Exchange Traded Options (ETOs), like warrants, provide investors with exposure to movements in the price of an underlying security without requiring direct ownership of that security. However, several important differences distinguish ETOs from warrants.
Standardised contract terms
ETOs are issued with standardised terms set by the ASX rather than by individual issuers. For example, equity option contracts are generally written over parcels of 100 shares, although corporate actions may, in some cases, affect the contract size. Warrants, by contrast, may be issued over varying numbers of shares, depending on the terms determined by the issuer.
Issuance
ETOs may be written by any eligible market participant. Warrants, on the other hand, can only be issued by approved warrant issuers, which are typically banks or financial institutions.
Short selling
ETOs may be short sold, providing additional flexibility for investors seeking to implement a wider range of trading or risk management strategies. Warrants do not offer this feature.
*While Exchange Traded Options (ETOs) may be short sold in the broader market, Bell Direct does not currently facilitate short selling of ETOs on its platform.