Investing in options
Learn more about the features, risks and benefits of investing in options
You will find a range of resources here to help you understand the potential of options and the role it can play in your portfolio.
Try our online courses, or test your knowledge with our Options Trading Game.
Equip yourself with the knowledge of how options work and be ready for market opportunities, regardless of which direction it moves.
What are options?
Options are contracts between two parties, giving the buyer the right – but not an obligation – to buy or sell an underlying security at a predetermined price at a specified time in the future.
They allow you to ‘lock in’ a future buy or sell price for a security, allowing price certainty. Options can:
- Get leveraged exposure to the share market
- Buy time to decide - but lock in your purchase or sale price today
- Protect your shares from a fall
- Earn income
When used well, options may have the power to protect, grow or even diversify your investment portfolio. As options can be used regardless of market conditions, they are popular with many investors.
Like any investment, options have risks you need to understand. You should seek independent advice from a professional adviser before investing.
Investment strategies
There are many strategies that you can adopt using options - depending on whether you think the underlying assets are likely to rise, fall or remain steady.
The Options Trading Game
Build your options knowledge through a practical, eight-week experience.
The game is designed for people who are new to options, as well as those with some prior knowledge, and focuses on building understanding through practical experience.
In a simulated trading environment, participants trade options over shares, ETFs and the S&P/ASX 200 index.
This allows participants to test different strategies and observe how options behave under changing market conditions.
Subscribe to the Options Trading Game newsletter
Get notified when Options game registrations open and receive weekly insights, strategies and game updates during each competition.
2026 Options Trading Game
Registrations for the sandbox are now open. The game will start on Monday 26 October and run until Friday 18 December.
Allowing profit from both rising and falling markets make options powerful products. However, options do carry risks, including the potential for unlimited losses. Learn more about the benefits and risks of investing in options.
Understanding how options are priced can help you to make smart investment decisions.
You can trade options over single securities, exchange traded funds or over an index. Learn more about the different types of options.
With around 26 strategies to choose from, options provide investment pathways regardless of how the market performs.
You can trade options on ASX Trade through an accredited broker. The clearing house, ASX Clear acts as the seller to every buyer and the buyer to every seller, reducing risk and making it easier to take a position that reflects your view. Learn more about buying and selling options.
The calculations provided by the margin estimator are estimations only.
Short-Dated Index Options are exchange traded options on the S&P/ASX 200 Index that expire every business day, allowing investors to take short-term market positions without owning the underlying shares.
Find all the most recent Options Market Notices.
Access more brochures and information on options and other products here