WOTM Index (call/bearish) Spread Trades have benefited my funds since our 26-Jul-2007 market "top" (Stop Losses) call - increasing funds ~25%.
Normally I cash out and go into my "wait-and-see" mode until the market puts in a bottom. Not only do I avoid losses/retain (most) past gains, but outperform the indexes and other managers that don't get in and out within days.
This is just in keeping with average 50% annual jumps to funds over mid- to longer range time-frames.
So C2 account dropped 18% (and an added 5% due to incorrect C2 reporting of bid/ask closing prices for spread trade) due to "delayed top" (since Mar) and false signal just before the actual "top" - that institutions were allowing indexes to breakout further (heavy trade gap up) that failed and eventually tanked (taking with it losses to my funds).
6% or so was due to IOC (which has gone back up with no new news, just like the sudden tank) or was stock specific. 4-5% was from my frustration and the riding from mockers wondering why my funds had little gains to show in 2007 (ha, now look at them) and why C2 account didn't go straight up (ha, half of the best (a handful) have tanked).
So being invested in my strategy would - when a correction hits - normally drop about 10-12%, but I sat on an 18% loss that has been efficiently recouped. Perhaps further gains may unfold, see
http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1581478#post1581478.
Needless to say not staying in cash, but now profiting with index spread trades during downturns (and market bottoms) will bode very well over time. Also using bullish put stock spreads along with covered calls (depending on situation) AND letting options go naked after stocks drop and hit stops AND using "protective" puts with 1/5 my CC portfolio that is in biotech...will juice annual returns even further!
So we look for more profit off this correction and (once a true market bottom shows up) with WOTM index put spreads, covered calls, bullish put stock spreads and perhaps ES/SPY spreads - the 30-60% jump in the few ensuing months may deem this manager worthy (although undeserving).
Also...my newsletter I post that has chronicled this very same action for years (each past week can be easily enough uncovered), I will spare the posting here. Oh, and did I mention this 55%+ average annual gains fund manager sleeps very well and does very little on a daily basis. Hmmm...where are these and future funds going?!?
PAys