BTO Jan 26 (AM) 6000 / Oct-22 6500 Put Diagonal @58.65

The long strike is around 200 dMA, while the short is under the 50 dMA. +10 delta.

I have a bearish bias longer term, but in short term I’d like, in a few rolls, to recover the debt, and hopefully move the short strike down to reduce the margin requirement. If the short strike is threatened, will roll it out and down.

Haven’t posted here for a few months. Hope everyone is doing well trading and else.

BTW, I am still in that short daily strangle trade on SPX, somewhat a wild ride after entering it since March.

Opened Mar-21-25 5900/Feb-28-25 6050/Feb-28-25 6050/Mar-21-25 6200 double diags @ -23.35 (credit)

Short straddle targeting reversion to 21 EMA (~6045).

With limited time (15 sessions), will roll the shorts as straddle.

Unless SPX breaks above 6000, I will continue to target the other side of the range.

STC NDX Nov-22-24 20400/Nov-25-24 20400 Call Calendar @ 25.15
closed most, keep 1 only.

open SPX Nov-19-24 5820/5800/5760 1:3:2 put BF @0.6 credit
exit orders @$1-6.
needs to be watched closely.

BTO NDX Nov-22-24 20400/Nov-25-24 20400 Call Calendar @ 19 Limit
theoretical b/e +/- 20000 – 20800
target 30-50

NDX options are getting more liquid this year.

Open SPX Nov-04-24 5675/5650/5600 1/3/2 put BF @ -0.9 (credit)

open SPX Nov-11-24 5920/Nov-08-24 5900 call diag, and
Nov-11-24 5580/Nov-08-24 5600 put diag @ -0.2 (credit)

With the uncertainty next week, real or perceived, the typical calendar IV skews could be off, and could be thrown off further.

I am trading less of neutral calendars, but playing extremes with some credit entries, for potential expansion near expiration.

ER today. straddle priced at ~27. I am putting on a cheap double diagonal
BTO Sep 6 225/305 strangle, and STO Aug 30 230/300 strangle, @0.22.

First sell signal (down white arrow) on the hourly chart since that crazy week, first sell or buy signal for that matter.

RSI divergence had been cooking for 2 days before today, similar to the peak in early July.

STO Sep 14.5/13 BuPS @0.59

Help to finance Sep 21/30/39 call BF bought earlier @0.61 avg.

A contrarian trade, not a prediction, but if market goes down in Sep, VIX could easily get back to 30.

I am wondering what are people’s brokers of choice for option trading.

I mostly trade options on SPX and stocks in some sort of spreads, in a portfolio account with Etrade. I use ToS for chart and TA, also checked out Tasty, but nobody could match Etrade on fee (a grandfathered deal, 0.3/contract, closing short @0.1 or less no fee).

A few months ago, Etrade took away stop order on spreads, just market or limit… Though I don’t use stop order often, but it could be handy when needing to be away from desk during the day and for peace of mind sake.

what broker would you recommend?
allowing stop on spread, and with reasonable fee, and any bonus features…

Thank you for your advice.

taking partial
STC CRWD 8/16 250/260/280 1:3:2 call BF @1.29, opened last Thursday @0.42 credit
STC CRWD 8/16 8/23 260 call calendar @3.28, opened last Thursday @2.0

BTO CRWD 8/16 250/260/280 1:3:2 call BF @0.42 credit
BTO CRWD 8/16 8/23 260 call calendar @2.0
Did both for comparison and learning, and the credit from BF help to finance the calendar partially.

CRWD has come back quite a bit, seems 260 then 280 could be the targets for the next few weeks.

BTO SPX Aug-09-24 5400/5420/5460 1:3:2 call BF @ 0.4 credit
With GTC order to close $10.
Value should expand if SPX gets anywhere close to 5400 in the pm tomorrow, just don’t run over too soon ;-).

Similar structures, on call or put side, have been returning up to $15 last few days, or expired worthless.

STC 1/2 of SPX 5450 call calendars of 8/09 / 8/12 and those of 8/16 / 8/19.

opened last Friday, for a potential bounce, 50% loss for this week’s, and 50% for next weeks. kinda wash % wise, small loss $ wise. should be happy with what’s going on this week…

STO Sep-20-24 4990/5000/5600/5610 Iron Condor @ -3.5 when SPX was near 5300.

May add to each side, as SPX swings…

STC partial of VIX Aug 15/20/25 call BF @2.0 earlier the day. when bto @0.43 a few weeks ago, I was thinking 20 might a little high as the short strike ;-).

BTO VIX Sep 21/30/39 call BF @0.9.

I have been only trading vertical spreads of VIX, after getting a big ouch with calendar last year.

BTO Aug-05-24 5050/5000/4900 put 1:3:2 BF @ -3.2 , credit.
close order $20 credit, or stop at 10 debit.

BTO SPX 5450 calendars, Aug-12-24/Aug-09-24 @3.9 and Aug-19-24/Aug-16-24 @2.9
tiny trades, play a potential bounce, targeting $2-6 profit.

BTO SPX Aug-09-24/Aug-12-24 5200/5170 Put Diagonal @0.2 credit.

BTW, SPX today’s 5190 put was priced at 2.2 at one point, talking about fear…

STO Jul-25-24 5400/5400/5360/5440 Iron Butterfly @ 26.6

STC SPX Jul-29/26 5600 Call Calendar @3.5

Closed majority of the calendar opened last Friday, for a small 20% profit.
With major earnings coming up tonight, best step to the side.

BTO SPX Jul-29/26 5600 Call Calendar @3 average.

This is day 3 of the pullback. playing a potential bounce next week. will start taking off at $5