option contracts and the call and put information for each contract will be provided. Calls are listed in the left column and puts are listed in the right column.

5. Right-click on any option contract to open a Trade window.

To view only calls or puts for a security, use the arrows located in the top toolbar to collapse the appropriate column in your Option Chain window. To expand the hidden column, click the arrows a second time.

Color Codes in the Option Chain Window:

Light Green - The option contract is "in the money".

Light Blue - The option contract is "near the money".

White - Theoption contract is "out of the money".

To view the expiration date of an option contract, mouse over the expiration month in the Expiry column. The number of days until expiration is presented according to calendar days (not business days).

Use the Linker Tool to connect the Option window to other windows throughout Scottrader.

Please Note: Option contracts accompanied by an asterisk (*) are non-standard or have been adjusted. Option contracts may be adjusted when there is a reorganization, split or other corporate action involving shares of the underlying security. Adjusted options contracts cannot be traded online. Please contact your local branch for more information.

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The information and content provided in the Scottrade® Knowledge Center is for informational and/or educational purposes only. The information presented or discussed is not, and should not be considered, a recommendation or an offer of, or solicitation of an offer by, Scottrade or its affiliates to buy, sell or hold any security or other financial product or an endorsement or affirmation of any specific investment strategy. You are fully responsible for your investment decisions. Your choice to engage in a particular investment or investment strategy should be based solely on your own research and evaluation of the risks involved, your financial circumstances and your investment objectives. Scottrade, Inc. and its affiliates are not offering or providing, and will not offer or provide, any advice, opinion or recommendation of the suitability, value or profitability of any particular investment or investment strategy.