{"id":7427,"date":"2023-08-23T14:06:27","date_gmt":"2023-08-23T18:06:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ibkrcampus.eu\/trading-lessons\/portal-options-trading-2\/"},"modified":"2023-11-28T15:33:38","modified_gmt":"2023-11-28T15:33:38","slug":"portal-options-trading-2","status":"publish","type":"trading-lessons","link":"https:\/\/www.interactivebrokers.eu\/campus\/trading-lessons\/portal-options-trading-2\/","title":{"rendered":"IBKR\u2019s Client Portal \u2013 Options Trading"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

IBKR\u2019s Client Portal contains a variety of tools for options trading including option chains, Options Wizard, the ability to enter combo orders and the exercise\/lapse options tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Option Chain<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Investors can view Option Chains on a selected instrument from the Trade menu by selecting Option Chains and searching for a contract or underlying symbol in the search bar. The top of the page will include options data values for the selected underlying, including option volume, implied volatility, and historical volatility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The expirations are listed below. The investor can use the blue arrow icon to scroll through the expirations and click on the expiration they would like to view. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To the left of the expirations, the investor can access the Options Wizard, which we will cover later in this lesson. The investor can adjust the View to Calls & Puts, Calendar Spread, Vertical Spread, or Diagonal Spread.  and select the Settings icon to adjust the Strike Display, Time Period, and Columns. Switch the toggles on to display Weekly contracts and Options Market Data. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the view set to Calls & Puts, Call options will populate on the left, put options on the right, and the strikes down the middle. To select a contract to trade, the investor can click on the Bid price for a sell order or the Ask price for a buy order and a pop-up will appear on the right hand side with a summary of the investor\u2019s trade and performance profile. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In this example, the investor would like to submit an opening order for a call option. They will start by selecting the expiration they wish to trade. In the option chains, the investor scrolls through the list of strikes and then clicks on the corresponding Ask price under the Calls section to the left of the Strike. The buy order is populated in the order preview window to the right of the screen. Select the blue Order button in the top right corner and the Order Ticket will populate. The investor can modify the order parameters as needed and select Preview or Submit Order when ready. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Combo Orders<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Investors can also create any kind of combination spread order through the Option Chain page to submit orders for multiple leg combos. From the View dropdown menu, investors can choose between Calendar Spread, Vertical Spread, and Diagonal Spread. In this example, the investor chooses Vertical Spread. A table of predefined combination orders will populate into the chart. Click on the box for the desired combo and an order details window will appear to the right displaying the legs and a performance profile. To submit the order, the investor selects the Order button to launch the Order Ticket. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If the investor would prefer to build their own spread, they can do so from the option chain by selecting Calls & Puts in the view dropdown. In the list of contracts displayed, select the expiration followed by the bid or ask for one leg of the combo. The popup will appear to the right with a summary of the trade thus far. The investor can click the arrow icon on the left side of the pop up to collapse the order summary window. Back in the Option Chain, the investor will select the bid or ask next to any additional contracts they wish to add to the order to build the spread. In the Order Summary window, enter a quantity next to each leg to set the ratio for the order. For example, entering a quantity of one for one leg that is selling and two for the second leg which is buying will create an order to sell one contract for every two that are bought. Click on the word \u201cSell\u201d or \u201cBuy\u201d next to the leg to update a sell order to a buy order, or a buy order to a sell order. Use the X icon to the right of the leg to delete a specific leg, and the \u201cClear\u201d trash can icon to delete the entire order and start over. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Add a Stock Leg<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If the investor would like to add a stock leg to the order, they can select the Add Stock Leg button from the Order Summary window and the underlying symbol will automatically be added as a stock leg. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Select the blue Order button to populate the Order Ticket and fill in the order details for the options combo. When ready, select to Submit or Preview the order.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Options Wizard<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Options Wizard prompts the investor to answer a few questions on either the price or volatility associated with the stock and identifies some standard strategies based on the investor’s predictions. From the Option Chains, select the Options Wizard button to the left of the expirations. A disclaimer will be displayed in the middle of the screen and below it the investor can make their own calculation as to: <\/p>\n\n\n\n