1. What it is
Long synthetic: buy a call and sell a put at the same strike and expiration. Short synthetic: reverse both legs.
2. Why use it
Combine a call and put to create approximately linear directional exposure.
3. How the numbers work
View example
- Buy 1 × Call · Strike 100
- Sell 1 × Put · Strike 100
All option legs have the same expiration.
- Option premium paid
- 1
- Expiration breakeven
- 101
- Maximum expiration profit
- Theoretically unlimited
- Maximum expiration loss
- 101
- Underlying at expiration 100 → Loss 1
- Underlying at expiration 110 → Profit 9
4. How it changes
In an ideal same-strike European model, call and put gamma and vega cancel. Delta is close to +1 or -1 per unit; financing, dividends and exercise features still matter.
5. What to watch for
A low net premium can conceal stock-like exposure. The long version has large downside loss; the short version has unlimited upside loss.
Synthetic does not mean low risk or identical operational behavior to a futures contract. There are two options with their own settlement obligations.
Examples use illustrative entry prices and amounts per underlying unit, before costs. Contract amounts require the contract multiplier. Expiration payoffs assume the illustrated legs remain intact; earlier position values and exercise or assignment outcomes can differ.