Search results

My concern if I felt forced to change is the Analyze Tab in TOS- I don't see any of these brokers mentioning that type capability. Also TOS margining for complex positions like double diagonals is better than most other platforms (where they require margin on both sides).

How about this trade in IWM (or could be done in other broad based ETFs): Buy 15 Jan09 77 IWM PUTS Buy 10 JAN09 82 IWM PUTS SELL 5 JAN08 74 IWM PUTS SELL 5 JAN08 73 IWM PUTS SELL 5 JAN08 72 IWM PUTS SELL 5 JAN08 71 IWM PUTS SELL 2 JAN08 70 IWM PUTS (ratio part) Max profit is about...

I'll answer my own question in case anyone else wants to know in the future. The VIX closed today at 20.05 the 20 calls still have 0.45 in extrinsic value, the 19 calls have 0.15 in TV, everything else was at 0.05 or less. The bid ask seemed to narrow later in the day from 0.15-.2 earlier, down...

Anyone here trade VIX options to expiration? I am wondering how much time value OTM options lose the last day of trading? For example, VIX is at 18.2, assuming it stays there how much would the Oct 19 Call be worth near the end of trading tomorrow. I am guessing it will still retain some time...

No, you lose 2 points if GOOG is at or below 470; make 8 points if GOOG at or above 480, and breakeven at 472.

TOS pays 1.5%- I would not consider that close to IB @ 5%, although it looks like IB only pays interest if you have a $10k or greater cash balance.

Mech, To set this up in TOS, first select a 4 legged spread like a Double Diagonal. Then click on Double Diagonal and change that field to custom. That will make all fields changeable so you can put in the correct # of contracts, etc for each leg. After hours TOS is showing a mid of 3.70...

I was looking to open some calendars today and I noticed the new Feb options volatility was about 8% higher the the Jans. As of about 10:15 this was still the case, and this makes the calendar trade not very attractive. I assume this is because the Feb options are new and this will normalize...

His strategy is more than married puts- he combines them with selling calls or other strategies, just substituting the married put for the long call part of the spread. The big downside I see is a married put requires a lot more initial cost than a long call, which has a big effect on return %.

Any thoughts on the viability of http://radioactive.websitewizard.com/sketch.html ?

In looking at it further, XLE ATM Theta is .05 while OIH is .15. So more of the theta has bled out of the XLE position, causing the higher gamma (gamma is the inverse of theta, right?). It looks like to me I should be looking to close the XLE position Monday, while an OIH position could be held...

XLE's ATM Nov Puts have a gamma of 0.20 compared to OIH ATM Puts have a gamma of 0.06. Why the big difference? OIH has an IV of 32 while XLE is 25. So the high gamma in my spread is a function of XLE not the position. A similar OIH multi calendar has a gamma of -42.

Update on my XLE calendars- yesterdays jump in price went past a couple of stops I had set, and I closed the 52 and 53 calendars and opened the 58 and 59 Nov/Jan. This moved the profit zone to the right, but the max profit is now lower. Then today the Nov 54 bid got to .05, so I closed it. I...

One other thing I forgot to mention is this strategy similar to a double diagonal and the risk graph is somewhat like a condor, but the multi cal has an opportunity for a couple of adjustments if needed. The DD and condor are difficult to adjust.

My strategy is a bit different in that I am mostly focused on the first month with my multiple calendars. Note that my long was only 2 months beyond my short, which decreases the risk/cost of the position. I agree it is unrealistic to expect the spot not to move over multiple months, so I narrow...

The benefit I see is a wider profit zone, and less gamma risk near expiration. When I look at the reward/risk for a single XLE calendar in my trade, at expiration it is about 1.45. The profit zone is about 7 points wide. However to achieve that maximum profit is almost impossible, so the more...

Donna, In this case I put all of them on at the same time with a neutral view of XLE. I have others where I started with 2 or 3 calendars and added additional calendar(s) in the direction the stock moved. I have more calendars in the XLE position partially because of the 1 point strikes and 6...

I mentioned earlier I am trading a multiple calendar position in XLE, which is Nov/Jan Put calendars at the 52,53,54,55,56 and 57 strikes. Is Gamma risk near expiration in multiple calendars muted somewhat as compared to single calendars? It seems to me it would be if you are near the middle of...

Did you get filled? If so, how did you come out overall on the trade? I have some XLE calendars also, the Nov/Jan07 52-57s. Right now they look good, but we still have 18 more days until the first expiration.

Murray, Did you roll the Nov 1375c to Dec? And the Oct 1350c to Nov 1375c? Otherwise I don't see how you got to a call calendar. Tim