Capping

Capping

1. The practice of selling large amounts of a commodity or security close to the options expiry date in order to prevent a rise in market price.

2. An attempt to keep a stock's price low or move its price lower by putting selling pressure on it.

Notes:

1. The investor who might practice capping is a call option writer. If practicing capping, he or she is trying to avoid having to transfer the underlying security or commodity to the option holder. The goal is to have the option expire worthless so that the premium initially received by the writer is protected.

2. This is a violation of NASD rules.

See also: Back Months, Congestion, Corner, Cost of Tender, Current Delivery, NASD, Offset