Selling very deep OTM put SPX spreads

Think in risk/reward ratio....4/1000 ? It's suicide.
Just my 2c

I'm just running through all the normal strategies like most beginning traders in order to see their flaws/benefits. The only benefit to this strategy would be the astronomically high odds, like a lottery, for the index moving down 100 to 150 points in 8 days (I know it happens) and landing right in the middle of a narrow short butterfly. That's why I asked about the VIX, so that these kind of positions can be closed early if the market crashes without losing too much money.
 
1. As good as SPY.
2. Depends. Generally someone will bid if the structure is reasonable enough.
3. Options are like side bets in a casino. When two people agree on a price, a new contract is born. Market makers are like bookies.
4. Thousands of contracts can easily be traded in the SPX.
5. I offered my opinion on this already.
6. No.

Concerning SPX

1.) I've heard about hidden liquidity and that (at least with TOS) you don't get to see all of the SPX contracts that are out there on your computer screen (options that are floor traded for example?) Is this true? Is SPX more liquid than it appears? The liquidity seems terrible compared to SPY.

2.) These deep 0.10 OTM butterflies and condors, are they really that available to the smaller trader, or is the liquidity just too poor, or do the big guys snap them all up? Would an order placed to sell at a price of 0.10 likely just sit around unfilled?

3.) How and when are new SPX contracts actually created? I'm assuming a new contract would be created for a buyer at a strike of his choice if he offers the right price (even if there is no liquidity at his chosen strike) but what about a new interested seller? I assume that the seller will just have to wait until an actual buyer comes around and wants to take the opposite side of the trade? Am I correct? Or will market makers satisfy the seller of premium by creating new contracts for him to sell?

4.) What is considered a large SPX order? 10/20/10? 100/200/100? 1000/2000/1000? And at what level do they become difficult to fill in their entirety? As a new trader I would obviously start small with a few individual 1/2/1 butterflies and condors and work my way up, because if I can't grow an account with a small amount of money I won't be able to grow it with a large amount.

5.) Buying a front month VIX call (at a strike of around 20-35) for a basket of short butterflies and condors - Is this very helpful?

6.) Are there other indices that are more liquid than SPX?

Thanks in advance for any insight you can offer.
 
SPX is not for the beginner/retail...do ES options

the biggest problem with the original thought is that you are risking a heck of a lot for a very little. yes you are "somewhat" protected with butterfly but just try and close one when you need to...GL

There are no MAGIC strats...you....YOU.... have to pick either direction..or volatility then place your trade that is best designed for it. All the basic books out there have the strategies that are commonly used, and no one can give you the perfect one for YOU. It just takes time and lots of trades to figure it out.


what NevedaBear said :)
 
Concerning SPX


Looking at the spreads on the chains, most of them have pathetic values, but sprinkled in there are some spreads that have a midpoint of .10 or a little higher. Getting 0.10 of premium would be the barest minimum to make it worthwhile for a smaller trader.

You are saying there is hardly any opportunity out there, and the opportunities that exist are meager at best. Risking money in a retail account on strategies that can only expect to return "bare minimums" seems silly to me.
 
And every month or so, somebody comes up with this amazing idea of free money.

Until the vix jumps to the roof and the broker eliminates your position at the worse possible moment, that is, when your account value reads 0.

Go watch some titties in a bar, it's much more educational and way more fun.
 
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