A Beginner’s Guide to Trading Options as Volume Sets Records

Options trading has evolved dramatically since the days when Wall Street brokers stood shoulder to shoulder in trading pits. The adrenaline of open outcry trading, whether in commodities, Treasury futures or equities, was reserved for the well connected. Three decades on, the democratization of financial markets has been turbocharged by technology and social media, allowing practically anyone with a brokerage app to buy or sell options with a few taps.

Investors, whether retail newcomers or veterans of the dot-com era, often look to options as a way to navigate volatility. While not a cure-all for market anxiety, options can provide ...