Option Strategies Details

Buy a Call
1. Speculate on a large, volatile price increase
Up
Up
Strike Price plus Premium (debit) paid
Protective Put
Cost of the Call
same as Max Contract Loss
Long Call
You buy (long) a Call
Description
A trader who wants to speculate on a large, fast, and volatile price increase can buy a Call. The trader pays a debit, called a premium, to buy the Call and has the right (but not the obligation) to buy 100 shares at the strike price.
Suppose stock XYZ is trading at $24. You forecast a large, fast increase in XYZ price and you also forecast an increase in XYZ volatility.
You buy a $25 Call for $0.50 to express this view. Your breakeven XYZ price at expiry is $25 (strike price) + $0.50 (premium paid) = $25.50, but since the time component of your trade plan may not extend all the way to expiration you should be prepared to sell to close at a variety of XYZ prices as the market value of your $25 Call changes.