The most shocking aspect of Table 3.1 is that Leeson had sold 70,892 options Nikkei 225 worth almost 7 billion. USD Unbeknownst Barings London. Its activity peaked in November and December 1994 when, in these two months alone, sold 34,400 options. In financial language, Leeson sold straddle sites, ie selling put and call options with the same strike price and the same maturity. Leeson earned from the sale of the first 37,000 sites straddle a period of 14 months. These deals are very profitable provided the Nikkei 225 to be traded at the option of the due date, since both the call and put options would expire worthless. The seller then get around the first gain from selling options. (Figure 3.3. - graphic presentation profile profit / loss of a straddle.) If the Nikkei is trading close to the strike price at maturity, could still be profitable because the first win exceeds compensate for small losses of the options call (if the market in Tokyo would be increased) or put (if Nikkei had fallen).