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L.3 · INTERMEDIATE · 2 MIN

The Greeks: Delta, Gamma, Theta, Vega

The full Greeks toolkit — Delta, Gamma, Theta, and Vega — gives you a complete picture of how your option position will behave under different market conditions.

Quiz · 5 questions ↓
§ 01
GreekMeasuresKey Behavior
Delta (Δ)$/move per $1 stock changeHighest for ITM, ~0.50 at ATM, low for OTM
Gamma (Γ)Rate of delta changeHighest at ATM near expiration — delta swings wildly
Theta (Θ)Daily time decay ($)Always negative for buyers; accelerates near expiry
Vega (ν)$/move per 1% IV changeHighest for ATM with long time to expiry
§ 02

Gamma is the hidden risk in short options positions. Near expiration, an ATM option’s delta can swing from 0.30 to 0.90 on a small stock move, turning a manageable position into a large directional bet.

§ 03
Look at the Greeks for an ATM option with 30 days to expiration vs. 7 days. Notice how theta increases and how gamma becomes much larger near expiration.
§ 04
You sell an ATM call with 3 days to expiration. Theta is high (good for you) but gamma is also high. Why is gamma a risk?
§ 05

Professional options traders manage their Greeks as a portfolio, not trade by trade. They aim for specific delta, gamma, theta, and vega exposures that match their market view.

§ 06
You own 10 long call contracts (1000 shares of delta exposure). Delta = 0.50. Gamma = 0.02. Stock rises $2. How many shares of equivalent exposure do you now have?
Five questions · AI feedback

Sit with the ideas.

A call option has delta of 0.60, theta of -$0.15, and vega of $0.25. The stock rises $2 today and implied volatility increases by 1%. Approximately how much does the option price change?

Why:
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