Allen has been investing in the stock market for quite some time and had some success with equity investments. Recently, a friend suggested that he start to use options in his portfolio as a means to increase his returns. Allen decided to purchase a March, 2009 expiration call option on Stock X, which carried an exercise price of $500 that was selling for $15. Two weeks later, shares of Stock X were trading for $480.6. Now that the stock price is lower than the purchase price, the options are worthless. However, when Allen waited an additional two weeks, the stock price climbed to $510. Allen, feeling a bit of anxiety, decides to exercise the option and realize some gains.
-In exercising this option, what price is Allen getting the stock for?
-What is the value at exercise of the option?
-Calculate the profit or loss on this transaction.
-How might Allen have covered this position to limit his exposure?
-How might you use calls like this to increase an investments performance?