  1: The Options Symbol  An option symbol is made up of three parts: a symbol, an expiry code, and a price. The symbol is not always the same as the stock symbol, and is always between one and three characters in length. It is generally the same for NYSE stocks, and never the same for Nasdaq and stocks trading on other exchanges. Akamai Technologies, whose stock trades on the Nasdaq as AKAM, has the options symbol of RUG. America Online, whose stock trades on the NYSE as AOL, has the options symbol of AOL. The expiry code contains the month of expiry as well as the type of option (call or put). The strike price code signifies the strike price of the option - except that since there are so many possible strike prices that the same code represents multiple strike prices. ©2001 xguru, Inc. A Cardinal Factor Company. All rights reserved. |
