In finance, a bond option is an option to buy or sell a bond at a certain price on or before the option expiry date. These instruments are typically traded OTC.
- A European bond option is an option to buy or sell a bond at a certain date in future for a predetermined price.
- An American bond option is an option to buy or sell a bond on or before a certain date in future for a predetermined price.
Generally, one buys a call option on the bond if one believes that interest rates will fall, causing an increase in bond prices. Likewise, one buys the put option if one believes that the opposite will be the case. One result of trading in a bond option, is that the price of the underlying bond is "locked in" for the term of the contract, thereby reducing the credit risk associated with fluctuations in the bond price.
Read more about Bond Option: Valuation, Embedded Options, Relationship With Caps and Floors
Famous quotes containing the words bond and/or option:
“It may comfort you to know that if your child reaches the age of eleven or twelve and you have a good bond or relationship, no matter how dramatic adolescence becomes, you children will probably turn out all right and want some form of connection to you in adulthood.”
—Charlotte Davis Kasl (20th century)
“You dont merely give over your creativity to making a filmyou give over your life! In theatre, by contrast, you live these two rather strange lives simultaneously; you have no option but to confront the mould on last nights washing-up.”
—Daniel Day Lewis (b. 1957)