Quote from optioncoach:
Mid point is theoretical value and no MM is going to trade at the mid point and give up money. A MM's compensation is the b/a spread and they do not make money trading at the mid point.
Also there are a ton of MM on SPX so your 2 lot order may be used by one MM to fill an order it has but all the other MMs are still keeping their spreads wide so some one like me with a 300 spread order has trouble shaving.
I think you asume there is one MM sitting there on the floor.
Quote from segv:
I will take your comment about a world class thesis to be a compliment about the quality of my post. I will put it in less academic terminology for you: You are always getting screwed in the SPX, your strategy does nothing to change that fact, you are inevitably going to get a swift kick in the mommy-daddy button trying to leg the spread, and you would be better off not trading the SPX at all. But by all means keep on "pulling the rug" over there if it makes you feel happy! The real irony is that you will be directly helping to preserve the monopoly you claim to dislike.
Quote from nazzdack:
Morton's has great steak and seafood. It sure beats Outback.
Quote from ChiBondKing:
As for the pricing, those contracts were priced probably according to theoretical volatility.
You clearly have no idea what you're doing in options, you should stick to something a bit more simpler.
Or, read the rules.
Quote from day7793:
I have already posted several times I have minimized my SPX trading. That way I don't partonize the Castle built by CBOE filled with sharks and gators in that deep wide moat.
You don't " leg into the spread" You place two contract long and two contract shorts. It takes 2 efforts under 5 minutes. It doesn't matter where the market goes, you are only exposed 2 contracts at the most. You can do it one contract each, will take you longer.