Options trading in Canada

Options trading Canada can be defined as contracts permitting investors to buy or sell a particular stock at a given price in Canada with the contract covering a given time. A good example of an option is ETF. You are purchasing a stock when you buy an options contract. Buying an option gives you the right to hold the option to its expiration date. Purchasing options contracts usually occur in blocks of 100 shares. Investors can retract the contract at any time since they are not under obligation to exercise an options contract.

Our best Canadian option trading brokers

Broker
Rating
Regulated
Bonus
Min. Deposit
Max. Leverage
1.
FXCC

CySEC, VFSC

100% bonus

USD 100

1:500

2.
Avatrade

IIROC, ASIC, BVI, CBI, JFSA, ADGM FRSA

up to $2000 bonus

USD 100

1:400

3.
Fpmarkets

CySEC, ASIC

N/A

USD 100

1:500

4.
Easymarkets

FSA, CySec, BVI, ASIC

up to 50% bonus

USD 100

1:2000

5.
Fusion Markets Canada

ASIC, VFSC

N/A

USD 100

1:500

6.
Blackbull Markets

ASIC, VFSC

N/A

USD 100

1:500

7.
Forex.com

IIROC, ASIC, FCA, JFSA, NFA, CFTC, CIMA

up to 20%

USD 50

1:500

8.
Fortrade

IIROC, FCA

up to 20%

USD 100

1:100

9.
FXChoice

FSC

up to 15%

USD 100

1:200

Call Options

It is an option contract enabling you to purchase a stock at a given price; that particular price is the strike price referred to as a call option in the future. Purchasing a call option means you hope that the ETF or stock will increase in value to enable you to exercise the sell option at a profit. If the price of the option rises higher than the strike price before it expires, you can now activate the call option to help you get a profit.

Failure of the stock price to go higher than the strike price translates to the contract being out of the money. This means the contract ends in a loss when the trader activates the call option. The value of the option increases as the strike price is lower in a call option.

Put Option

This is a contract permitting the investor to sell a given amount of shares at a particular price when the option expires. The investor expects the asset’s market price to decrease to enable them to make a profit. The strike price needs to be lower than the stock price for the put option to generate a profit. The intrinsic value of a put option increases as the strike price increases.

Option Premium

This represents the total price to purchase an option and t is expressed on a per-share basis with each contract comprising 100 shares. The option premiums have their basis on time value and intrinsic value. The premium increases as its extrinsic or intrinsic value increases.

Long-term and short-term options

You can use duration to identify options. This brings up the classification of options as long-term and short-term options. The long-term options feature over 1-year expiration dates and the short-term options can expire in less than a year. Long-term options are more expensive than short-term options. You can also use them to profit from an underlying asset underlying significant events.
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Long-term options trading Canada costs more because of a rise in time value. This means the stock price has more time to rise. Investors leverage short-term options, anticipating the long-term increase in a stock’s price.

In –the-money vs. out-of-the-money

You will make a profit from an options contract if it is in the money. On the flip side, you will record a loss from an out-of-the-money option contract. The underlying stock price of a contract in the money will be higher than the strike price. The underlying stock’s price on a put option will be higher than the strike price.

What is the strike price?

The strike price is an important part of options trading. It represents the price at which an asset in an options contract is bought or sold. In a call option, the stroke price represents the price at which the trader can buy the particular stock. In a put option, the strike price is the price at which the trader can sell the asset. The strike price determines the options contract’s value.

What is an options market?

An options market is where the trader buys and sells options contracts. The stock exchange refuses to list an option since it does not represent actual security, like an ETF or stock. You can buy and sell stock in an online brokerage account, which is the same place where you can trade options.

Where to trade an option in Canada

Options trading Canada begins with opening an online brokerage account if you do not have an account already. Check if your existing account permits you to buy and sell options. You can find so many online brokers in Canada where you can start trading options in the country. You can register with any of the verified brokers operating independently or with any of the big banks’ brokers. All the big banks in the country have their own brokerage platforms. You are better off with a broker offering a series of trading options.

How to pick a good broker?

The points mentioned below can help you to pick the right one among the available brokers for options trading Canada.

  • Check the margin requirement. Your focus should be on brokers offering margin requirements ranging from 0% to 30%.
  • Consider the number of years of trading experience. Those brokers with several years of experience will always offer better trading experiences.
  • Check for the flexibility of fixed pricing or tiered pricing.
  • Does the broker enable options trading outside North America? You are better off with a broker permitting this as it gives you more trading options. A broker should permit options trading in multiple countries and cover several markets.

Options trading in Canada involves the use of leverage to help increase profit potential on the particular underlying security. The use of leverage limits your downside to the premium paid at the same time. The number of shares you can buy increases as the price reduces. If the stock value is high, you can purchase only a few shares. The reverse is the case if the price is low.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can trade options in Canada?

Options trading Canada is open to all interested individuals from any part of the country. You can venture into options trading if you have the fund and the required knowledge.

Is there an age limit to options trading?

Most options trading brokers demand that their traders are 18 years and above before they can register on the platforms to trade options. Find out what obtains on the site before you register there.

How can I start options trading?

You need to first register with an options broker to start options trading Canada. After registering, deposit money and start trading.

Is options trading risky?

Yes, options trading is risky. So, make sure you only trade options with money you can afford to lose.