What is a Put Option

A Put Option gives the holder of the right to sell a specific number of shares of an agreed security at a fixed price for a period of time.

eg: Sam purchases 1 INFTEC (Infosys Technologies) AUG 3500 Put --Premium 200
This contract allows Sam to sell 100 shares INFTEC at Rs 3500 per share at any time between the current date and the end of August. To have this privilege, Sam pays a premium of Rs 20,000 (Rs 200 a share for 100 shares).
The buyer of a put has purchased a right to sell. The owner of a put option has the right to sell.
Illustration 2: Raj is of the view that the a stock is overpriced and will fall in future, but he does not want to take the risk in the event of price rising so purchases a put option at Rs 70 on ‘X’. By purchasing the put option Raj has the right to sell the stock at Rs 70 but he has to pay a fee of Rs 15 (premium).
So he will breakeven only after the stock falls below Rs 55 (70-15) and will start making profit if the stock falls below Rs 55.

Illustration 3:

An investor on Dec 15 is of the view that Wipro is overpriced and will fall in future but does not want to take the risk in the event the prices rise. So he purchases a Put option on Wipro.
Quotes are as under:
Spot   Rs 1040
Jan Put at 1050 Rs 10
Jan Put at 1070 Rs 30

He purchases 1000 Wipro Put at strike price 1070 at Put price of Rs 30/-. He pays Rs 30,000/- as Put premium.

His position in following price position is discussed below.

1. Jan Spot price of Wipro = 1020
2. Jan Spot price of Wipro = 1080

In the first situation the investor is having the right to sell 1000 Wipro shares at Rs 1,070/- the price of which is Rs 1020/-. By exercising the option he earns Rs (1070-1020) = Rs 50 per Put, which totals Rs 50,000/-. His net income is Rs (50000-30000) = Rs 20,000.
In the second price situation, the price is more in the spot market, so the investor will not sell at a lower price by exercising the Put. He will have to allow the Put option to expire unexercised. He looses the premium paid Rs 30,000.

Put Options-Long & Short Positions

When you expect prices to fall, then you take a long position by buying Puts. You are bearish.
When you expect prices to rise, then you take a short position by selling Puts. You are bullish.

	CALL OPTIONS	PUT OPTIONS
If you expect a fall in price(Bearish)	Short	Long
If you expect a rise in price (Bullish)	Long	Short

SUMMARY:

CALL OPTION BUYER	CALL OPTION WRITER (Seller)
Pays premium Right to exercise and buy the shares Profits from rising prices Limited losses, Potentially unlimited gain	Receives premium Obligation to sell shares if exercised Profits from falling prices or remaining neutral Potentially unlimited losses, limited gain
PUT OPTION BUYER	PUT OPTION WRITER (Seller)
Pays premium Right to exercise and sell shares Profits from falling prices Limited losses, Potentially unlimited gain	Receives premium Obligation to buy shares if exercised Profits from rising prices or remaining neutral Potentially unlimited losses, limited gain