The OCC requires all listed options print on one of the 15 option exchanges. I do not have access to his trades or time and sales and would prefer not to look into the activity of another broker or ask him why he did not exit the position even though he was warned.
The entire event does not make sense to me.
Bob
Because the spread wasn't in the money, nor particularly close, I figured they'd just exercise the itm 171puts that I owned and that I'd in turn be assigned the itm 170.5's that I was short.
I've had spreads go off fully itm before in the above stated fashion.
In fact, several weeks ago I received this ambivalent reply from the firm about another itm put spread that I owned until opex.
"If you have a spread about to expire:
*If both legs are in the money, or not at risk of being in the money, we’ll take no action letting them either both expire or assign/exercise.
*If one leg is at risk or in the money, we'll close the spread or match the option with another form of collateral (like cash or stocks) and let you exercise it."
What rankles me is that I was in front of the screen (this wasn't my only position) and was minutes away from getting out on my own volition. BUT, I figured if the firm blows me out, it'll be at the same price I would anyway. Keep in mind, this spread was fully in the money with an hour to go, so it's not as if it were jumping around.