Overview
Option Symbol Format
Field Definitions
Search for the options contracts for an underlying equity security. Results for each call and put include its expiration date, strike price, last price, change in price, bid price, ask price, volume, and open interest.
From the results of your search, select a call or put to complete the Symbol field on most trade-related windows that require an option symbol.
An option symbol can contain up to 22 characters; for example:
MSFT210607C32.5
The components of the symbol are described below:
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| MSFT | Symbol/Contract Name
Up to six characters. If the underlying security undergoes a corporate action resulting in updates to the option security, a numeric value is appended to the symbol/contract name. |
| 21 | Expiration Year
Two characters |
| 06 | Expiration Month
Two characters |
| 07 | Expiration Day
Two characters |
| C | Call/Put Indicator
One character: C (call) or P (put) |
| 32 | Strike Dollar
Up to five characters, no leading zeros |
| . | Decimal Point
One character |
| 5 | Strike Decimal
Up to three characters, no trailing zeros |
By default, Option Chain displays both calls and puts with an expiration date within the next three months. You can specify other filters to define the contracts to display.
Quote information for the underlying security displays at the top of the window. To update the quote, to the right of the as-of date and time, select the Refresh (circular arrow) icon.
Note
Quote information for the underlying security is delayed at least 15 minutes.
To narrow your results, specify filters:
| Field | Action |
|---|---|
| Call/Puts | Choose the types of contracts to display:
Show both (Default) Calls only Puts only |
| Expiration | Choose an expiration date range:
Next 3 months (Default) Next 9 months After 9 months All |
| Min Strike | Enter the minimum strike price, up to three decimal places. |
| Max Strike | Enter the maximum strike price, up to three decimal places. |
| Min Volume | Enter a minimum volume, whole numbers only. |
| Min Open Int | Enter a minimum open interest, whole numbers only. |
| Option Type | Choose the option type:
Standard (Default) Mini Jumbo |
In the Call or Put columns, select the arrow and choose a link:
Option Symbol
Return to the order ticket with the call or put symbol, which populates the Symbol field.
Quote
View a full quote for the option contract.
| Field | Definition |
|---|---|
| Ask | Also known as the offer, this is the lowest price a seller will accept for the security. |
| Bid | The highest price a buyer will pay to purchase the security. |
| Call | An option contract giving the owner the right, but not the obligation, to buy a specified amount of an underlying security at a specified price within a specified time period. |
| Change | The difference between the security's current price and settlement price from the previous day. A positive value is indicated by a plus sign (+), a negative value is indicated by a minus sign (−). |
| Last | The last price at which the security was traded. |
| Open Int | The total number of outstanding option contracts for the security. For example, the number of option contracts that were not exercised, closed out, or allowed to expire. |
| Put | An option contract giving the owner the right, but not the obligation, to sell a specified amount of an underlying security at a specified price within a specified time period. |
| Strike | The price at which the option contract can be exercised. |
| Volume | The number of contracts traded in the security during a given period of time. |
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