Online Class Spotlight: Options Strategies in a Bearish Market

Do the recently declining markets have you wondering of ways to invest with options to potentially take advantage of declining market prices? Perhaps our Bear Markets class will help you explore various option strategies that can be used in the event that you feel declining market prices are going to continue. Numerous strategies are discussed in the course, including long puts, long index puts and bear put spreads. This class is designed to help one better understand how to use options in anticipation of declining market prices. Take the class.

New Version Released: Taxes & Investing Brochure

Check out the updated Taxes & Investing brochure from OIC. This valuable resource summarizes the basic rules of federal income taxation for those investors who trade options. The 2009 version has been updated to include more applicable examples and revisions to some tax guidelines. Click here to check out the brochure or order your own FREE copy. Bulk orders of the brochure are available – for pricing information, call 1-888-OPTIONS or email options@theocc.com.

New Podcast Series: Developing a Trading Strategy

In this podcast, you will learn about what to consider when implementing a forecast and the role an investor needs to take in order to actively manage their options positions. Learn how to better understand which options trading style works best for you with this new podcast series from OIC that covers both basic and advanced strategies, the Greeks and various trade-offs when it comes to risks and rewards.
Listen Now.

Have you tried the OIC Help Desk?

Are you having difficulty understanding a particular options strategy? Want to discuss a potential contract adjustment? Did an options investment not work out the way you planned? Our Investor Services Specialists are here to assist you with these and other questions regarding options. Simply dial 1-888-OPTIONS (1-888-678-4667) and we will do our best to help you.

February Options Volume Highlights

The Options Industry Council (OIC) announced in March that total options trading volume in February was 256,464,343 contracts, a 4.93 percent increase over the 244,419,633 contracts traded for the same period last year. Average daily trading volume in February was 13,498,123 contracts compared to 12,220,981 contracts for the same year-ago period, which is a 10.45 percent increase. In an unusual occurrence, average daily volume in February was higher than it was in January—13.5 million contracts compared to 12.9 million—something that has not happened in at least eight years.
Read more.

Options Industry Conference 2009

The Options Industry Conference is the premier event for top level management and trading professionals to exchange ideas, strengthen relationships and forge new connections.
More Information.

Upcoming OIC Seminars

Basic

• Mar. 24 - Seattle/ Bellevue, WA
• Apr. 21 - Dallas, TX
• May 5 - Wash. D.C./ Alexandria, VA

Intermediate

• Mar. 18 - Philadelphia, PA
• Mar. 24 - New York Midtown, NY
• Mar. 25 - Seattle/ Bellevue, WA
• Mar. 31 - Boston/ Cambridge, MA

Volatility

• Mar. 19 - Philadelphia, PA
• Mar. 25 - New York Midtown, NY
• Apr. 1 - Boston/Cambridge, MA

Chat Live With an Options Professional

Wondering how to use options to hedge your positions or portfolio? Visit our web site, where you can now instant message our options professionals. After numerous customer requests, we are offering this additional line of communication to our experienced Options Help Desk. We are available to chat and answer your options questions every trading day. Why not give it a try today?