When interested in trading options, certain pieces of information are
necessary. Despite the availability of Google, not everything is easy
to find via search engines.
1) Which stocks have listed options (listed simply means the options
trade on an exchange)
http://www.cboe.com/delayedquote/quotetable.aspx
If you go to the site above, you can enter a stock symbol. If the
company's stock has listed options, then a table of data will be
returned. If the options re not traded, the reply will make that
obvious
2) Which options are available?
The same web site - it's from the Chicago Board
Options Exchange) provides the answer.
Enter stock symbol.
Choose 'List all options'
Click 'submit' and you will see every option, separated by expiration
month and listed from the lowest to the highest strike prices strike
price and every expiration month available.
3) What's the option price (premium).
Once again, the returned data (after you click on
'submit') shows the current bid and ask prices. Be aware that this
data is 20 minutes old. If you want live data, it's best to gt that
from your broker.
Calls are on the left and puts are on the right
Vol is the number of contracts traded today
Open interest is he total umber of contracts that were written (sold by
someone who did not own them) and which have not been repurchased,
exercised, or expired.