good points both you and zman...even thou consumer may be tapped out, rates are still pretty low...the full effect of the fed hikes haven't been felt and consumers seem to find a way to spend...some folks seem to think the year will start strong then peter out...could be. I think if I do a call spread I'll keep it to just 5pts...
Quote from smilingsynic:
Check out the data: the net worth of Americans is at an all-time high (stocks, real estate, etc). People do not necessarily save from their paychecks into passbook savings, but debt is manageable and generally at still relatively low interest rates. We are definitely not a country short on capital.
As for string of rate hikes, think of 1995: rampant pessimism because of the rate hikes of 1994. Go back to the charts to see what happened to the market that year.
I'd be careful about selling those call credit spreads.
