What is the most statistically predictable Option strategy?

Agreed. Adherence to an exit strategy is paramount. That's why I can't make money with IC's on a consistent basis. Also, there is considerable effort in getting the right fills on your trades. I would say 10%-20% or your relative terms (not absolute!). Have you ever considered that you might have a model for trading the underlying? There is less potential slippage.

Now, I'm going to have to throw some stones. Succesful strategies like these usually ends up in a witch hunt. Especially, Iron Condor strategies!

Your presentation of the 2014 performance will be brought under suspicion. Possibly, claims of rear view optimization of the strategies that were employed during each period. You never took a hit!

Personally, it's up to me run the numbers with what you have disclosed and see if I can make (sell) a buck. Thank you for being so forthcomng and welcome to ET.




xandman ........ You are being bamboozled by AT99, he has you taking the hook, line and sinker. AT99 isn't new to ET and his posts are 100% BS.





:)
 
No, that's just calls of witchcraft. I am really more interested in the Inquisitor. You missed convexx, he would eat you alive.
 
Not jumping on any witchhunt bandwagons, but I will note that the screenshot of your spreadsheet where you show SPX 1% moves has a cell that contains the words "See forum for more info".
 
DannyBoy, I would like to be here to discuss strategies. Share what works for me and learn what works for others. Investing and trading is a continual learning process and I am a big believer in collaboration. I am trying to avoid discussing any other forum I may be a part of as that is not why I am here. I have a lot of spreadsheets I use for my trading and did not recall the one you mentioned had a note mentioning a forum. I apologize for that.
 
That's fine, like I said, I was just noting that, I'm not grabbing a pitchfork. Out of curiosity, given you have relevant data already prepared, I've always wondered what is the maximum absolute move the SPX has made in a 5 day period from close to close in your data? and how many times has it moved to that specific point and a point below? ie. if the max move is 10 points, how many times has it moved 10 and 9 times?

Personally if I was selling weekly index spreads, I would probably sell at/beyond the max absolute move over say a 10 yr period (even though the R/R and credit would be disgusting) given you would not have to touch it 99% of the time. For the 1% time you would, I would keep enough of a war chest to roll down around another 40-50 (ideally more) points. Getting filled would probably be a real issue though, might have to go SPY. Only way your going to loose is a good old black swan, could possibly use backspreads to avoid this though.
 
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Danny, not sure what time period you are looking at. Here are a couple of things that may help.

This has a lot of various time periods for SPX moves both in % moves and $ moves. This goes back to Jan 2012.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/5p8xwnexe5zft8h/SPX Tables.pdf?dl=0

This will show you the 50 largest % and $ move for each move since Jan 2012 (I put VIX at 100 or less to pick up all periods). There were 701 5-day periods over this time frame.
Look at the data in the columns under "Historical Raw Data" for the actual % and $ moves. You can see the date for each move at the far right.
http://screencast.com/t/JCPXnjk6
 
So...I just ran into a relatively new brokerage that all they do is use a very wide Iron Condor on the S&P 500 and Adjust this position over time with the movement of the S&P, theory being, a lower percentage return, yet a more highly probable one. As seems to always be the case, high probability rides along with smaller returns.
 
7c3.jpg

Talk about raising a thread from the dead - thats more than 2 years ago.
 
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