atticus, is it possible that you can make a post without including a disparaging remark? you need therapy, man.
Actually, I got a different first nameQuote from atticus:
Stu is stating

Quote from sle:
Actually, I got a different first name
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A5t5_O8hdA
On a different note, for really short dated calendars, how do you evaluate an effect of economic announcements etc?
Quote from sle:
Well, not sure if one can have a predictive model for anything. But you do have to at least evaluate how does forward implied look vs historical levels of implied vol

Quote from galvinlee888:
Something to share,
Many years ago, when i switched from stocks to option trading, I subscribe to one of the snake oil salesman strategy (can't blame me at that time as I am too naive to identify the real guru). His strategy is virtually similar as yours (except he recommended SPY and QQQQ) - short near months straddle/strangle, long the back months straddle/strangle(I recalled it was 3 months back straddle/strangle).
I remember I actually making money for the first 2-3 months, and I though I found the right guru and best money making strategy in the world (I make about 5-10% each month, mostly let the short option expired worthless if it not touching the strike price), then I increased my positions to about 30% of my option account Then, as you may guess, in that month the market make a small correction and I see the price move beyond my short/long put.
I closed my position with 80% loss of initial debit - luckily at that time I only put a small amount of my money in the options account as a test drive with OptionExpress![]()
Quote from galvinlee888:
Something to share,
Many years ago, when i switched from stocks to option trading, I subscribe to one of the snake oil salesman strategy (can't blame me at that time as I am too naive to identify the real guru). His strategy is virtually similar as yours (except he recommended SPY and QQQQ) - short near months straddle/strangle, long the back months straddle/strangle(I recalled it was 3 months back straddle/strangle).
I remember I actually making money for the first 2-3 months, and I though I found the right guru and best money making strategy in the world (I make about 5-10% each month, mostly let the short option expired worthless if it not touching the strike price), then I increased my positions to about 30% of my option account Then, as you may guess, in that month the market make a small correction and I see the price move beyond my short/long put.
I closed my position with 80% loss of initial debit - luckily at that time I only put a small amount of my money in the options account as a test drive with OptionExpress![]()
Quote from weewilly:
I don't like double calendars in general. I don't mind the otm put calendar for a downside strike touch as vega (strip vol) will likely rise and help you. For an upside strike touch, i would prefer something with negative vega as strip vol will tend to decline into the lift. My bias would have to be for higher vols both ways for me to consider this trade (i.e. a low vol environment).