What Is Put Writing?

When a put option is sold, the put writer receives a premium payment from the buyer, who becomes the put holder. In return for this premium, the put writer undertakes a significant obligation - the commitment to purchase the underlying asset at the predetermined strike price.

Understanding Put Options

Put options are like contracts that give you the choice (but not the requirement) to sell something, usually a stock, at a set price (called the strike price) before a certain date. These contracts are important in options trading and have many uses in finance. Investors should familiarise themselves with the different types of derivatives available, as each offers unique features. Some of the benefits for managing financial risk and optimising investment strategies.

Put options grant the holder the right to sell an underlying asset at a specified price before the expiration date. This is the price at which the underlying asset can be sold by the option holder. It is a crucial element as it determines the potential profit or loss associated with the option contract. Put options have a finite lifespan. The expiration date is the point at which the option contract becomes invalid, and the right to sell the underlying asset no longer exists.

The Process of Writing Put Options

It's essential to grasp the complexities of the put writing process and understand the associated risks and potential rewards.The process of put writing involves several key steps which are as follows:

1. Choose the Underlying Asset

The first step in writing put options is selecting the underlying asset on which you want to write the options. This could be stocks, commodities, or even indices. It's essential to have a good understanding of the asset's fundamentals and market conditions since this will influence your strategy.

2. Select an Expiration Date and a Strike Price.

Once you've chosen the underlying asset, you need to decide on the strike price and expiration date for the put options you plan to write. The strike price is the price at which the put option holder can sell the asset to you, and the expiration date is the date until which the option is valid. Your choice of strike price and expiration date depends on your market outlook and risk tolerance.

3. Sell the Put Option

Enter the strike price and expiration date for a put option contract on the selected underlying asset. A premium will be paid to you by the option buyer.

4. Observe Market Conditions

Keep an eye on the market and follow the underlying asset's performance. The price of the underlying asset should ideally continue to be higher than the strike price of the put option you sold.

5. Expiration or Early Exercise

At or before to the option's expiration date, one of two events is possible:

Obligations of Put Writers

Put writers take on specific responsibilities and potential risks as they engage in this strategy. Financial derivatives, such as options and futures, play a crucial role in managing risk and hedging against market volatility in today's complex financial landscape. Let's explore the obligations and commitments that come with being a put writer in options markets.

1. Buy the Asset (If Exercised)

If the option is exercised, even though the market price is lower, you are required to buy the underlying asset at the strike price. This indicates that you need to be ready to buy the asset.

2. Maintain Margin Requirements

You may occasionally need to keep margin requirements with your broker in order to protect against potential losses, particularly when writing naked puts (without enough cash or collateral).

3. Respect the Agreement

Regardless of the state of the market, you are required to abide by the provisions of the option agreement.

Benefits Of Put Writing

Put writing, commonly referred to as selling put options, is an options trading technique that has various advantages for both traders and investors. In this technique, put options are sold on underlying assets in the hope that they will expire worthless or may be repurchased at a discount. The following are some major advantages of put writing:

1. Income Generation

The opportunity to make money is one of the main benefits of put writing. The buyer pays you a premium when you sell a put option. Regardless of whether the option is exercised, you keep this premium. Investors that are focused on earning a constant income may find this income to be attractive.

2. Risk Reduction

If the option is exercised, put writing can be used to buy assets for a cheaper price. This may be a means of risk reduction. For instance, if you want to buy a particular stock but think it is currently overpriced, you can sell put options with a strike price at the point where you'd feel secure making the purchase. You will purchase the shares at a more advantageous price if the stock price drops to that level.

3. Enhancing a Portfolio

Put writing can improve a portfolio's overall performance. You can possibly generate income while lowering the true cost of the assets in your portfolio by selling put options on equities or indices. Better long-term returns may result from doing so.

4. Flexibility

Put writing enables investors to select the level of risk they want to take. Depending on your risk appetite and investing objectives, you can choose strike prices and expiration dates. While those looking for bigger profits may choose riskier positions, more conservative investors may sell put options with lower strike prices and shorter expiration periods.

Put Writing Examples

In 2020, Reliance Industries, led by Chairman Mukesh Ambani, embarked on an ambitious plan to reduce its debt and fuel its expansion initiatives. To achieve this goal, the company decided to monetize a portion of its digital arm, Jio Platforms, through a series of strategic investments.

The Put Writing Strategy As part of its plan, Reliance Industries adopted a unique and innovative financial strategy involving put writing. They issued American-style put options to investors, allowing these investors to sell shares of Reliance Industries at predetermined strike prices.

In this case, Reliance Industries structured a deal where Facebook, Inc. invested $5.7 billion for a 9.99% stake in Jio Platforms. As a part of this deal, Reliance issued put options to Facebook, giving Facebook the right to sell back its stake to Reliance Industries at a fixed price after a certain period.

Reliance Industries use of put writing in its deal with Facebook showcased the creative application of financial derivatives to achieve strategic goals. It not only raised substantial capital but also effectively managed risk, providing a blueprint for innovative corporate finance strategies in India's business landscape.

Conclusion

For any new investors understanding put writing meaning can be a valuable step in learning options trading. Put options are flexible financial instruments that give the holder the option to sell the underlying asset at a predetermined price within a predetermined time frame. They are useful tools for risk management and speculative trading, giving traders and investors the chance to profit from falling asset prices and safeguard their assets against downside risk.

During market downturns, having a put option in your portfolio can act as a protective shield, allowing you to limit potential losses by selling an underlying asset at a predetermined price. Put writers have opportunities to make profit. This versatility makes put writing a valuable tool for traders and investors seeking to navigate different market scenarios.