If You're Caught Holding Halted Options

I own some put options on a stock. What happens if the stock is halted for trading? Of course, I know that the options won't trade. But assuming that a halt continues through option expiration this month, can I exercise my put option into a short with the stock halted? Someone told me that I was at risk because if I can't exercise the option because of the halt, then my option, although it is in the money, will expire worthless. Is that true?

A great resource for finding answers and information on just about anything to do with options is the Options Industry Council Web site. If you have a specific question, especially regarding trading procedures and rulings, you can telephone 1-800-OPTIONS and pose your question to a live OIC staff person. I made that call and received the following answer to the question above.

"When a stock is halted trading for any reason, the related options are also halted. But the right exercise remains intact," said Jeff Huddlyston of the OIC.

The reasoning for allowing the exercise of an equity option (remember most equity options are American-style and can be exercised at any time prior to expiration) is rooted in the fact that an option is deemed a binding contract and as such the buyer retains all the rights, and the seller the obligations, that are implicit in that contract. ...