Expiration - Assignment

Discussion in 'Options' started by JWin12, Mar 3, 2006.

  1. JWin12

    JWin12

    I am looking to sell some deep in the money calls on an existing position. What are the costs of beign assigned?

    Take today for instance - I could purchase some GOOG share at 378 and turn around and sell a 300 call for roughly 80 having a gain of $200 per contract, somewhat risk free. Will the assignment costs eat this up?
     
  2. ask your broker what their assignment fee is....its usually a flat fee and fairly reasonable at discount on-line brokerages
     
  3. Keep in mind that tying up $37800 for 2 weeks means you'll either be forgoing $72 (if you're using cash that would otherwise be getting 5% interest) or paying up to $145 (if your broker's margin rate is 10%).
     
  4. MTE

    MTE

    You risk/reward sucks. You are risking $29,800 (37,800-8,000) per contract to make $200, which will be eaten up by commissions and cost of carry.

    Nothing's risk free!
     
  5. If you are a customer of IB, be very careful about playing with selling in-the-money options--unless, as in the example you gave, you have the underlying stock.