Originally posted by POSMENTUDE
I am probably the first here to stand up and admit my inexperience in understanding things like paying the traders more than fair value for a conversion/3 leg conversion..etc
"Credit conversions are done all the time. Our firm alone does hundreds every month for our traders. We pay about 5 cents over FV to the traders and they love it."
1) how can your firm pay more than fair value, or why would you?
2) do the traders collect interest from Bright Trading on the shortsell credit portion?
3) what would you hold (formula) as margin for a completely hedged position like that?
4) When I spoke to Cash at your firm he said you really discourage option trading and the commissions are somewhat prohibitive as well as order entry methods. Is that true only for truly speculative options trading or for hedging as well?
Altho I am mostly an options trader, I am still considering Bright as possibly my first new prop/direct firm and I really want to understand your position as far as option trading before I "throw the baby out with the bath water" so to speak.
Your time is greatly appreciated Don.
A. On the trading floor, traders will use the "3 way" valuation as a way to hedge themselves. Example: If I end up selling 200 calls at a good high price to the public, I can either buy other calls to hedge, or sell puts, or buy stock....to get "delta neutral"....and if I end up with too many "gammas" (short term term delta movement) I can compensate by completing a "3 way" to level out (again, just "locking in" profits from the call sales by being able to then turn around, buy the calls back, sell the puts and sell the stock at "FV").
B. We don't "trade" options (we don't feel the "need" to, and don't want to give up any edge to floor traders, and even they are having a hard time the last couple of years). We "buy conversions" to get long stock in our accounts without risk from upside or downside movement. We put the conversion on and leave it alone, and then trade the stock itself all day long. Easier to go short without "selling short."
(We pay a few pennies over FV because the conversion is worth many, many times that abount to our traders.
C. The overall conversion is just about "risk free." as I noted in "B"...so the margin is minimal.
D. Regarding options trading, please feel free to call me directly to discuss. I think you'll find that what I say makes sense...we are interested in you making money, as I'm sure you are too.
Don