Answer: immediately
Step-by-step explanation:
An equity option is typically the most common form of equity derivative. It simply gives an investor the right but not an obligation to either buy or sell a call or put at a certain price before a contract expires.
Therefore, if a customer purchases an equity option contract at 1:00 PM Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday, October 10th in a regular way trade and the customer wishes to exercise, the customer may place an exercise notice with the Options Clearing Corporation immediately.