January 14, 2020

All of This Talk of Implied Volatility, What Is It Really?

Implied volatility is a parameter that is part of an option pricing model, typically some derivation of the Black-Scholes model, which gives the theoretical price of an option. Implied volatility shows how the marketplace views where volatility should be in the future. Since implied volatility is forward-looking, it helps us gauge the sentiment or expectation about the volatility of a stock or the market. However,  and this is very important, implied volatility does not forecast the direction in which an option is headed.  It gauges magnitude, not direction.

If you would like to watch a video of this, Khan Academy is always a fantastic resource.  Click the video below.

Grab a free day pass to one of our live signal trading rooms today>>http://bit.ly/nl-freepass

Follow me on Twitter @MikeShorrCbot

Disclaimer: This video does not imply any endorsement of Prosper Academy by Khan Academy and the information contained herein is not intended to be a source of advice and the information and/or documents contained in this website do not constitute investment advice.

about the author:

Mike Shorr

Since 1994, Michael has been an on-the-floor market maker, Vice-President of Interest Rate Derivatives for Knight Financial Products and Director of Education and Options Instructor at Trading Advantage. He makes the oftentimes complex world of options and trading accessible to the novice and advanced trader alike. Michael has a Bachelor of Science degree in Statistics and Finance from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana. He presently is Director, Trader Education at ProsperTradingAcademy.

Read Similar Articles

March 6, 2025

Options Trading Mistakes That Can Blow Up Your Account (And How to Avoid Them)

Options trading offers huge potential rewards—but it also comes with serious risks that can be mitigated. I’ve seen traders time and time again jump in without fully understanding the mechanics, leading to costly mistakes that wipe out their accounts overnight. President Trump’s new tariff policies are shaking up global markets, adding another layer of uncertainty […]

Read Article
December 6, 2024

The Broken-Wing Butterfly: A Hidden Gem in Options Trading

Options traders employ numerous strategies to achieve their goals in the market, and the broken-wing butterfly is a particularly useful technique to have at your disposal. This guide will explain the strategy in detail and show you how it can potentially be leveraged in various situations to take advantage of the market environment. Want My […]

Read Article
May 8, 2024

What Is Delta In Options Trading?

Understanding the Delta of an option is crucial for both new and seasoned traders. It’s one of five specific calculations called “Greeks,” which help measure specific factors that could influence the price of an options contract. Delta is a metric that helps you gauge how much the value of an option contract is expected to […]

Read Article

Read Similar Articles

March 6, 2025

Options Trading Mistakes That Can Blow Up Your Account (And How to Avoid Them)

Options trading offers huge potential rewards—but it also comes with serious risks that can be mitigated. I’ve seen traders time and time again jump in without fully understanding the mechanics, leading to costly mistakes that wipe out their accounts overnight. President Trump’s new tariff policies are shaking up global markets, adding another layer of uncertainty […]

Read Article
December 6, 2024

The Broken-Wing Butterfly: A Hidden Gem in Options Trading

Options traders employ numerous strategies to achieve their goals in the market, and the broken-wing butterfly is a particularly useful technique to have at your disposal. This guide will explain the strategy in detail and show you how it can potentially be leveraged in various situations to take advantage of the market environment. Want My […]

Read Article
May 8, 2024

What Is Delta In Options Trading?

Understanding the Delta of an option is crucial for both new and seasoned traders. It’s one of five specific calculations called “Greeks,” which help measure specific factors that could influence the price of an options contract. Delta is a metric that helps you gauge how much the value of an option contract is expected to […]

Read Article