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I have no idea, but I know I;ve told you this previously: YAHOO has the WORST option data. DO NOT use them for anything - except for historical data. Mark

This is a serious question. You must understand why the put will NOT be higher. It's a big part of understanding how options work. The ex-dividend date is known. It is not a surprise. Thus, every option 'knows' the dividend is coming and is priced accordingly. Calls that 'should' be...

Planners don't learn about about options. They cannot afford to think outside the box. If client loses money on any advice that does not adhere to the Prudent Man Rule, the planner/advisor risks being sued. Mark

You are asking all the wrong questions. How many times per year? If I say '6,' what does that tell you? And I just love your first question. You want to know WHY we have NOT received early assignment notices. As dumb as that question is, I have the reply: Because most option owners are...

Try sending them to this explanation of a collar: http://tinyurl.com/lwxo4x Mark

TK treated you fairly. It is 100% wrong to sell such DITM puts. Stop doing it. As an alternative, instead of trading 50 SPY, you can trade 5 SPX. Then you save on commissions. It is right for holders of DITM puts to exercise - and thus, it is wrong for you to sell them. Pretty simple...

Walt, when gamma scalping works, it's magic But if you sell and the stock moves higher and you sell some more and the stock moves higher and you sell some more... You will not have any profits. That's the gamma scalping story. Market makers do it - not so much to make money - but...

Market if touched or Limit if touched [I don't know for certain they offer this, but that's what you are seeking] Mark

During all the years when I wrote covered calls, I NEVER was able to exit early at a reasonable price. [Of copurse, interest rates were much higher and the cost to carry came into play] This proves nothing, just an observation. Mark

But you do have to overpay to get out. There are few sellers of DITM clls at a reasonable price. This is the #1 reason that selling naked puts is significantly better than writing covered calls. When you have a big win, you can grab that put for a nickel or dime and exit the trade. Mark...

It depends on how you set the computer that provides the data - is programmed. If you want to know how your source of information is doing that, you will have to ask them. Mark

Hi Walt, 1) It is a very bad idea to own any ultra-hedged ETF. You would be FAR better off to own 2x or 3x as many shares of the 'regular' ETF. If you don't know why I'm saying this, you can research why ultra hedged ETFs have a built in tendency to lose value over time. And this has a...

1) "Long Combo' is not a good choice of words. It usually refers to a position in which you are along a call and short a put with the same strike and expiration. It's equivalent to being long 100 shares of stock. 2) I'll assume you are referring to a long 'straddle.' In that strategy you...

Tomahawk, I hope you don't mind, but I have a very serious favor to ask of you. I reply to a good number of questions from options rookies, and the question you ask is the one I encounter most frequently. I'd like to understand why that is. Thus, my questions: I know you are asking...

Good question, without a good answer. Selling the front month straddle in AIG is a very risky proposition. I don't think the payoff is good enough to take the risk. Just my 2 cents. Mark

Is this a trick question? Mark

IB provides up to the minute (well every 2-3 minutes) margin calculation based on current prices. The swear it's accurate. In fact, they so strongly believe in the correctness of their numbers that they are willing to auto-close positions for anyone who goes over the margin limit on one of...

Nonsense. Mark

Youa re not wrong. What's wrong is the idea of using Options Lab. Even it's proponents don't understand how it works. Mark

This makes no sense. You call it a ratio backspread. That means you buy more options than you sell. But you are selling the cheaper option and buying a larger quantity of the more expensive option??? Are you sure that's what you are doing? You are loading up on vega when you know vega is...