http://www.options-trading-education.com/6616/stock-options-in-a-crisis/ Stock Options in a Crisis There always seems to be trouble in the world and it invariably affects the stock market. Many traders as well as long term investors choose to use stock options in a crisis situation. There are various options trading strategies but the use of stock options in a crisis is unique in that it can be both a defensive and an opportunistic play. We do not have to look back all that far to see an example of an externally caused crisis that rocked the stock market. The September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center Twin Towers and the Pentagon as well as the failed attack on the US Capitol Building brought not only a time of crisis to the United States of America but also to the capital markets of North America. The use of stock options in a crisis of the proportions the September 11 attacks is instructive for options traders. An Attack on the American Homeland The attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 was a distant memory for many when terrorists hijacked four aircraft and took down the twin towers of the World Trade Center and attacked the Pentagon. Before that the only attack by a foreign power on US soil was in the War of 1812. Despite US involvement in two world wars, the Korean and Vietnam conflicts, the Gulf War and Panama Invasion, the US homeland was considered inviolate. Then, just before markets opened in New York, a plane crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Both the NYSE and NASDAQ did not open that morning and remained closed for four days. The longest previous shutdown was in the Great Depression in 1933. Stock Trading in the Aftermath of the September 11 Attacks The NYSE composite index fell 7.1 percent, 684 points, when the market reopened on September 17, 2001. At the end of the week the Dow Jones Industrial Average had fallen 1,370 points. Just less than one and a half trillion dollars in market value evaporated in the first five days of trading after the September 11 attacks. With this bit of history as a backdrop let’s look at stock options trading in a crisis. There was certainly good reason for panic after a dramatic attack on the US homeland and its financial center. There was good reason to sell off both American and United Airlines as their planes were hijacked and used in the attacks. One might have been wise to wonder if the airlines might be held negligent in the matter of in flight security. AMR, American Airlines, lost thirty-nine percent of its value and United lost forty-two percent of its value when trading reopened. The tourism and hospitality industries took big hits. Insurance companies paid out over forty billion dollars on claims. The flip side of these stock losses is that defense stocks and companies that sell services and weapon to the police saw their stocks rise. Both put and call volume rose on the CBOE with the use of stock options in a crisis.

1. By www.Options-Trading-Education.com

2.  There always seems to be trouble in the
world and it invariably affects the stock
market.
http://www.options-trading-education.com/6616/stock-options-in-a-crisis/

3.  Many traders as well as long term
investors choose to use stock options in a
crisis situation.
http://www.options-trading-education.com/6616/stock-options-in-a-crisis/

4.  There are various options trading
strategies but the use of stock options in a
crisis is unique in that it can be both a
defensive and an opportunistic play.
http://www.options-trading-education.com/6616/stock-options-in-a-crisis/

5.  We do not have to look back all that far to
see an example of an externally caused
crisis that rocked the stock market.
http://www.options-trading-education.com/6616/stock-options-in-a-crisis/

6.  The September 11, 2001 attacks on the
World Trade Center Twin Towers and the
Pentagon
http://www.options-trading-education.com/6616/stock-options-in-a-crisis/

7.  as well as the failed attack on the US
Capitol Building brought not only a time of
crisis
http://www.options-trading-education.com/6616/stock-options-in-a-crisis/

8.  to the United States of America but also to
the capital markets of North America.
http://www.options-trading-education.com/6616/stock-options-in-a-crisis/

9.  The use of stock options in a crisis of the
proportions the September 11 attacks is
instructive for options traders.
http://www.options-trading-education.com/6616/stock-options-in-a-crisis/

10.  The attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 was a
distant memory for many when terrorists
hijacked
http://www.options-trading-education.com/6616/stock-options-in-a-crisis/

11.  four aircraft and took down the twin towers
of the World Trade Center and attacked
the Pentagon.
http://www.options-trading-education.com/6616/stock-options-in-a-crisis/

12.  Before that the only attack by a foreign
power on US soil was in the War of 1812.
http://www.options-trading-education.com/6616/stock-options-in-a-crisis/

13.  Despite US involvement in two world wars,
the Korean and Vietnam conflicts, the Gulf
War and Panama Invasion, the US
homeland was considered inviolate.
http://www.options-trading-education.com/6616/stock-options-in-a-crisis/

14.  Then, just before markets opened in New
York, a plane crashed into the North Tower
of the World Trade Center.
http://www.options-trading-education.com/6616/stock-options-in-a-crisis/

15.  Both the NYSE and NASDAQ did not open
that morning and remained closed for four
days.
http://www.options-trading-education.com/6616/stock-options-in-a-crisis/

16.  The longest previous shutdown was in the
Great Depression in 1933.
http://www.options-trading-education.com/6616/stock-options-in-a-crisis/

17.  The NYSE composite index fell 7.1
percent, 684 points, when the market
reopened on September 17, 2001.
http://www.options-trading-education.com/6616/stock-options-in-a-crisis/

18.  At the end of the week the Dow Jones
Industrial Average had fallen 1,370 points.
http://www.options-trading-education.com/6616/stock-options-in-a-crisis/

19.  Just less than one and a half trillion dollars
in market value evaporated in the first five
days of trading after the September 11
attacks.
http://www.options-trading-education.com/6616/stock-options-in-a-crisis/

20.  With this bit of history as a backdrop let’s
look at stock options trading in a crisis.
http://www.options-trading-education.com/6616/stock-options-in-a-crisis/

21.  There was certainly good reason for panic
after a dramatic attack on the US
homeland and its financial center.
http://www.options-trading-education.com/6616/stock-options-in-a-crisis/

22.  There was good reason to sell off both
American and United Airlines as their
planes were hijacked and used in the
attacks.
http://www.options-trading-education.com/6616/stock-options-in-a-crisis/

23.  One might have been wise to wonder if the
airlines might be held negligent in the
matter of in flight security.
http://www.options-trading-education.com/6616/stock-options-in-a-crisis/

24.  AMR, American Airlines, lost thirty-nine
percent of its value and United lost forty-
two percent of its value when trading
reopened.
http://www.options-trading-education.com/6616/stock-options-in-a-crisis/

25.  The tourism and hospitality industries took
big hits. Insurance companies paid out
over forty billion dollars on claims.
http://www.options-trading-education.com/6616/stock-options-in-a-crisis/

26.  The flip side of these stock losses is that
defense stocks and companies that sell
services and weapon to the police saw
their stocks rise.
http://www.options-trading-education.com/6616/stock-options-in-a-crisis/

27.  Both put and call volume rose on the
CBOE with the use of stock options in a
crisis.
http://www.options-trading-education.com/6616/stock-options-in-a-crisis/

28.  Traders looked to protect against losses
and, in a period of uncertainty, to engage
in a profitable option trade or two.
http://www.options-trading-education.com/6616/stock-options-in-a-crisis/

29.  Those who expected to see stocks fall and
continue to fall purchased puts on stocks
that they owned and stocks that they did
not own.
http://www.options-trading-education.com/6616/stock-options-in-a-crisis/

30.  Those who expected to see stocks rise
immediately or to rebound later purchased
calls.
http://www.options-trading-education.com/6616/stock-options-in-a-crisis/

31.  Puts allow the options trader to sell a stock
at the contract price no matter how far it
falls and calls allow the options trader to
buy at the contract price no matter how
high it rises.
http://www.options-trading-education.com/6616/stock-options-in-a-crisis/

32.  Traders buy options to hedge risk and to
lock in gains.
http://www.options-trading-education.com/6616/stock-options-in-a-crisis/

33.  This is the gist of options trading and how
one uses stock options in a crisis.
http://www.options-trading-education.com/6616/stock-options-in-a-crisis/

34.  For more insights and useful information
about options and options trading, visit
www.Options-Trading-Education.com.
http://www.options-trading-education.com/6616/stock-options-in-a-crisis/