European Exercise

European Exercise

A feature of an option that stipulates that the option may only be exercised at its expiration. Therefore, there can be no early assignment with this type of option. Most index options are European-style exercise.

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European Option

An option contract that may only be exercised on the expiration date. For example, if one buy a European call giving him/her the right to buy shares in X expiring on the final Friday in March, the call may only be exercised on the final Friday in March. The implication of a European option is the fact that its value is entirely dependent on the value of the underlying asset at the end of the contract. A holder may not wait for an advantageous price and exercise the option. This contrasts with an American option, which may be exercised at any time prior to expiry.