Non-Equity Option

An option that does not have equity as its underlying asset.

Author: Arshnoor Kamboj
Arshnoor Kamboj
Arshnoor Kamboj
Reviewed By: David Bickerton
David Bickerton
David Bickerton
Asset Management | Financial Analysis

Previously a Portfolio Manager for MDH Investment Management, David has been with the firm for nearly a decade, serving as President since 2015. He has extensive experience in wealth management, investments and portfolio management.

David holds a BS from Miami University in Finance.

Last Updated:November 6, 2024

What Is A Non-Equity Option?

A non-equity option is a derivative that provides a holder of the contract the right, but not an obligation, to buy or sell the derivative that is not an equity stock at a predetermined price before the expiration of the contract.

These non-equity underlying assets can be a commodity, currency, or indices.

They allow investors to hedge against price changes, remove risk, and play one of the most significant roles. The trader may hold various positions on exchanges and utilize the option to offset any potential losses on other assets.

These options can be used with any available strategy for exchange-traded options. These consist of straightforward puts and calls and combination and spread methods that combine two or more options. Iron butterflies strangle and vertical spreads are a few examples of combos and spreads.

These options make sense since they allow an investor to maintain a well-balanced portfolio by assisting him in risk hedging.

In addition, with the knowledge that he can utilize a non-equity option to restore the balance if the positions significantly rise or decrease, he has more leeway to execute trades and take positions.

But there is no surefire way to liquidate the option position before expiration. So, OTC non-equity options have limited liquidity. As a result, one of the parties must locate a third party to enter into an option contract to balance a position.

Suppose it is not possible to do so. In that case, the investor may purchase or sell another option in a comparable sector to partially balance the movements of the initial underlying asset.

The procedure is substantially more straightforward for exchange-traded options because all the investor has to do is offset the exchange position.

Generate Key Takeaways
Generating ...
  • A non-equity option is a derivative contract that gives the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an underlying asset that is not a stock at a predetermined price before a specific expiration date.
  • The pricing of non-equity options is influenced by several factors, including the volatility of the underlying asset, time to expiration, interest rates, and market demand for the options.
  • Non-equity options are often used as hedging instruments to manage exposure to price fluctuations in commodities, currencies, or indices, providing protection against adverse market movements.
  • Common examples of non-equity options include options on futures contracts, commodity options (e.g., oil, gold), currency options, and options on financial indices (e.g., S&P 500, FTSE 100).
High Finance Offer Guaranteed
WSO Academy's 12-week program has a 92% success rate

Understanding Non-equity Option

A financial instrument whose price is derived from the change in the underlying asset/security market value is known as a derivative. They primarily consist of F&O, i.e., Futures and options. Both are a kind of contract between two parties looking to gain from the agreement.

Options are financial derivatives that provide buyers the options, but not the obligation, to purchase or sell an underlying asset at a predetermined price and date.

An option that does not have equity as its underlying asset is known as a non-equity option. In the Over-The-Counter (OTC) market, practically any asset is optionable, but often, this refers to a stock index, physical commodity, or futures contract.

A few examples of these fundamental assets are Real Estate and Fixed-income derivatives.

The most common underlying assets for such options are commodities and indices. As long as the opportunity doesn't include ordinary stocks, it may be used to describe a range of options.

A derivative contract with a non-equity underlying asset is called a non-equity option. The exchange determines the strike prices, expiry times, and contract sizes for exchange-traded non-equity options, such as gold or currency options.

Buyer and seller act as counterparties to the trade and jointly choose the conditions for OTC non-equity options.

Since there is no certain way to liquidate the option position before expiration, OTC (Over-the-counter) non-equity options have a restricted amount of liquidity. There are various reasons why OTC trading is desirable. The parties secretly handle all discussions, agreements, and transactions.

There is the possibility for fantastic bargains and huge profits if exercised, provided that both parties can ultimately reach an agreement that satisfies all demands.

Free Resources

To continue learning and advancing your career, check out these additional helpful WSO resources: