Thursday 5 September 2013

LONG BUTTERFLY STRATEGY

Short two calls at the middle strike, and long one call each at the lower and upper strike.  The upper and lower strikes (wings) must both be equidistant from the middle strike (body), and all the options must be the same expiration.
Max Loss
The maximum loss would occur should the underlying stock be outside the wings at expiration.
Max Gain
The maximum profit would occur should the underlying stock be at the middle strike at expiration. 
 Profit/Loss
The potential profit and loss are both very limited.  In essence, a butterfly at expiration has a minimum value of zero and a maximum value equal to the distance between either wing and the body.  An investor who buys a butterfly pays a premium somewhere between the minimum and maximum value, and profits if the butterfly's value moves toward the maximum as expiration approaches.....