Chapter 01 · Section 1.1

Margin Calls

                       OTC OPTIONS      EXCHANGE-TRADED OPTIONS
 

Contract Terms          negotiated         standard
Delivery                perhaps 50%        less than 10%
Trading                 by arrangement     centralized
Credit Risk             parties            clearing house
Liquidity               varies             generally high
Margin calls            .........          minimum margin regulated

With OTC options, margins are:

a) negotiated by the parties
• b) standard.
  No. Exchanges/clearing houses set standard or minimum margins for exchange-traded options, but there is no such regulatory body for OTC options.
  c) variable, depending upon whether the option is purchased or written.

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