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What is option "premium"?
The
premium is the price at which an option trades, and is paid
by the buyer to the writer (seller) of the contract. The
premium paid by the buyer is non-refundable payment for
the rights inherent in the long contract. The writer (seller)
of an option contract keeps the premium received, whether
assigned or not, and is in turn obligated to fulfill the
short contract's obligations if assignment is received.
Options premium consists of 2 parts which are
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Intrinsic Value
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Time Value
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1. Intrinsic
Value
Intrinsic value represents the amount, if any, by which
an option contract is in-the-money. By definition, at- and
out-of-the-money options do not have intrinsic value.
2. Time Value
Time value represents the portion of an option's total premium
that exceeds its intrinsic value, if it has any. By definition,
the premium of at- and out-of-the-money options is entirely
time value.
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