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As the new year quickly approaches, OIC strives to remain your first resource for free, unbiased options education. In the coming year, we'll proudly add new and challenging courses to Options University, such as our newest Volatility class. In addition, be sure to check out our 2005 schedule for our free LIVE seminars held throughout the US and Canada. Visit www.888options.com for seminar dates and locations, as well as more ongoing resources for options education.

"Volatility"
Options can give investors the flexibility to hedge market exposure, speculate on a specific market move, or allow investors to put on simple to complex option positions called spreads. One of the most critical and least understood components to the success of option trading is Volatility.

The Options Industry Council is pleased to offer the latest addition to Options University: Options 306 - Volatility. This course is designed to give students the introductory understanding of what volatility is, how it works, and why it is important to understand. Even though volatility is an extremely complex subject, this course breaks it down in simple to understand terms without getting bogged down in the complex calculus. Most investors have heard of volatility but few know what it is. Get started now in learning how volatility effects all option investors for better or for worse. [ Register for Options University ]

It's not too late to order your copy of "An Investor's Guide to Trading Options," which was developed by Lightbulb Press, the creators of The Wall Street Journal Guide to Money & Investing, in collaboration with The Options Industry Council. This handy 64-page guide: Explains what options are and how they work. Provides real-world investing scenarios. Describes options strategies for various markets. Go to 888options.com or call 1-888-OPTIONS to order.

November 15, 2004 - Want to understand one of the most commonly used yet least understood concepts in options trading? Then look no further than The Options Industry Council's (OIC) newest online class, "Volatility." [ Read More ]

November 3, 2004 - The Options Industry Council (OIC) announced that year-to-date equity options volume of 881,968,223 contracts is ahead by 30.19 percent vs. last year’s volume of 677,431,315 contracts during the same time period. [ Read More ]

Visit the Press Room for more OIC News.

Our free educational option seminars are taught by exchange professionals and held throughout the US and Canada. OIC has just released the 2005 seminar dates and locations. Check here to see if OIC is headed to a city near you.

Q:	If you write a covered call and a dividend is to be paid, who will get paid the dividend and when?
A:	The owner of record on the date specified by the company receives the dividend. So, if the option is not exercised prior to the ex-dividend date, the dividend would be kept by the writer of the covered call because he is still short the option contract and owns the stock - and only owners of a stock have voting privileges and can collect a dividend. But you may notice that many call options are exercised on dividend-paying stocks prior to the ex-date.
View more Options FAQs.
Many callers have asked what the trading schedule will be during the Thanksgiving holiday. Wednesday, November 24: Regular trading hours will be in effect for all Exchanges. Thursday, November 25: Exchanges will be closed. Friday, November 26: Stock option trading will close at 12:02 p.m. CST. Index products and other products that normally close at 3:15 p.m. will close at 12:15 p.m. CST. If you have questions regarding this schedule, or other option related questions, feel free to give us a call @ 1-888-OPTIONS.