UK Options Trading

Long Put Strategy

What is a Long Put?

A long put gives you the right to sell a stock at a specified price within a set time period. This strategy:

  • Profits from stock price declines
  • Has limited risk (premium paid)
  • Can be used for speculation or hedging
  • Provides leverage compared to shorting stock

Example

You buy a put option on Lloyds Bank:

  • Current stock price: £0.45/share
  • Strike price: £0.40
  • Premium paid: £0.02/share
  • Expiration: 3 months

If Lloyds falls below £0.38 (£0.40 strike - £0.02 premium), you profit. If it stays above £0.40, you lose the premium paid.

Risks

  • Time decay works against you
  • Need significant price movement to profit
  • Option may expire worthless
  • Implied volatility changes affect option value

Important: This strategy involves risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Always consider your financial situation and risk tolerance before trading.

Recommended UK Brokers

To put these strategies into practice, you'll need a broker that supports options trading in the UK. Here are our top picks:

Interactive Brokers

Most Popular

Best for serious options traders

Professional-grade platform with deep options chains, low commissions, and direct market access. The go-to choice for active UK options traders.

Broker reviews coming soon

Tastytrade

Best UX

Best platform for options strategies

Built specifically for options traders. Intuitive interface, excellent education, and a community of active options traders.

Broker reviews coming soon

IG

UK Focused

Best for UK-focused traders

FTSE 100 listed broker with strong UK options coverage, excellent educational resources, and FCA regulated with FSCS protection. No minimum deposit or inactive fees. Demo account available for practice.

Broker reviews coming soon

We may receive compensation when you open an account through our links. This does not affect our recommendations — we only feature brokers we believe are suitable for UK options traders.