Sold to open Jan 29th 2020/2030 BeCS @ 0.80 A small toe in the water position. My thinking is there will be a lot of resistance over the next two weeks to push this well above the 20dma.
Category Archives: SPX Campaign
and another…
#SPXcampaign STO $SPX Jan 22nd 1995/2020 call spreads for 1.25. This is the third I’ve sold today. Cutting it a bit close, especially if rally continues into expiration tomorrow. But I believe call spreads are still the safest bet.
More calls
#SPXcampaign STO $SPX Feb 5th 2025/2050 call spreads for 1.45
Reversal
#SPXcampaign Put spread stopped at the bottom again! Always seems to work that way, aye? I mentioned this the other day, but 22 of the 25 biggest rally (up) days in the Dow have been during corrections, with Dow beneath its 200 dma. Huge rallies now are a good chance to short the market. I’m looking for the high today to sell more call spreads and UVXY puts.
Puts stopped
#SPXcampaign Hand slapped again… tried selling my first put spread in a week yesterday, but did it too early and already stopped out. Need to stick with call spreads.
BTC $SPX 1810/1785 put spreads for 2.90. Sold yesterday for 1.25.
Call spreads
#SPXcampaign STO $SPX Jan 29th 2000/2025 call spreads for 1.35.
SPX calls closed
#SPXcampaign BTC $SPX Jan 29th 2060/2085 call spreads for .20. Sold last Friday for 1.50.
This looks like a serious drop.
SPX long spread closed
#SPXcampaign STC $SPX Jan 22nd 1800/1775 put spreads for 1.20. Bought last Friday for 1.10.
SPX put spread
#SPXcampaign STO $SPX Jan 22nd 1810/1785 put spreads for 1.25
This spread is higher than the 1800/1775 I bought last week for 1.10. I will be closing that purchased spread today, as the window for profit is closing… I believe I can get out for at least breakeven today… I sold one of them for a double on Monday; now I can see that was my best chance to close all!
SPX call spread
#SPXcampaign STO $SPX Feb 12th 2070/2095 call spreads for 1.20.
More profit-taking
#SPXcampaign BTC $SPX Feb 5th 20175/2100 call spreads for .40. Sold for 1.40 last Friday.
Paring upside risk
#SPXcampaign BTC $SPX Jan 29th 2060/2085 call spreads for .50. Sold for 1.50 on Friday. This was a double-sized position so I closed half at 66% profit. Leaving the rest for now.
SPX call spread added
#SPXcampaign Sold to Open $SPX Feb 12th 2060/2085 call spreads for 1.25.
SPX calls closed
Missed a fill on this morning’s pop, so disappointingly did not add a new spread. However, these trades…
#SPXcampaign
BTC $SPX Jan 22nd 2050/2075 call spreads for .20. Sold for 1.45 on Friday.
STC $SPX Jan 22nd 1800/1775 put spread for 2.20. Bought for 1.10 on Friday. This is only one of the spreads; letting the rest ride and scale out as SPX drops further.
SPX spread
STO $SPX Jan 29 1775/1765 BuPS for 0.70.
Pre-market fill
#SPXcampaign In pre-market, BTC $SPX Feb 5th 2130/2155 call spreads for .20. Sold for 1.25 last Tuesday.
#OptionsExpiration and Adjustments for 1/8…
#OptionsExpiration and Adjustments for 1/8
Had to do some maneuvering and didn’t have a chance to post earlier.
Bought to close $NFLX Jan 8 114 puts @ 1.51 as the stock was falling through 113 earlier, to avoid assignment. Sold for 4.70 as a rollout on 12/14. Overall rolled position profitable by 1.17 per contract.
Rolled $NFLX Jan 8 115 puts down and out to next week–Jan 15 113 puts @ .76 credit. Booking a loss of 1.05 per contract on this roll.
Rolled $SVXY Jan 8 45 put out to Feb 5 45 put @ 1.94 credit. Booking a loss of 3.35 per contract on this roll.
Expirations:
$NFLX 01/08/2016 110 puts
$UVXY 01/08/2016 50 calls
$UVXY 01/08/2016 80 calls
$SPX 01/08/2016 2160/2185 call spreads
$SPX 01/08/2016 1865/1840 put spreads
No assignments this week. That won’t be the case next week if the market doesn’t turn around. Big January monthly expiration on Friday 1/15.
Have a great weekend everyone!
Options Expiration 1/8/16
Expiring with max profit…
$SPX 1900/1875 put spreads (sold at close yesterday for 1.20)
$SPX 2030/2055 call spreads
$SPX 2060/2085 call spreads
$SPX 2090/2115 call spreads
$SPX 2100/2125 call spreads
$SPX 2175/2200 call spreads
$UVXY 22 puts
$UVXY 22/20 put spreads
$VLO 74 call
$VLO 67 (covered) put
Have a great weekend, everyone!
BTO SPX Jan4 1800/1775 Put…
BTO SPX Jan4 1800/1775 Put 1.05 Debit spread. followed JEFF
One last call spread
#SPXcampaign STO $SPX Feb 6th 2075/2100 call spreads for 1.40. That should be enough for today.
Filled at 1.10 for the…
Filled at 1.10 for the long Put Debit Spread below. #SPXcampaign
BUY a spread
#SPXcampaign Yes, that’s right. I am trying to buy the $SPX Jan 22 1800/1775 put spread. I missed my fill as this drop started happening, so I will try on the next bounce. As I believe 1900 and lower is in the cards for next week, I am adding the PURCHASE of spreads into the strategy on occasions where direction seems apparent, and the cost of purchasing is more than covered by selling call spreads. The intention here is not to bring the spread ITM, as I don’t expect 1800 by the 22nd. But this trade will make between 100% and 200% if we get down to 1900 next week. I will update if I get filled.
Call spread closed
#SPXcampaign I had this GTC order in all week, but this one did not close at yesterday’s lows, and instead closed at today’s open. I think it goes to show that when volatility is high, call spreads have difficulty closing due to fluctuating prices, even as the index is sinking far away from the strikes.
BTC $SPX Jan 29th 2160/2185 call spreads for .10. Sold for 1.35 on 12/29.
Another call spread
#SPXcampaign STO $SPX Jan 29th 2060/2085 call spreads for 1.50.
SPX call spreads
#SPXcampaign Started with this one, trying for more…
STO $SPX Jan 22 2050/2075 call spreads for 1.45.
Good morning…
Good jobs report… time to short the rally. I will be selling call spreads today.
SPX final put spread closed
If SPX ends tomorrow at this level, it will cost me $25.00 to close this spread. So I’m instead closing it now while the long puts still have plenty of value. I will look to do an ITM spread in the near future to replace this. It is a small position so not a huge headache.
BTC $SPX Jan 8th 1970/1945 put spreads for 14.60. Sold for 1.25 last Thursday.
VIX Indicator firing again
We just passed 25% above Tuesday’s close, which is another Downside signal. Perhaps we’ll get the panic spike today, but I would at least think we should see VIX above the Dec 14th high, which was 26.81, when the low on SPX was 1993… VIX should be higher already. Next VIX signal is at 25.60, which is 100% above the most recent low (Oct 28).
SPX puts closed (again)
#SPXcampaign BTC $SPX Jan 8th 1940/1915 put spreads for 4.00. Sold for 1.50 on Tuesday. Can’t risk another overnight flush on the S&P, so getting out now. This leaves only one small-sized spread at 1970/1945, currently partly ITM. I will let this one sit and deal with tomorrow, since it is small and easy to shoulder if necessary. Plenty of call spreads expiring tomorrow and in future weeks. Will sell more on any rally and possibly try put spreads on extreme lows. VIX is higher today, but not spiking too high so I still believe 1900 is coming soon.
New calls opened
#SPXcampaign STO $SPX Jan 8th 2030/2055 call spreads for 1.30. Adding this hedge against a couple of put spreads, 1970/1945 and 1940/1915. Hoping the SPX waits until next week to take its big dive.
SPX calls closed
#SPXcampaign BTC $SPX Jan 22nd 2130/2155 call spreads for .15. Sold for 1.30 on Dec 21st.
BTC Jan4 SPX 2125/2140 .10…
BTC Jan4 SPX 2125/2140 .10 sold for 1.55
SPX put spread roll
#SPXcampaign STO $SPX Jan 8th 1940/1915 put spreads for 1.50. Paired with call spreads sold earlier, all expiring this Friday.
SPX put spread
#SPXcampaign STO $SPX Jan 08 1940/1930 BuPS for 0.65.
SPX call spread
#SPXcampaign STO $SPX Feb 6th 2130/2155call spreads for 1.25.
STO $SPX MAR1 16 (3/4/2016)…
STO $SPX MAR1 16 (3/4/2016) 1750/1725 BuPS @1.55
SPX spread rolls
Whipsawing continues … sold $SPX Jan 8th 2060/2085 call spreads for 1.45. Was poised to sell 1940/1915 put spreads but was not filled before the index reversed upwards. Will look to sell put side on next down move.
#SPXcampaign STO $SPX MAR1 16…
#SPXcampaign STO $SPX MAR1 16 (3/4/2016) 1735/1710 BuPS @1.40
SPX puts stopped
#SPXcampaign BTC $SPX Jan 8th 2000/1975 put spreads for 7.25. Sold last week for 1.20. After another VIX Indicator warning yesterday, I will now only sell put spreads at extreme lows, like yesterday morning, where I was able to turn around a same-week spread in the same day. I will also be more aggressive with call spreads. Until we get a significant flush or correction with a high spiking VIX, I believe we will be in a continued down trend… no more buy the dips, but instead sell the rallies. I will stick with this until the market and VIX tell me something new.
SPX 5 hour spread
#SPXcampaign At 7 minutes after the close, BTC $SPX Jan 8th 1900/1875 put spreads for .30. Sold this morning for 1.30. Maybe can do it again if we get another morning of weakness.
SPX same week put spread – 90 points OTM
#SPXcampaign STO $SPX Jan 8th 1900/1875 put spreads for 1.30. These expire Friday.
SPX closed in pre-M
#SPXcampaign In Pre-market, BTC $SPX Jan 14th (monthlys) 2135/2160 call spreads for .20.
Expirations Full Profit
$SPXW 1935/1960 BUPS
$SPXW 1985/2010 BUPS
$UVXY 27P
$UVXY 24P
$IONS 58P
Options Expiration 12/31/15
Expiring with 100% of max profit:
$DUST 20 calls
$NUGT 34 call
$SPX 2005/1980 put spreads
$SPX 2100/2125 call spreads
$VLO 66 puts (covered)
Have a great New Year’s weekend every one! See you on the other side.
Adding SPX one-week condor
#SPXcampaign Selling $SPX Jan 8th 2100/2125 call spreads, and 1970/1945 put spreads. Looking for 1.25-1.35 each side. Small in size. This will complete my #Rolling for the week. Adding more to the call spread I started this morning, and opening new lower striked put spreads. My 2000/1975 puts survived the day, just barely. Since it’s the only put spread I have I’m okay holding it over a weekend, even though market it precarious.
SPX call spread roll
#SPXcampaign STO $SPX Jan 8th 2100/2125 call spreads for 1.30, as part of a roll from this week’s call spread that was stopped on Monday. Getting a bit whipsawed this week, as I expected a flat to bullish week before volatility came in next week. Maybe I had that backwards, or maybe this week being down is the start of a January correction early. In any case, I am now watching next week’s 2000/1975 put spread, which is approaching its stop level. It’s the only put spread I’m holding beyond this week. I want to sell more call spreads, and will do if SPX can gain its footing today.
Trades
STO $KOLD 5/20 $310C @ 8.8 Thanks Iceman
STO $KOLD 5/20 $275C @ 7.3 Thanks Iceman
STO $KOLD 5/20 $114P @ 1.3 Thanks Iceman
BTO Cov Call $CLVS 1/15 35C @ 32.5 net
BTO Cov Call $GPS 2/19 26C @ 24.55 net Thanks Forexpro
STO $AMZN 1/15 640/650 BUPS @1.15
STO $NFLX 1/15 110/115 BUPS @ 1.15
STO $SPXW 1/8 1975/2000 BUPS @1.25 Thanks Jeff
STO $UVXY 1/15 22P and 2oP @ 1 and .45 Thanks Iceman
STO $THC 2/19 25P @.7 Thanks Ramie
SPX Spreads
#SPXCampaign – couldn’t get this posted earlier, but opened two call spreads and one put spread today.
STO $SPX Jan 08 2130/2140 BeCS for 0.45. Just completed iron condor by STO $SPX Jan 08 2000/1990 BuPS for 0.60. Total of 1.05 for iron condor for Jan 08.
STO $SPX Jan 15 2135/2145 BeCS for 0.70. Will be looking for put spread for iron condor here as well.
VIX Indicator status
#SPXCampaign – Based on the behavior of the $VIX in recent days, I am not convinced that we are moving much higher. Yesterday the VIX saw a healthy pop, even though the index pullback was minor. And today we are not seeing as much of a VIX drop as you would expect with such a bullish market. Last week we got two closes below the 78.6% Fib line, but the confirmation of upside bias was denied when the third consecutive day failed yesterday. Now we will see if it can get back below there today (15.80).
SPX IC roll
#SPXcampaign #Rolling #IronCondor
Rolling the earlier stopped call spread into an iron condor. Selling puts first, and will wait for higher price in index to sell calls.
STO $SPX Jan 8th 2000/1975 put spreads for 1.25.
SPX call spread opened
#SPXcampaign STO $SPX Jan 29th 2160/2185 call spreads for 1.35, with SPX at 2074.
Closed IC This Week SPX…
Closed IC This Week SPX BTC 2010/2000 .10 – 2065/2075 6.20 lost 247 on this one.
SPX call spread closed
#SPXcampaign BTC $SPX Dec 31st 2085/2110 call spreads for 4.50. Sold last week for 3.90 as a roll. Will look to replace with a higher Jan 8th spread, but will wait as I believe we will move higher this week.
Options Expiration
Much better than last week
Full Profit
$SPXW 1910/1935 BUPS
$SPXW 1965/1990 BUPS
$SVXY 40P
$SVXY 50P
$UVXY 23.5P (thank you Iceman)
Partial profit
$UVXY 28P (Closed @ 40% profit to avoid assignment)
$UVXY 27P (Closed @ 75% profit to avoid assignment)
Options Expiration 12/24/15
#OptionsExpiration Expiring with 100% of max profit…
$SPX 1990/1965 put spreads
$UVXY 50 calls
$VLO 67 covered puts
Happy Holidays to everyone! Thanks for making the early days of Bistro so successful. I look forward to growth and much more in 2016.
Complete 4-day iron condor
#SPXcampaign STO $SPX Dec 31st 2100/2125 call spreads for 1.55. Combined with put spread sold this morning, completes iron condor for 2.80 total. With 3.00 stop on either side, max loss is .20.
4-day put spread
#SPXcampaign STO $SPX Dec 31st 2010/1985 put spreads for 1.25. Expire next Thursday on another shortened trading week. Will look to make it a condor.
Call spread closed
#SPXcampaign BTC $SPX Jan 8th 2160/2185 call spreads for .15. Sold for 1.25 on Dec 9th.
Five-hour spread
#SPXcampaign BTC $SPX Dec 24th 2030/2010 put spreads for .10. Sold this morning for 1.10. Could let it expire, but when the market gives you a gift, TAKE IT. (credit to Dan Sheridan for that line)
Another call spread
#SPXcampaign STO $SPX Jan 14th 2135/2160 call spreads for 1.55. Avoided last week’s whipsaw and didn’t sell any spreads in this expiration. Starting with this one…
SPX rolled calls
#SPXcampaign #Rolling STO $SPX Dec 31st 2085/2110 call spreads for 3.90. This is the second half of the roll from this morning’s stopped spread, totaling a .80 credit for the roll. I will roll again should SPX get much above 2075. Mainly, I want to avoid going ITM, since that makes rolling much more difficult.
SPX call spread closed
#SPXcampaign BTC $SPX Dec 24th 2060/2085 call spreads for 4.20. Will roll into various put and call spreads.
SPX same week condor
#SPXcampaign STO $SPX Dec 24th 2060/2085 call spreads for 1.20. Combined with puts sold earlier make an iron condor. Stop is 3.00 if one of the sides hits it, meaning lax loss on full trade is .05.
SPX same week put spread
#SPXcampaign STO $SPX 1990/1965 put spreads for 1.75. These expire in 2 days. Will try call spread if we get more strength today.
Generally avoiding put spreads under current VIX Indicator warnings, but I’m not too worried about a big move this week.
SPX call spread
#SPXcampaign STO $SPX Jan 22nd 2130/2155 call spreads for 1.30. Keeping up with a full campaign on the call side while remaining careful on the put side, due to multiple VIX warnings. Currently I’m holding no put spreads, and other than this new one only a few call spreads, all well into profit. I expect this week to be calmer, but fireworks could start erupting next week or week after. But it’s too tough to call; as Art Cashin said, this is the toughest market he’s seen in 50 years, which is a few more years than I’ve been at this. Also one more year than I’ve been alive.
Options Expiration 12/18/15
Expiring with 100% profit:
$SPX 2145/2170 call spreads
$AZO 700 puts
$BOIL 25, 30, 65 calls
$DUST 30 call
$FDS 155 puts
$KOLD 170, 185, 195, 200 puts
$UVXY 20 puts
$VLO 72 call
$VLO 67.5 put (covered)
$ZSL 65 and 67.5 calls
No assignments.
Oh, what do we have in store for the coming weeks?
SPX closed
#SPXcampaign BTC $SPX Jan 14th 1875/1850 put spreads for 2.15. Sold yesterday for 1.25. I am not carrying any bullish index positions through the weekend.
SPX calls closed
#SPXcampaign BTC $SPX Dec 24th 2110/2135 call spreads for .20. Sold for 2.00 last Friday as a #ReverseRoll from stopped put spread. This spread got up above 4.00 on Wednesday after Fed.
SPX calls closed
#SPXcampaign BTC $SPX Dec 31st 2165/2190 call spreads for .20. Sold for 1.25 on Dec 4th.
SPX after hours trading
For those that don’t know, you can trade $SPX options from 3am to 9:15am ET weekday mornings, and also from 4p to 4:15p after the market closes. You may need to contact your broker to set up this ability.
What I wasn’t sure about was Monthly expiration options, which stop trading at Thursday’s close but whose settlement price is set after Friday’s open. I just confirmed you CAN trade these until 4:15pm on Thursdays (I closed a 1-lot 1975/1950 put spread that expires in the morning for .10 at 4:05pm)
SPX put spread
#SPXcampaign Since I had precisely zero put spreads, dipping a toe back in:
STO $SPX Jan 14th 1875/1850 put spreads for 1.25.
Added to STO SPX Jan4 2150/2165 1.55
5
Jan4 SPX 1885/1870 1.10 Now IC
STO SPX Jan4 2150/2165 1.55
STO SPX Jan4 2150/2165 1.55
Good morning…
Fed day… if they act today, it will be the first day in history that we have a rate raise AFTER quantitative easing. In other words, no one knows what the reaction will be. I’ll be looking for possible day trades with $SVXY and $UVXY, and maybe $SPY or $TLT. I will consider short term #SPXcampaign spreads, but more likely hold off until the market settles into its direction in the coming days.
Good morning…
All hinges on the Fed… many traders are sticking to short term as know one knows how that market will react to tomorrow’s announcement on rates. We have just been through a 5.2% decline (from 12/2 high to yesterday’s low)… is that the extent of the “correction” the $VIX has been signaling? A rally this week into monthly expiration seems feasible, but then what? I am avoiding new index trades until we see how things shake out, and looking for shorter term or ETF opportunities.
Options Bistro 