subject: Option Expiration and Exercise [print this page] In general, if the stock price closes on expiration Friday within the strike prices of my vertical spread, it will result in either a long stock position or a short stock position in my account the following Monday. Unless you are willing to hold that stock position, it is usually best to close the spread on Friday. Many traders adopt a general rule of closing all option positions the week before expiration to avoid the surprises that are all too common the week of expiration.
