European-style exercise

European-style exercise

A method of exercising options contracts in which the buyer can only exercise the contract on the last day before expiration.

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.