Rare arbitrage profit from call vs put prices: explain why not being taken?

Quote from Option Trader:

What I really want to know is the following:

If I do have a broker who allow a limited number of shares to be shorted (which are not htb & no fee to borrow the stock), buy calls & sells puts (i.e. taking on a "reversal" position), what's the likelihood of a forced buy-in due to day to day changes in availability of the shares by the broker?

~83.8%
 
Humble people have less ego problems.

I am going to surprise you all and give you the name of the stock: Although it's way down today and the arbitrage oppty not always there, take a look now at CTIC March $1 strike price, calls & puts.

As for you "non-believers", you can check with IB, and will see there are shares available to short, and I believe that means there is no borrowing cost (but stand to be corrected). In addition, you can check with Locate Stock, and they will tell you they will lend the shares at 1/2 cent per share.

Minimally, answer for me a SIMPLE question: why don't any of the longs simply sell their stock, buy the March 1 calls, and sell the March 1 puts.??

Okay they are not in big supply this second, however, they sure were earlier today, and all of last week, when the stock price was closer to the strike price!
 
Quote from Option Trader:

As for you "non-believers", you can check with IB, and will see there are shares available to short, and I believe that means there is no borrowing cost (but stand to be corrected). In addition, you can check with Locate Stock, and they will tell you they will lend the shares at 1/2 cent per share.
Incorrect. Availability to borrow/short does not mean no borrow fee.
 
Quote from spindr0:

Incorrect. Availability to borrow/short does not mean no borrow fee.
Well it seemingly couldn't or shouldn't be more than the street cost such as from Locate Stock, which charges the clearance firm only 1/2 cent per share, and which is seemingly the amount passed through to the customer (at least with certain brokers).
 
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