What do I need to know about Futures and Options?.. I want to trade in options what do I need to know?. 

Members are requested to note the following amendments to the NSCCL (Futures and Options Segment) Regulations relating to clearing and settlement of trades executed on Index Options Contracts on the Futures and Options Segment of NSE

 (I)                   The definitions of the following terms are incorporated in the definitions chapter:

1. American style option contract

American Style option contract means an option contract, which may be exercised on any day, on or before the expiration day.

2. Assignment

Assignment means allocation of an option contract which is exercised, to a short position in the same option contract, at the same strike price, for fulfillment of the obligation, in accordance with the procedure specified by the Relevant Authority, from time to time.

3. At the money or near the money strike price

`At the money or near the money' strike price is the strike price of the option contract at or within such range of the underlying as may be specified by the Relevant Authority from time to time.

4. Capped Style option contract

Capped Style option contract means an option contract which shall be exercised ipso facto on or before expiration time upon the value of the underlying reaching the cap price for the option at any time as the Relevant Authority may specify from time to time for various option contracts.

5. Contract Value

Contract Value is the value arrived at by multiplying the strike price of the option contract with the regular /market lot size.

6. Exercise

Exercise means the invocation of right, in accordance with and subject to Rules, Byelaws and Regulations of Clearing Corporation, by the holder of the option.

7. Exercise or Strike Price

Exercise Price or Strike Price is the price per unit of trading, at which the option holder has the right either to buy or sell the underlying, upon exercise of the option.

8. Exercise Style

Exercise Style of an option refers to the price at which and/or  time as to when the option is exercisable by the holder. It may either be an American style option or an European style option or capped style option or such other exercise style of option as the Relevant Authority may prescribe from time to time.

9. Expiration time

Expiration time is the close of business hours on the expiration day of the option contract or such other time as may be specified by the Relevant Authority from time to time.

10. European style option contract

European Style option contract means an option contract, which may be exercised only on the expiration day, on or before the expiration time, or such other day and/ or time as may be specified by the Relevant Authority from time to time.

11. Futures style premium settlement

Futures Style premium settlement means premium settlement of option contracts based on settlement system as specified by the relevant authority for futures contracts and would include initial margins and mark to market settlement on long and short option positions, in accordance with the Regulations specified by the Relevant Authority from time to time.

12. In the money strike price

In the money strike price, in case of Put Option, is the strike price of the option contract which is above 'At the money or Near the money' strike price.

In the money strike price, in case of Call Option, is the strike price of the option contract which is below 'At the money or Near the money' strike price.

13. Option Class

Option contracts of the same type and style that cover the same underlying constitute an option class.

14. Option Holder

Option holder is a person who has bought an option contract. 

15. Option Seller 

Option seller is a person who has sold an option contract.

16. Options contract

Option Contract is a type of Derivatives Contract which gives the buyer/holder of the contract the right (but not the obligation) to buy and/ or sell the underlying security at a predetermined price within or at the end of a specified period. The option contract, which gives a right to buy, is called a Call Option and the option contract that gives a right to sell is called a Put Option.

17. Out of the money strike price

Out of the money strike price, in case of Put Option, is the strike price of the option contract which is below 'At the money or Near the money' strike price.

Out of the money strike price, in case of Call Option, is the strike price of the option contract which is above 'At the money or Near the money' strike price.

18. Premium

Premium is the price which the buyer of the option pays to the seller of the option for the rights conveyed by the option contract.

19. Premium style premium settlement

Premium Style Premium Settlement means payment of full option premium by the buyer/ holder of an option contract to the seller of the option contract, on purchase of such option contract by the buyer/ holder.

20. Series of Options

Series of Options means all options of the same class having the same exercise price and expiration day.

21. Specified period

Specified period for an option contract is the time period between the start day and the expiration time.

22. Settlement Amount

Settlement amount shall include premium settlement amount and/ or exercise settlement amount and /or such other amount as may be specified by the Relevant Authority from time to time.

23. Settlement Price

Settlement price, in respect of Exercise Settlement, is the closing price of the underlying on the day of exercise or such other price as may be decided by the relevant authority from time to time.

24. Type of option

Type of option means the classification of an option as either a put or a call.

25. Underlying

Underlying is one with reference to which derivative contracts are permitted to be traded by the Specified Exchange from time to time.

(II) The following chapter is inserted, after Chapter 5, as Chapter 5A

5A SETTLEMENT OF INDEX OPTION CONTRACTS

5A.1     Daily Premium Settlement for Index Option contracts

F&O Clearing Members with a long position in Index Option contracts are obliged to effect pay-in to Clearing Corporation of the premium value at which the index option contracts were purchased, towards settlement and F&O Clearing members with a short position in Index Option contracts are entitled to receive the premium value at which the Index option contracts were sold, towards settlement, from Clearing Corporation.

a) Mode of premium settlement: The daily premium settlement obligation shall be paid in cash or such other form as may be specified by the relevant authority.

b) Style of premium settlement: The style of premium settlement may be premium style or futures style or such other style as may be specified by the relevant authority from time to time. Clearing Corporation shall specify the style of premium settlement for all index option contracts that are cleared and settled. Clearing Corporation shall from time to time, specify the procedure for premium settlement for one or more styles of premium settlement.

c) Method of premium settlement: Clearing Corporation shall arrive at the premium settlement amount payable or receivable by the respective clearing members at the end of each trading day or such other time, as may be specified by the relevant authority from time to time, for all index option contracts cleared and settled, in accordance with the style of premium settlement, and communicate the same to the Clearing Members. Accordingly, such Clearing Members shall pay or receive such premium settlement amount towards settlement to or from Clearing Corporation.

d) Time of premium settlement: The relevant authority shall specify from time to time the day and time when Premium settlement shall take place.

5A.2     Exercise

(a)        Type of Exercise

Type of exercise for an index option contract may be Voluntary or Automatic or such other type as may be specified by the relevant authority from time to time.

1.         Voluntary Exercise

Voluntary exercise is when a Clearing Member exercises an in-the-money index option contract, at his volition, subject to the Rules/ By-laws and Regulations of Clearing Corporation.

2.         Automatic Exercise

Automatic exercise is when all in-the-money index option contracts are automatically deemed to be irrevocably exercised, on the Expiration date, subject to the Rules/ By-laws and Regulations of Clearing Corporation.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Clearing Member desires not to exercise an in-the-money index option contract, it shall be the responsibility of such Clearing Member to give appropriate instructions in accordance with Regulation 5A.2(c) 3.

Further, if a Clearing Member desires to exercise an at-the-money index option contract or an out-of-the money index option contract, it shall be the responsibility of such Clearing Member to give appropriate instructions in accordance with Regulation 5A.2.(c) 1.

(b)        Exercise Mechanisms

Exercise mechanism may be Interim or Final or such other mechanism as may be specified by the relevant authority from time to time.

1.         Interim Exercise

Interim Exercise is only in case of American style index option contracts. The Exercise type may be voluntary.

2.         Final Exercise

Final Exercise is in case of both American Style index option contract and European style index option contract. The Exercise type may be voluntary or automatic.

(c)        Exercise procedure

The procedure for exercise of an index option contract by a Clearing Member shall be as specified hereinafter or such other procedure as specified by the relevant authority from time to time:

            1.         Notice of exercise to Clearing Corporation

The relevant authority may specify from time to time the provisions regarding exercise of index option contracts including:

(a) type of members who may exercise

(b) facility system for tendering notice of exercise

(c) day/ s when exercise notice may be submitted

(d) minimum lot size of index option contracts which may be exercised

(e) time period within which exercise notice may be submitted

(f) maximum number of index option contracts which may be exercised on a day or within a period

(g) such other conditions as it deems fit

Notice for exercise shall be deemed to be on the long in-the-money positions in an index option contract at the close of the trading hours on the day the notice of exercise has been tendered, or such other day/ time as may be specified by the relevant authority from time to time.

No Member shall revoke or modify any exercise notice so submitted except as provided under the Rules, By-laws and Regulations of Clearing Corporation.

2.         Acceptance of Exercise notice by Clearing Corporation

An exercise notice which has been tendered in accordance with the provisions as detailed in 5A.2.1 may be considered for acceptance by the relevant authority.

Such exercise notices shall be declared as valid or invalid by the relevant authority only after processing, at the close of trading hours on the day on which the exercise notice has been tendered, or on such other day or time, as may be specified by the relevant authority from time to time. All invalid exercise notices shall stand rejected by the relevant authority.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the relevant authority may reject an exercise notice where:

(i) if the Clearing member who has tendered a notice for exercise has no open positions in that contract, at the time when such notice is processed by the relevant authority.

(ii) any other reason

3.         Revocation of an exercise notice by a member

Unless permitted otherwise, all valid exercise notices shall be irrevocable.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the relevant authority may specify from time to time the terms and conditions subject to which the exercise notice may be revoked by a Clearing member.

4.         Restrictions on Exercise

The relevant authority shall be empowered to impose such restrictions on exercises in any index option contract as it may deem necessary in the interest of maintaining a fair and orderly market in the index option contract or in the underlying securities or otherwise deems advisable in the public interest or for the protection of investors. Any exercise in contravention of such restriction is not valid.

5A.3     Assignment

(a)        Assignment methods

Assignment methods may be Proportionate or Random or such other method as may be specified by the relevant authority from time to time.

1.         Proportional Assignment

Proportional Assignment takes place when an index option contract which has been exercised is allocated proportionately to short positions in the index option contract with the same series, in accordance with the procedure specified by the relevant authority from time to time.

2.         Random Assignment

Random Assignment takes place when an index option contract which has been exercised, is allocated randomly to one or more than one short position, in the index option contract with the same series, in accordance with the procedure specified by the relevant authority from time to time.

(b)        Assignment procedure

Exercise notices accepted by Clearing Corporation shall be assigned in accordance with the Assignment method, as may be specified by the relevant authority from time to time, to open short positions in the index option contracts, with the same series, for fulfillment of obligations. The assigned Clearing Members shall be liable to pay the exercise settlement amount to Clearing Corporation. Clearing Corporation shall in turn pass on such amount to the Clearing Member who has exercised the index option contract subject to the Rules, Bye-laws and Regulations of Clearing Corporation.

(c)        Allocation of Assignment by Clearing Members

The relevant authority may specify from time to time the procedure for allocation of assigned short positions in the index option contract by the Clearing Members, to their clients/ Trading Members/ clients of Trading members.

5A.4     Exercise Settlement   

An index option contract which has been exercised and assigned by the relevant authority shall be settled in accordance with the procedure provided hereinafter or such other procedure as may be specified by the relevant authority from time to time.

a) Mode of settlement : Settlement obligation shall be paid in cash or such other form as may be specified by the relevant authority.

b) Method of settlement: (1) An index option contract which has been exercised, and the open short position to which such exercised index option contract has been assigned, shall be deemed to be closed out at the settlement price on the day of exercise.

(2) The Clearing Member who has been assigned the index option contract shall be liable to pay to Clearing Corporation any loss represented by the difference between the strike price of the index option contract and the settlement price for each unit of the index option contract (which has been assigned) which shall, in turn be passed on by Clearing Corporation to the Clearing Member who has exercised the index option contract subject to the Rules, Byelaws and Regulations of Clearing Corporation.

(3) The Clearing Member who has exercised the index option contract shall be entitled to receive from the Clearing Corporation any profit represented by the difference between the strike price of the index option contract and the settlement price for each unit of the index option contract (which has been exercised) which shall be collected by the Clearing Corporation from the Clearing Member who has been assigned the index option contract subject to the Rules, Byelaws and Regulations of Clearing Corporation.

(4) Such loss or profit shall be referred to as 'Exercise Settlement Value'.

c) Time of settlement : The relevant authority shall specify from time to time the day and time when settlement shall take place.

5A.5     Clearing Forms

All Clearing Forms shall be as specified in the relative regulation or in such other form or forms as the relevant authority may from time to time prescribe in addition thereto or in modification or substitution thereof.

5A.6     Settlement Obligations Statements

Clearing Corporation shall facilitate download of relevant data to F&O Clearing Members and Trading Members to enable them to generate Premium Settlement, Other Settlement Obligations Statements pertaining to transactions in different kinds of Index option contracts.  

5A.7     Mode of Payment

F&O Clearing Members shall, on the designated pay-in day, have clear balance of funds in their clearing account to the extent of their funds obligation.  Provided however the relevant authority may specify different mode of payment of funds for all or any of the F&O Clearing Members

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5A.8     Receipt of Funds

The Clearing Bank shall credit the clearing accounts of the F&O Clearing Members who are due to receive funds as per the instructions of Clearing Corporation.  All funds due to a F&O Clearing Member shall normally be credited to his account unless (a) the F&O Clearing Member does not perform his obligations to Clearing Corporation or (b) it is otherwise ordered so by the relevant authority;

Provided however the relevant authority may specify different mode of funds credit for all or any of the F&O Clearing Members.