Exercise Price

The exercise price, or strike price, is stated in all option contracts between two parties, for example in a stock option contract.

It is the price at which the owner of a call option can purchase (or the owner of a put option can sell) the underlying asset to the writer of the option. For example:

If you have a Microsoft August $70 call, you have the right but not the obligation to purchase 100 shares of Microsoft for a price of $70 – that is the (exercise) price… (Exercise prices) are usually available in $5 increments and in $2.50 increments for stocks under $25.

Bill Johnson with James DiGeorgia and David Nichols, An Investor’s Guide to Understanding and Mastering Options Trading

In the case of stock options, a call option is in-the-money if the market price of the stock is higher than the exercise price. A put option is in-the-money if the market price of the stock is lower than the exercise price.

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