Conservative Options Trades

SPY:

http://stockcharts.com/h-sc/ui?s=spy

Create condor from put and call spreads each netting $20 after commissions:

Put Spread
sell 5 Aug 127 put and buy 5 Aug 126 put for a net credit of $35
Commission = $15
Yield = (35 - 15) /(500 -(35 - 15)) = 20/480 = 4.2% IN 26 days or 58% annualized
Prob = 96%
Expectation = .96(20) - .02(480) - .02(240) = 19.2 - 9.6 - 4.8 = 4.8

Call Spread
Sell 5 Aug 142 call and buy 5 Aug 143 call for a net credit of $35
commission = 15
Yield = (35-15)/(500 - (35-15)) = 20/480 = 4.2% in 26 days or 58% annualized
Prob = 85%
Expectation = .85(20) - .11(480) - .04(240) = 17 - 52.8 - 9.6 = -45.4

Put spread is good, call spread is a loser based on probability.

If done separately expectation = 4.8 - 45.4 = -40.6

If done combined:

sell 5 Aug 127 put and buy 5 Aug 126 put & Sell 5 Aug 142 put and buy 5 Aug 143 put for a net credit of $70
Yield = (70 - 30)/(1000 - (70-30)) = 40/960 = 4.2% in 26 days or 58% annualized
Prob = 90.5%
Expectation = .905(13) - .02(87) -.08(87)= 11.8 - 1.76 - 6.9 = 3.14

Can't be wrong both ways at once.
:-)
 
NFLX Ctd:

I have been unable to get a trade with a positive expectation because of the extreme volatility of the stock. My statistical methodology is not appropriate to these kinds of situations.

e.g.
Jan '13 90/95 bear call spread for $35
Yield = 35/465 = 7.5% in 176 days or 15.6% annualized
Prob = 90.5%
Expectation = .905(35) - .074(465) - .02(232) = 31.7 - 34.4 - 4.5 = - 7.2

Just as well...On NFLX I pass.
 
MRK:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/mercks-2q-net-falls-charges-113238222.html

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/merck-beats-affirms-view-131943271.html

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/ks?s=MRK+Key+Statistics

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?t=5y&s=MRK&l=on&z=l&q=l&c=&ql=1&c=^GSPC

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?t=5y&s=MRK&l=off&z=l&q=l&c=&ql=1


Trade:
with MRK at 45.08:
Jan 37/32 bull put spread for $25
Yield = 25/475 = 5.26% in 175 days or 11% annualized
Prob = 95%
Expectation = .95(25) - .02(475) - .03(235) = 23.75 - 9.5 - 7.1 = 7.15


merck_rahway.jpg
 
Back
Top