Straddle
Buying or writing both a call and a put at the same strike and expiry.
Formula
Long Straddle Cost = Call Premium + Put Premium; Break-evens = Strike +/- Total Premium
Unit
₹
In depth
A long straddle profits from a large move in either direction and loses if the underlying sits still, which makes it a position on volatility rather than on direction. Its enemy is time: both legs decay, so the cost of being wrong about magnitude is paid every day. Because implied volatility is usually elevated before a known event and collapses immediately afterwards, a straddle bought into results can lose money even when the move is large. A short straddle inverts everything, collecting premium with unlimited loss on the call side, and is among the highest-risk retail positions available.
Worked example
Buy a 24,000 call at 300 and a 24,000 put at 165: cost 465, or ₹34,875 per lot. Break-evens are 24,465 and 23,535, so the index must move more than 1.9% in either direction merely to break even.
Illustrative figures, chosen so the arithmetic is easy to follow. Not a live price and not a valuation of any company.
Educational reference only
This entry explains what “Straddle” means. It is not investment advice and not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Any numbers above are illustrative, not live prices, and nothing here predicts price direction or rates a stock. Consider your own circumstances and consult a SEBI-registered investment adviser before acting.