Futures and Options Trading: The Gamble of Tomorrow
Rajiv leaned back in his chair, eyes glued to the screen showing live market data. Numbers flickered as if teasing him, reflecting both opportunity and risk. He had been trading futures and options for a few years, with moderate success, but today he was feeling ambitious. Nifty was trading near an all-time high, and analysts were split on where it would go next. He believed he saw an opportunity - one that could make him more in a month than he’d made all year. Or… it could leave him in debt. But that was the allure of the market.
He took a deep breath and logged into his brokerage account, skimming through the available contracts. A recent rally had pushed Nifty up to 24,550, and Rajiv was betting that it had more room to grow before month’s end. But he wasn’t interested in buying stocks outright. Futures and options trading - derivatives - was where he found his thrill.
For weeks, he’d analyzed historical price movements, read economic reports, and followed global markets, building his conviction that Nifty would break above 25,000. He was ready for a bold trade, one he’d crafted as carefully as a chess opening.
“Alright, Rajiv. This is it,” he whispered, clicking on the Nifty 25,000 call option, expiring in two weeks. He knew that if the market rallied, his call option would soar in value. But he wasn’t done. He also entered a bear put spread as a hedge - selling a 24,200 put option while buying a 24,000 put to limit potential losses. It was a strategy he’d learned from his mentor, Raghav, a veteran trader who always emphasized risk management: “In trading, it’s not just about how much you make. It’s about how much you don’t lose.”
Satisfied with his positions, he closed his laptop and leaned back. Now, all he could do was wait.
Days passed, and the market fluctuated wildly. One morning, news broke of a potential interest rate hike in the U.S., sending global markets into a tailspin. Rajiv’s call option was tanking. He stared at the screen in disbelief, watching his unrealized profit shrink, then turn into a loss. His heart pounded, hands sweaty as he considered closing the trade. But he remembered Raghav’s words: “Don’t let fear make your decisions.”
In moments of doubt, Rajiv forced himself to look at the numbers rationally. His hedge, the bear put spread, was doing exactly what it was supposed to - offsetting some of the losses on the call. He held his breath and decided to keep both trades open, hoping for a rebound.
Two days before expiration, the markets recovered slightly, and Rajiv’s confidence returned. He watched as Nifty crept closer to 25,000, and his call option turned profitable again. But time decay was catching up fast, eroding the option’s value. Rajiv made the decision to close his position while he was still ahead.
By the end of the week, Nifty hit 25,050 - a level that would have maximized his call option’s profit had he held. Still, Rajiv felt satisfied. He had exited with a respectable gain while managing his downside.
That night, Rajiv called Raghav to share the details of his trade. After listening, Raghav chuckled. “So, what did you learn?”
“That no trade is ever perfect,” Rajiv replied, laughing. “And that sometimes, the best wins are the ones where you don’t lose your shirt.”
Raghav laughed too. “You’ve learned well, Rajiv. Futures and options aren’t just about the trades themselves - they’re about discipline. Every position is a gamble on tomorrow, but the way you play it today… that’s what makes all the difference.”
As Rajiv hung up, he realized his mentor was right. Trading wasn’t just about the numbers on the screen; it was about the lessons learned and the wisdom earned. With his newfound confidence, he knew he’d be back to trade another day - armed not just with strategies but with the patience and humility of a trader who understood the stakes.
Warm regards,
Dr Shashank M Hiremath
DISM, B.Com, MBA, NET, M.Com, Ph.D.
Phone: +91-9845239036
Email: shashankmh2000@gmail.
