5/21 Can someone explain options, futures, and derivatives in
a few paragraphs? -stock market dumb
\_ if you cant figure this
out or figure out enough
to ask a more specific
question, you are "dumb"
not "stock market dumb".
or lazy.
\_ No. Economics is hard. Figure out what day it is first.
\_ My understanding of these terms is as follows:
1. Option - a contract that gives you the right to buy a
particular quantity of a particular thing at a particular
price at a particular time in the future. You have the
"option" to buy the thing, but you aren't required to
buy it.
2. Future - a contract that requires you to buy a particular
quantity of a particular thing at a particular price at
a particular time in the future. You have to buy the thing
at the price no matter what.
3. Derivatives - options, futures, &c. are generally called
derivatives b/c their pricing is derived from the fair
market value of the thing that they cover.
Wikipedia has a decent discussion of these terms if you are
interested. |