Private investors can use traded options to speculate on price movements in key shares, or to ‘insure’ their holdings against unexpected price movements. They are not just a speculative medium. They can also be used as part of a long-term investment strategy, or as a flexible tool for the management of risk and reward. Traded options are more volatile than ordinary shares. Those skilled and disciplined enough to enter the options arena are in a game where the risks are high, but the rewards for getting it right are highly lucrative. Not fo…