SPX Credit Spread Trader

Rally, is that risk 2 to make 1, or risk 1 to make 2?

Quote from rallymode:

Not proposing anything. If i start my own journal one day i might propose something. LOL

We all must find what works for us. All i am saying is that if you are relatively new to options (0-2 years), you shouldnt be trading FOTM credit spreads as i am quite certain you will not be able to manage the risk during an adverse move. Most veteran traders wont touch those, that should say something. Before you improve your directional and risk management skills, you should not be trading low r/r positions. That's just my opinion and i am sure many here disagree.

What works for me most likely wont work for you but i do trade close to the market. I try to keep my r/r at 1:2, so i go as FOTM as possible to get into such a position yet i try to stay outside of the trading range. (usually within 20-25 points) Whenever i dont get my entries lined up, i stay out for that month.
 
Rally, please DON'T stay quiet next time. I for one, really enjoy reading your posts. They are excellent (so are the charts). For those who don't like what you have to say, there's always the ignore button...

Remember, keep prayer out of public schools, intelligent design is for the birds and the right to free speech is supreme. God Bless America. [Right wing nut jobs can PM me hate mail, I'm OK widdit].


Quote from rallymode:

I've been aware for some time now how to trade options, but thank you for the recap. I merely had a suggestion but if you think that being honest with yourself will prevent you from taking a hit like this again if you keep trading the FOTM spreads the way you do, you are mistaken. I will just stay quiet the next time.

coach-> i cant believe you see all these new traders attempting these risky trades and you say nothing. It seems people around here listen to you a great deal. I know it's their money but damn.
 
Quote from rallymode:
coach-> i cant believe you see all these new traders attempting these risky trades and you say nothing. It seems people around here listen to you a great deal. I know it's their money but damn. [/B]


Rally, I don't know what thread you've been reading but from the very beginning of this thread there has been an emphasis on risk management and the limitations in hedging trades like this.
 
Quote from rallymode:

Not proposing anything. If i start my own journal one day i might propose something. LOL

We all must find what works for us. All i am saying is that if you are relatively new to options (0-2 years), you shouldnt be trading FOTM credit spreads as i am quite certain you will not be able to manage the risk during an adverse move. Most veteran traders wont touch those, that should say something. Before you improve your directional and risk management skills, you should not be trading low r/r positions. That's just my opinion and i am sure many here disagree.

What works for me most likely wont work for you but i do trade close to the market. I try to keep my r/r at 1:2, so i go as FOTM as possible to get into such a position yet i try to stay outside of the trading range. (usually within 20-25 points) Whenever i dont get my entries lined up, i stay out for that month.

This has been discussed ad nauseum....new to options does not mean NEW to MARKETS or RISK. I think ANYONE who has been trading stocks/options for a period of time and experienced the ups and downs is perfectly capable of doing OTM spreads and controlling their emotions. Veteran traders have (usually) a funny haircut that allows them to be more conservative than a retail trader. I do not find your style of trading very comfortable for me....and that is no offense to you...just that I look at what the spx can/does do and try to stay outside of its range. Whatever position you put on.... the ultimate challenge is HOW you manage that position. This is what as traders we ALL seek to do effectively. To me adjusting a FOTM spread is just easier and less stressful than the closer near to money spread.
 
RR, what is your trading plan for the 1225/1240? Chances are you might have to adjust soon...

Quote from RichardRimes:

WOW... I leave for the day 9:45 Eastern to spend the day sans computer OR TV...come back and all hell broke loose!!! FWIW Coach nailed it. Since 2004 we have been in a generally trendless market...up..down..sideways...nowhere. In this market we have had some vigorous corrections and some months with great upside. So far I see nothing has changed.

Before I left this am I added to my Bull put position..well at least put in the order...saw it filled at $1.60 when I got home (June 1240/1225puts) May positions at least the short 1250's have been closed...short 1230 right now.

Chrdso I don't think I would completely give up on the bull put spreads...if they are FOTM you will be fine...especially when put on when the mkt is oversold. We have 30 days before June exp...can we still go down? sure...but the odds are that we will be higher June exp than May SET.

edit...I would be closing ANY put that is at 1265:eek: tomorrow
 
Quote from andysmith:

Rally, please DON'T stay quiet next time. I for one, really enjoy reading your posts. They are excellent (so are the charts). For those who don't like what you have to say, there's always the ignore button...


thanx, i think you and cache are the only ones who read them though LOL

oh that was risk 2 to make 1 earlier, no way you can do the reverse unless you go ITM
 
Quote from Aardvark:

This has been discussed ad nauseum....new to options does not mean NEW to MARKETS or RISK. I think ANYONE who has been trading stocks/options for a period of time and experienced the ups and downs is perfectly capable of doing OTM spreads and controlling their emotions.

I disagree, if a person took a big hit the last few days on their FOTM spreads then that to me is a beginner and as such they best stay away from FOTM. this market selloff wasnt dramatic at all, rewind 2 years and we saw this every few weeks. So, if you had to take a big hit here(big would be >200% on credit) then you either dont know how to hedge or you dont know how to enter. That's not how you handle risk. Better hit the books. I know it sounds bad, but its the truth. Hate me all you want.

You don't see coach taking losses here do you? Something to think about.
 
OK folks we have 30 days till June. The beginning of the year we were....whoo hoo:p...yippie:D...up...up...up... thru Mar and even Apr. No surprise that May we finally see some reality and come back down to earth. The fundamentals of the economy are the same...actually pretty good except for the price of oil. Was anyone really surprised that the CPI was higher than expected? Once the smoke clears we should be back into a nice churning mode. Employment is still strong...companies are still profitable so why would there be a big depression or recession? We are adjusting to the higher price of oil by buying fuel efficient cars and driving slower or less often. America has a very good ability to adjust. Unless something very out of the ordinary happens why should we not continue on the same economic path?
 
Quote from rallymode:

I disagree, if a person took a big hit the last few days on their FOTM spreads then that to me is a beginner and as such they best stay away from FOTM. If you had to take a big hit(>200% on credit) then you either dont know how to hedge or you dont know how to enter. That's not how you handle risk.

You don't see coach taking losses here do you? Something to think about.

If we are talking specifically abt Heather then its the RUT and that is very difficult to game. Not too many have taken big hits on the SPX except those that didn't close NTM at SET. I don't think there was anyone FOTM that took a hit...was there?
 
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