Why most F&O traders lose money
SEBI's own study found that about 9 in 10 individual F&O traders lost money (FY22 to FY24).
What the study says
SEBI looked at the profit and loss of individual traders in equity derivatives over several years and found most made losses, with costs adding to the damage. Check SEBI's published study for the exact figures and years.
Common reasons
Leverage magnifies small mistakes. Short-dated options lose time value quickly. Brokerage, taxes and bid-ask spreads are paid on every trade. Selling options can produce losses far bigger than the premium collected. Behaviour matters too: chasing losses, trading too often, and ignoring position size.
What we do about it
ClearStrike does not give buy or sell calls. We publish what options are pricing in and how often that matched reality, including what we did not find, so you can decide how much to trust any number you see elsewhere.
Related tools and reports
Educational content, not investment advice. F&O trading can lose more than you put in.