Quote from droid17:
Hi Tom1am,
Thanks for the reply! Sorry for my ignorance in advance, but what is T/A? So it looked like today I could of bought back the Oct 7s for .85 and then sold the Nov 6s for about .55. If I am forced to buy back the stock at 6 in Nov I don't feel I would be in horrible shape.
Thanks,
droid
TA is technical analysis. It is the use of graphs and charts by traders to give a visual of where the stock is trading relative to its past. TA is used by options traders to try to pick the best entry points for a trade. This is important because stock direction greatly affects option prices (among many factors).
Simply put, stocks trade in a range up down up down and this movement is normal movement. Support is the bottom of a range and resistance is the top of the range.
Think of it like this..just before Christmas when the stores are full the prices are higher. After New Years when the buyers leave the stores, the stores put on sales. Oversimplication, it helps understand the picture. If demand picks up again, the prices rise.
Understanding TA can help keep you from overpaying for stocks (and get better prices/premium for options), although there is many more factors for options.
If a stock trades in a range it is said to be healthy, if it breaks down below support for more than a couple of days, then it could be a bad sign. Same for resistance, if it breaks out is is a good sign. Google Victor Sperandio or Trader Vic for a good discussion of these concepts.
With respect to DRYS, there is a dime spread (slippage) in the options you mentioned, as well as commissions, per trade, round trip, whatever you do, so please look at the total cost of trading positions.
Finally, (IMHO) TA should never be a sole method of stock selection. Fundamental analysis, PE, growth, cash flow, etc. should be used, with TA being more for entry/exit points, or trading.
Good luck
Tom