Strategy templates

In OptionWorkshop you can create different option spread templates and apply them to real markets, and add positions.

Syntax

The strategy template contains the formula for creating a spread. A description of the options in the formula is formed on the template: [number of contracts][instrument type][strike] (see table below). Each option is split up by a comma.

Table 1 – Syntax

Name Description
Number of contracts The quantity of options to be bought when the strategy is executed / modelled. To open a short position you need to specify a value with a “minus” mark
Instrument type Instrument type: c – call option, p – put option, u – underlying asset
Strike

Indicates the relative position of the strike to the central strike. The Central strike is a strike that the spread is built up around. If we build the spread above at a central strike of 100 (with the step distance between the strikes being 5), then:

  • -2c – is two short calls at a strike of 100;
  • 1c-1 is one long call at a strike of 95;
  • 1c+2 is one long call at a strike of 110.

A few more examples:

  • 1c, 1p – a straddle;
  • 1c+1, 1p-1 – a strangle with a two strike width;
  • 1c, -1c+1 – a vertical bull spread.

Templates manager window

To open the strategy templates manager window, click on the strategy templates icon in the toolbar.

Strategy Template

In the left part of the form there is a list of created templates and some standard options combinations ([1]), the right part contains a description of the template:

Templates manager window

  1. Name – template name ([2]);

  2. Template – the formula for creating a spread ([3]). How to write it, see Syntax section;

  3. control panel ([4])

    • Add – add new template;
    • Copy – copy the current template;
    • Save – save the changes in the template;
    • Delete – delete the template;
    • Cancel – cancel the changes in the template.
  4. Profit/loss chart for this template ([5]). The Base price and PnL axes are purely theoretical.

Standard options combinations:

  • Straddle: +1p, +1c,
  • Straddle: +1p, +1c,
  • Strangle: +1p-1, +1c+1,
  • Strangle 2: +1p-2, +1c+2,
  • Strangle 3: +1p-3, +1c+3,
  • Vertical bull call spread: +1c, -1c+1,
  • Vertical bear call spread: -1c, +1c+1,
  • Vertical bull put spread: +1p-1, -1p,
  • Vertical bear put spread: -1p-1, +1p,
  • Calls butterfly: +1c-1, -2c, +1c+1,
  • Puts butterfly: +1p-1, -2p, +1p+1,
  • Condor: +1p-2, -1p-1, -1c+1, +1c+2.

Creating a template

You can create a template in one of the following ways:

  • сlick the Add new strategy template button ([1])

    Creating a template

  • click the Add button on the control panel in the selected template

    Control panel

By default a new template will be created (straddle strategy, +1p, +1c).

Straddle

In the right part of the form you need to:

  • enter the template name in the Name field;
  • write the formula for creating a spread in the Template field (see Syntax section);
  • click the Save button.

Once you have saved the template, it can be applied to any option series. Also you can create a strategy from this template.

Spread desk

The Spread desk is used to view all the parameters of a particular option spread with all the different strikes.

Spread desk

To open the spread desk, right-click on the option series code in the instrument tree, and select the Spread desk command.

Spread desk command

Spread desk shows all of the spreads qualities including price and the greeks:

  • Bid – The bid for this spread;
  • Ask – The offer for this spread;
  • Theor – theoretical price;
  • Delta, Gamma, Vega, Theta – the greeks.

When you hover the cursor over the tab name, a tooltip with the expiration date of the options series will be shown.

There are the following buttons on the toolbar:

Spread desk toolbar

  • The code of the underlying asset and the option series. The option series can be changed.

    Spread desk toolbar

  • The selected template. You can select the template from the drop-down list.When you select a template, the information in the table will be updated.

    Strategy templates list

  • the number of strikes in the table displayed around the ‘at the money’ strike: 10, 25, 50 or all strikes.

Placing the cursor over the row will open a tooltip containing the list of options in the spread on this strike.

Сall butterfly

Straddle

Сall butterfly

Straddle

Right-clicking on the row will open a context menu with a list of commands:

List of commands

Creating positions from the template in the Spread desk

The most convenient and quickest method is by dragging a row from the Spread desk, and dropping it into the positions table.

Adding positions

A Create positions from template form with pre-filled fields will open. The description of the field is given in the table below.

Table 2 – Creating positions from the template

Name Description
Account Account (real or virtual), in which the strategy will be added. You need to select it from the dropdown list
Strategy name Strategy name. You can select it from the drop down list or enter a new name
Multiplier

A value at which the quantity of options in the template will be scaled. Examples:

  • multiplier = 3
  • template – 1c,1p
  • the number of put and call options at the strike would be 3
  • multiplier = 5
  • template – 2p+2
  • the number of put and call options at the strike would be 10
Price sourсe

Positions opening price source:

  • Last price – the price of the last trade,
  • Best bid – the best bid price,
  • Best ask – the best ask price,
  • Мidmarket – arithmetic average of the best bid and the ask prices,
  • Theor.price – the theoretical price,
  • Manual – to set the price manually PositionPrice
Information about positions A mini summary of each option contract that is to be traded

Once all of the criteria are selected, simply press ok and watch the position populate in the positions table.

Added positions

Another way to add positions is select the template in the drop-down list, right-click on the spread and select Generate positions command.

Generate positions

Creating positions from the template in the Option desk

You can create a strategy from a template in the Option desk. The figure below shows how to open this form.

Option desk

In the table you need to select the ‘central strike’. The ‘central strike’ will be the strike that was selected with the right-click. Right-click on the instrument, select the Spreads templates command, and then select the template. Fill out the fields in the opened window. The description of the fields is given in the table above.

Adding positions via the Option desk

Once all of the criteria are selected, simply press ok and watch the position populate in the positions table.