Executives have been able to realize huge gains from even small increases in share price, purely based on the number of option shares they held.

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Another conspicuously directional option trade was logged on Thursday in shares of JetBlue, where the sale of two puts, involving 52, 765 lots at the 12.50 strike and 21, 950 lots at the 15.00, constituted the entirety of JetBlue's volume on that trading day.

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Another conspicuously directional option trade was logged on Thursday in shares of JetBlue (nasdaq: JBLU - news - people ), where the sale of two puts, involving 52, 765 lots at the 12.50 strike and 21, 950 lots at the 15.00, constituted the entirety of JetBlue's volume on that trading day.

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If you are bearish on home builders, a put option on KB Home gives you the right, but not the obligation, to sell shares at a certain price before the option expires, and if your timing is right you could easily double your money in a short period of time.

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You need to be a high roller to get a flex option in Chicago, but if you want to book a loss on your 1, 000 shares of Apple you could get the same effect using garden-variety puts and calls.

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Using gold mines as an example, he said when you buy shares in the company, you also receive a free, long-term call option on gold.

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If I get assigned, I happily give up my shares and bank a meaningful gain on the overall trade (realized gains on the stock and option leg of the trade).

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