#SPXcampaign Bought to close $SPX Nov 17th 2215/2240 call spreads for .20. Sold for 1.50 on Oct 20th.
Monthly Archives: November 2016
$SPX iron condor for today
STO $SPX Nov 4 2120/2110/2090/2080 for 1.05.
Is it safe? Not sure ANTHING is safe in this market, but it looks pretty probable to make money today with SPX hanging around the 2100 area.
SPX calls sold
#SPXcampaign I am selling some short-term call spreads today in the belief that the market remains weak, and even if we do recover these spreads are far enough OTM for their expiration dates.
Sold to Open $SPX Nov 7th 2120/2140 call spreads for 1.35, with SPX at 2096.
Sold to Open $SPX Nov 11th 2165/2190 call spreads for 1.70, with SPX at 2097.
Closing FB
Getting out of this #Earnings trade for most of max profit, guarding against a possible afternoon swoon that could take this thing back in the money.
Bought to close $FB Nov 4 120 puts @ .11. Sold for .67 on 11/2.
SBUX
Following the TradeWise guidance on this rolled short Nov. 4, 52 put and call to Nov. 11 for a .48 credit (they said I’d get .80 but I was out running when it came in). They are paired with long Nov. 18, 52 put and call.
TLT roll
Rolled this week’s 130.5 calls to Nov 11th 131 calls @ .69 credit. Selling against longer term short puts.
REGN playing it safe
Gotta leave shortly so playing it safe. REGN screaming higher so getting out of this week’s short call since next week’s has already been sold.
Bought to Close REGN NOV 4 2016 355.0 Call @ .95 (sold for 10.30)
Doesn’t bother me paying the .95 since this was an aggressive double roll down as REGN was falling.
SVXY adjustment
This pullback has allowed me to get out of a poor trade. Originally sold SVXY #CoveredCalls in Dec and Jan WAY to early. I’ve now been able to close them at even and re-sell much closer in time to really crank up the theta.
Sold SVXY NOV 11 2016 70.0 Calls @ 2.50
SKEW highs
#Market The Skew hit 141 yesterday, the highest since July 1st. It is typically a bearish sign when SKEW exceeds 135. However, it isn’t a very solid indicator. The July high was the highest since the indicator started, but it occurred AFTER the Brexit dip and before we hit new all-time highs.
The VIX is a better indicator, and it is up for the 9th straight day, even with SPX wavering around flat.
FEYE roll
#CoveredCalls Rolled this week’s 12 calls out to Dec 9th 12.50’s @ .25 credit
REGN adjustment
Rolled this week’s 370 put to Dec 9th 365 put @ even. Still rolling while accumulating 17.90 premium so far. This is against shorter term calls.
Sold REGN NOV 11 2016 355.0 Call @ 2.50
This replaces today’s expiring 355 (sold for 10.30)
/ES Eminis
Had a fill last night. High IV giving nice premium on the call side too. Adding a little more downside protection at a level I wouldn’t mind shorting again. Selling against a short future/short put position.
SOLD /ES DEC 16 2140 CALL @ 21.50
JOBS REPORT
October added 161,000 jobs.
August & September revised upward
Unemployment rate down to 4.9%
U6 rate down to 9.5%, lowest since 2008.
Wages up 0.4%
Labor force participation 62.8%
Pretty good news… will the Fed raise in December? Will it affect markets today up or down?
VIX Indicator and SPX Chart are updated
Sorry for the long delay in updating the chart, but I fell behind. And excuse any mistakes that are in there… questions are welcome!
VXX followed from TT Dec….
VXX
followed from TT Dec. 16 20/30/46/56 with VXX around 38, for 2.29 credit
$SVXY
Sold to open Nov 25th 50 Put @ 1.05. Put this on and went to try and vote. Huge lines here in NC. Wife had to get to work so we shall try again tomorrow. Filled while we were out. SPX down to the 200dma. I just might wait until after the election to do anything else.
SPX rolls
#SPXcampaign Well, that was adventurous. Managed it 75% well, 25% terribly. Stopped out on the ATM spread with a horrible price, but did well with the rest.
Bought to close $SPX Nov 4th 2090/2065 put spreads for 8.10. Sold for 1.90 on Oct 25th.
Partially rolled to Nov 4th 2065/2040 put spreads, double-sized, for 1.475 (avg price)
Bought to close $SPX Nov 25th 1980/1955 put spreads for 3.25
Rolled to Dec 9th 1850/1875/2225/2250 iron condors for 2.15, 1.5x position size
$SVXY #ShortPuts #OptionLadder – Sold…
$SVXY #ShortPuts #OptionLadder – Sold SVXY Nov 11 2016 48.0 and 47.0 Puts both @ 0.55.
These expire in 6 trading days
Closed Nov 4th 2090/2065 for 8.10
Rolling some into Nov 4th 2065/2040, double position
FB short stock
#Earnings #ShortStock Covered another batch for 119.50. One batch left which I’m leaving for tomorrow.
SBUX I signed up for…
SBUX
I signed up for a couple months of free trades through TD from TradeWise, formerly Red Options or something. This is the first I’ve tried sold Nov. 4 52 put/52 call bought Nov. 18 52 put/52 call for a 66 debit. earnings tonight for Starbucks. Probably anyone with TD has been offered this 2 month trial.
CMG
All this market pain and CMG is flying high… only got one of two rolls in before this pop!
New VIX signal
#VIXIndicator just surpassed 100% above the Aug 9th low, which is the 5th signal in this correction.
SPX puts sold
#SPXcampaign Sold to Open $SPX Dec 2nd 1895/1870 put spreads for 1.40, with SPX at 2090. I am looking to stop and roll two spreads by the end of today. I believe chances for a bounce are good with the Job numbers tomorrow, but can’t risk it with borderline spreads.
$SVXY #ShortPuts #IRA – Sold…
$SVXY #ShortPuts #IRA – Sold SVXY Nov 25 2016 40.0 Puts @ 0.35 with the stock at 65.24
SVXY
STO November 25, 45 puts @0.55
STO December 2, 45 puts @0.80
STO December 9, 45 puts @1.05
$UVXY #ShortCalls #ClassicVXXGame – Sold…
$UVXY #ShortCalls #ClassicVXXGame – Sold 1 UVXY Jan 19 2018 60.0 Call @ 7.50 with the stock at 19.95
UVXY calls
#VXXGame STO UVXY Dec 16th 40 call for 1.56
STO UVXY March 17th 60 call for 2.75
I don’t play the Game as much as I used to, but certainly like to dabble when things get frothy.
$SVXY #ShortPuts #IRA – Sold…
$SVXY #ShortPuts #IRA – Sold SVXY Dec 2 2016 40.0 Puts @ 0.45 with the stock at 65.64.
Trying to build an #OptionLadder at the 40 Strike for all avail weeklys
$SVXY #ShortPuts #IRA – Sold…
$SVXY #ShortPuts #IRA – Sold 1 SVXY Mar 17 2017 37.0 Put @ 2.40 with the stock at 65.61
$SVXY #ShortPuts #IRA – Sold…
$SVXY #ShortPuts #IRA – Sold SVXY Dec 16 2016 40.0 Puts @ 0.80 with the stock at 65.98
Cash backed so no margin issues.
$UVXY #CoveredCalls #VXXGame – new…
$UVXY #CoveredCalls #VXXGame – new highest strikes trading today. Adding to my positions with the stock at 19.85
Sold 1 UVXY Dec 9 2016 30.5 Call @ 2.14
Sold 1 UVXY Dec 23 2015 30.5 Call @ 2.72
REGN earnings
#Earnings Slightly different approach here. REGN’s 1-day moves on earnings: Biggest UP move: 7.4%, Biggest DOWN move: -6.3%, Average move: 3.8%. But tomorrow’s expiring options only go down to 327.5. Looking at its 8-day moves: Biggest UP move: 9.5%, Biggest DOWN move: -4.5%, Average move: 2.8%.
The average is actually LOWER over time, as any big moves after earnings are usually corrected in the following week. The UP move is bigger, but that 9.5 move in Feb 2014 is an outlier… its next biggest 8-day move up is 3.9%.
So I went out a week for a strangle:
STO $REGN Nov 11th 310/372.5 strangle for 6.40. Strikes are -9.5% and 8.8% OTM respectively.
SVXY
STO November 18, 45 puts @0.45 cents
STO December 2, 45 puts @ 0.80 cents
$SVXY #ShortPuts #OptionLadder – Sold…
$SVXY #ShortPuts #OptionLadder – Sold SVXY Nov 11 2016 49.0 Puts @ 0.55 with the stock at 65.70.
These expire in 6 trading days
GNC put sold
GNC trading at multiyear low, good volume stock.
GNC dec 16 put 12.5 sold for 86 cents when GNC at 13.50
sold in IRA if assigned dividend about 6%
UUP Trying something new, playing…
UUP
Trying something new, playing a strengthening dollar, bought 10 Dec. 16, 26 calls at .07, sold a Dec 26 put for .89, UUP is at 25.15.
IBB roll
Rolled Nov monthly 265 put to Dec 9th 262.5 put @ even. Continuing to sell weekly calls against…
WYNN puts
Sold $WYNN Dec 16 80 puts @ 1.90
UNH strangles
New position for me. Stock ran up on earnings and now has fallen back into congestion…
Sold UNH DEC 9 2016 130.0/145.0 Strangles @ 2.33
$UVXY #CoveredCalls #VXXGame – new…
$UVXY #CoveredCalls #VXXGame – new highest strikes trading today
Sold 1 UVXY Dec 9 2016 30.5 Call @ 1.84
Sold 1 UVXY Dec 23 2015 30.5 Call @ 2.40 – new weekly cycle
$SVXY #ShortPuts – Sold SVXY…
$SVXY #ShortPuts – Sold SVXY Nov 11 2016 50.0 Puts @ 0.55 with the stock at 66.92.
These expire in 6 trading days
SPX Yesterday followed from TT,…
SPX
Yesterday followed from TT, bought a Nov. 9 1950/1900 long put spread for .80, a little Armageddon insurance.
FB Sold my Nov 123…
FB
Sold my Nov 123 long put hedge, the call hedge is worthless, made .50 between the two, need some more FB recovery.
SPX calls sold
#SPXcampaign Sold to Open $SPX Nov 30th 2200/2225 call spreads for 1.30. This is the second call spread for my Dec 2nd lot. I used Wednesday options because the Friday expiration was already crowded with three spreads due to a roll last week.
REGN adjustment
Rolling down a little to take advantage of earnings (tomorrow) premium. Gives a little more downside protection against a 370 put.
Rolled REGN 370 call down (but not out) to 355 call @ 3.30 credit.
NFLX adjustment
Rolled this week’s 125 puts to next week’s 124’s @ .74 credit.
Lowering strike price and bringing in decent premium. Sold against some slightly ITM calls.
IBM strangles
This thing is just grinding sideways right in between my inverted strangle. Not making any adjustments here…just rolling the thing straight out another week for nice premium.
Rolled IBM 155/150 inverted strangles to next week’s 155/150 @ 2.42 credit.
EBAY
Bought to Close EBAY NOV 4 2016 29.0 Calls @ .04 (sold for .91)
Sold EBAY NOV 18 2016 29.0 Calls @ .35
BABA earnings closed
#Earnings BTC BABA Nov 4th 93 puts for .04. Sold as part of the 90/93/108/111 condor for .55 on Tuesday. Might as well get out cheap with BABA acting this poorly.
WYNN
Bought to Close WYNN NOV 4 2016 95.0 Calls @ .26 (sold for 2.80)
Sold WYNN NOV 11 2016 92.0 Calls @ 2.35
Still selling against ITM puts…nice weekly sales to reduce basis.
AMZN
Bought to Close AMZN NOV 4 2016 795.0 Call @ .28 (sold for 5.30)
Sold AMZN NOV 11 2016 785.0 Call @ 6.40
Selling against a Jan 2019 long position…(BuPS and long call)
SVXY
STO November 11, 50 put @.45 cents.
FB earnings
Out of my iron flies at even…nice recovery this morning. Fuzzy happy!
FB partial stock closed
#Earnings #ShortStock BTC $FB short stock for 121.40. Wish I’d watched overnight since it got as low as 116. I have short puts from 120-126, but willing to take long stock if my short position is covered.
/ES Eminis
Rolled my Nov 2140 covered put out and down to Dec 2120 to make a little more room to the downside. Paid a half point debit for the roll. Not much liquidity this time of night.
Turning into a pretty good hedge with a cost basis of 2190. Toughest thing at this point is deciding when to cover it. Would love to cover the short and then double dip cashing in on the short put when we head back up. 200 ma at 2076 might be a good low risk place to give it a shot. Cover there and re-sell if it doesn’t hold…
$VIX – the 10th longest…
$VIX – the 10th longest $VIX contango streak ended today at 89 consecutive trading days.
$AGN fallingknife
$AGN fallingknife
FSLR earnings
No luck yet on 2.5 wide IB @ 2.05…
FB many FB earnings trades…
FB
many FB earnings trades here and at TT, mostly neutral to slightly bullish, something for everyone if you want to play along.
$GDX
Miners are getting crushed. Gold still much higher than yesterday, even though well off the highs. $GDX is well below yesterday’s lows.
CMI puts
Sold $CMI Dec 16 110 puts @ 1.30. If the stock has another 10% of downside between now and expiration I’ll take it and go long at 108.70 in December.
FB earnings
#Earnings Gotta take a shot. Playing it slightly to the upside with wings at the 100 ma and the all time high. As usual, needing a slightly less than expected move.
Sold FB 123/128/133 iron flies @ 4.20 risking 80 to make 420 per fly. Expected move creeping up above 6 now…
APA IB
#Earnings STO $APA Nov 4th 57.5/60/62.5 #IronButterfly for 1.60. Max risk .90. Over last 3 years, Biggest UP move: 8.1%, Biggest DOWN move: -3.4%, Average move: 2.0%. Breakevens are 2.7% OTM.
NUGT follow
#ContangoETFs Earlier, followed @ramie77 and STO NUGT Jan 20th 30 call for 1.10
FB additional
#Earnings Added another $FB Nov 4th 120/130/140 IB for 6.20.
Also a risk/reversal:
STO FB Dec 16th 115 puts for 1.64
BTO FB Nov 4th 131 calls for 1.63
$SVXY #ShortPuts – Sold SVXY…
$SVXY #ShortPuts – Sold SVXY Nov 11 2016 50.0 Puts @ 0.45. A gift 😊
FB #Hedge I often hedge…
FB #Hedge
I often hedge earnings trades by going out further which sometimes defeats the purpose but in the event the real job gets in the way I have time to make yet another bad decision. Instead I bought a Nov. 4 123/137 straddle for 1.67. It may offer some protection along with a roll in case of a blow out either direction.
QCOM #earnings
Is anyone placing a Qualcomm earnings trade? Nov 4 62.5/67.5/67.5/72.5 Iron Fly is 2.81. Stock is trading at 67.45 with a 2.5 expected move. Good trade or bad trade?
FB trades
#Earnings #ShortStock #CoveredPuts #ironbutterfly
I am still short some stock so I’ve sold several puts today and over the past week… Nov 4th, every strike from 120 to 126.
I also STO FB 120/130/140 iron butterfly for 6.15, at @thomberg1201‘s suggestion.
$FB #earningstrade STO $FB Nov…
$FB #earningstrade
STO $FB Nov 4 140/135/120/115 IC for 0.99.
Don’t trust this market. Wide swings could happen. Going a little more conservative here, but still with decent return.
$FB #Earnings Sold $FB Nov…
$FB #Earnings
Sold $FB Nov 4 120 puts @ .67
$UVXY #ShortCalls – I was…
$UVXY #ShortCalls – I was travelling yesterday and had too many trades to list, but here is what I did this morning –
Sold UVXY NOV 4 2016 23.5 Calls @ 0.11
Sold UVXY NOV 11 2016 35.0 Calls @ 0.32
Sold UVXY NOV 18 2016 45.0 Calls @ 0.24
Sold UVXY JAN 20 2017 60.0 Calls @ 1.25
FB #earnings Nov. 4 120/130/130/140…
FB
#earnings Nov. 4 120/130/130/140 for 6.11.
NUGT calls
Selling more upside calls on the move up. Sold $NUGT Jan 20 30 calls @ 1.15.
Options Bistro 