This is very interesting. As a rule, I always get in and out the position as soon as possible, which means paying premium on ask and bid spread.
I do have questions about this 'aggressive' trade. By your experience, what's the chance of a fill with spread of Ave2 - Ave1?
a) Always
b) Most time
c) Sometimes
d) Rare
e) Never
When the spread gets executed, how long has it taken usually?
a) Immediately (less than 30 seconds)
b) Soon (less than 30 minutes)
c) Until the price of the underlying moves favoring the spread
d) Hours
e) Days
Appreciate you any input.
> Well, this is what I mean. Buy a calendar spread.
>
> Stock is trading at 50
>
> Sell 50 call quoted at B1 - A1 (Let (B1+A1)/2 = Ave1)
> Buy 50 call quoted at B2 - A2 (Let (B2+A2)/2 = Ave2)
>
> The purchase price at:
> A2 - B1 would be the worst thing to do.
> Ave2 - Ave1, is what I do usually because you would have a
> better order and a pretty good chance of getting a fill.
> B2 - A1, has almost no chance of getting a fill, but would be
> the best base.
>
> What I'm wondering is if "better" brokers can get a better fill
> somehow with these orders. How does the Ave2-Ave1 order
> go in? Do they only put in the order of one of your legs in
> such a way that if it does get filled then they can immediately
> execute the other leg of the order at the market to fulfill your
> price? In the example above if your price was Ave2 - Ave1,
> then the broker would have an order to buy at B2 and IF that
> was executed they would immediately sell at B1 for the other
> leg to come to an Ave2-Ave1 execution. Is this how it is done