An upside gain can also be handled in that same manner, with a sell order placed above the trading price. This guarantees that the stock will automatically be sold as soon as it hits that price (if there is a buyer).

Another method of purchasing or selling shares that some investors use is called the option method. This method is used to obtain the right to purchase or sell shares at a certain price (the strike price). If an investor wishes to purchase a thousand shares of stock but does not wish to pay for them right away, the investor could purchase 10 options (100 shares per option) to buy the shares at a certain price. The closer the strike price is to the current price of the shares the higher the option will be.

Options can also be used to sell shares at a higher price than what they...
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