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Friday, November 20, 2015

Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) Iron Condor

10/1/2015 (12:58:12 pm, PT)  low stoch, high IV

buy +1 Nov 2015  $113 call (30% prob ITM)
sell  -1 Nov 2015  $111 call (39% prob ITM)
sell  -1 Nov 2015  $108 put (48% prob ITM)
buy +1 Nov 2015  $107 put (44% prob ITM)


FACTS:

  • net credit received:  $1.25 (or $125)
  • the call vertical is $2.00 wide
  • the put vertical is $1.00 wide
  • zero risk on the down side
  • $0.75 (or $75 risk on the up side)
  • this trade is more bearish than bullish
  • IWM was near $109 on 10/1


11/17/2015 (10:45:51 am, PT) (3 days before expiration)

  • buy back the call vertical for $1.76 (debit) to avoid losing the maximum ($75) on exp.
  • buy back the short $108 put for $0.04 (debit)
  • leave open the long $107 put in case IWM drops A LOT in the next 3 days (anything is possible, right?)


11/20/2015 (expiration)

IWM closed at $116.81

  • it's a good thing I bought back the call vertical on 11/17
  • the long $107 put expired worthless

TOTAL LOSS:  $55 (instead of $75 if I had held the entire trade until expiration)





COMMENTS:

When I entered the trade on 10/1/2015, I was more bearish than bullish.  
However, I also knew that there's always the probability that IWM could rally back up and go through my call strikes.  That's why I kept the risk under control by doing only 1 contract.

My goal was to buy back the entire iron condor at around $0.60 so I could walk away with a 50% profit.  However, I never had the opportunity because IWM started rising right after I placed my trade.

Looking back, I would say that this was a dumb trade.  I should have sold put options instead because the stochastics were in the oversold region and IV was VERY high.  Lesson learned!


Learn to SELL PUT OPTIONS by watching my videos HERE!

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Spiders (SPY) Dec Put Options

11/17/2015 (12:21:26 pm, PT)  FP

sold -5 December 2015  $190 puts for $1.02

Why did I place this trade?
  • stochastics in oversold region
  • probability of success = 85%


11/18/2015 (1:10:40 pm, PT)

bought back all 5 puts for $0.51

Why did I close my position?
  • I made 50% of the maximum profit in ONE DAY
  • take profits!

GROSS PROFIT:  $255


Success!


SELL put options for income.
Learn on your own for FREE by watching my videos HERE or
Pay for one-on-one training (details HERE).

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Tesla (TSLA) Earnings Play

11/3/2015

sold -1 Nov 6, 2015  $170 put at $0.45
sold -1 Nov 6, 2015  $175 put at $0.76

Comments:
I used two different strikes to spread the risk



11/4/2015

TSLA gapped up over $21 post-earnings, so I was able to buy back both puts at $0.02 each


GROSS PROFIT:  $117 in 1 day


Success!



Have some fun around earnings season and SELL PUTS!
Learn on your own for FREE by watching MY VIDEOS HERE or
Pay for one-on-one training (details HERE).

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Visa (V) Earnings Play

Friday, 10/30/2015 (12:48:08 pm, PT)

sell -1 Nov 6, 2015  $76 put at $1.07


Tuesday, 11/3/2015 (6:46:53 am, PT)

buy back my put at $1.00

NET PROFIT:  $3.91

Comments:
  • Visa reported earnings before the Opening Bell on Monday, 11/2
  • Immediately after the earnings release, the stock dropped to an intraday low of $74.53 (not good)
  • By the end of Monday, 11/2, my short put was ITM (not good)
  • On Monday (11/2) evening, I decided to place a closing order to buy back my put at $1.00 to break even and cover my fees
  • Before the Opening Bell the next morning (Tuesday, 11/3), Visa announced that the company was planning to buy Visa Europe for $18.2 billion and the stock shot up
  • My closing order at $1.00 filled 16 minutes after the Opening Bell on 11/3
  • I could have made a lot more $$$$ if I had left my put option alone
  • My trade would have ended perfectly if Visa's CFO had announced the acquisition during the conference call on Monday (11/2) rather than waiting until the next day!!!!


Friday, October 30, 2015

Expedia (EXPE) Earnings Play

10/29/2015 (12:48:54 pm, PT)

sell -1 Oct 30, 2015  $114 put at $1.20

Notes:

  • this is a 1-day trade
  • "earnings play"
  • 84% probability of success
  • "expected move" was $10



10/30/2015 (expiration)

EXPE closed at $136.30

my put option expired perfectly

GROSS PROFIT:  $120

Success!



Have some fun and trade OPTIONS!
Learn on your own for FREE by watching my YouTube videos HERE or
Pay for 1-on-1 training (details HERE).

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Apple (AAPL) Earnings Play

10/27/2015 (12:58:56 pm, PT)

sold -1 Oct 30, 2015  $101 put at $0.35

Notes:

  • This is an "earnings play" (taking advantage of inflated premiums).  
  • I haven't traded AAPL in a long time, so I wanted to be cautious and sell just one contract.
  • AAPL was around $114.55 and the "expected move" was around $6.64 when my trade filled.
  • The strike price that I selected was twice the "expected move" (being cautious).



10/29/2015 (6:30:25 am, PT)

buy back my put at $0.01 to remove the risk


GROSS PROFIT:  $34

Success!




Trade OPTIONS and have some fun around earnings season!
Learn on your own for FREE by watching my YouTube videos HERE or
Pay for one-on-one, online training (details HERE).

Friday, October 23, 2015

Spiders (SPY) Put Options

7/21/2015 (11:49:44 am, PT)  RD

sell  -3 Sept 2015  $205 puts at $2.37

probability of success:  68%



8/24/2015 (8:51:01 am, PT)

The Dow dropped 1000 points this morning.



roll Sept 2015  $205 puts to Nov 2015  $205 puts
net credit:  $1.75



10/23/2015 (12:00:13 pm, PT)

buy back all 3 Nov 2015  $205 puts at $1.98

GROSS PROFIT:  $642

Success!



Learn to SELL OPTIONS.  
If your trade goes against you, you can make adjustments so you'll be profitable in the end.

Learn on your own for FREE by watching my YouTube videos HERE or
Pay for customized, private training (details HERE).

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Spiders (SPY) Jade Lizard (options)

7/22/2015 (12:40:03 pm, PT)  stoch top

+4  Aug 28, 2015  $217 calls  (16% prob ITM)
-4  Aug 28, 2015  $216 calls  (21% prob ITM)
-4  Aug 28, 2015  $205 puts  (25% prob ITM)

Net credit:  $1.52


8/21/2015 (8:19:55 am, PT)

Roll Aug 28, 2015  $205 puts to Sept 2015  $205 puts

Net credit:  $2.14 (nice)



8/24/2015 (8:20:54 am PT)

  • Dow dropped 1000 points at the Opening Bell


  • Roll Sept 2015  $205 puts to Oct 2015  $205 puts 
  • Net credit:  $0.75



8/28/2015 (expiration)

  • SPY closed at $199.24
  • Credit call spread expired perfectly



9/18/2015 (10:46:18 am, PT)

  • Roll Oct 2015  $205 puts to Nov 2015  $204 puts (roll down 1 strike)
  • Net credit:  $0.65



10/22/2015 (1:02:45 pm, PT)  stoch top

buy back all 4 Nov 2015  $204 puts at $2.50

NET PROFIT:  $994.31

Success!



Learn to SELL OPTIONS.  
If your trade goes against you, you can make adjustments so you'll be profitable in the end.

Learn on your own for FREE by watching my YouTube videos HERE or
Pay for customized, private training (details HERE).

Spiders (SPY) Put Options

7/28/2015 (11:31:08 am, PT) 

sell  -4 September 2015  $205 puts at $2.82


Why did I place this trade?
  • stochastics in oversold region
  • 62% probability of success
 

8/24/2015 (8:23:08 am, PT)
Dow dropped 1000 points at the Opening Bell


Roll Sept 2015 $205 puts to Oct 2015  $205 puts
Net credit:  $0.70



9/18/2015 (11:22:50 am, PT)

Roll Oct 2015  $205 puts to Nov 2015  $204 puts (rolled down 1 strike)

Net credit:  $0.70



10/22/2015 (1:02:45 pm, PT)
stochastics at top

buy back all 4 Nov 2015  $204 puts at $2.50

NET PROFIT:  $650.96

Success!



Learn to SELL PUT OPTIONS.  
If your trade goes against you, you can make adjustments so you'll be profitable in the end.

Learn on your own for FREE by watching my YouTube videos HERE or
Pay for customized, private training (details HERE).


Spiders (SPY) Jade Lizard (options)

7/21/2015 (11:58:50 am, PT)  RD
stochastics top

+7 Aug 28, 2015  $217 calls at $0.67  (18% prob ITM)
-7 Aug 28, 2015  $216 calls at $0.95  (23% prob ITM)
-7 Aug 28, 2015  $204 puts at $1.18  (23% prob ITM)

Net credit:  $1.46



8/12/2015 (6:30:02 am, PT)
stochastics bottom

buy back all 7 of the $216 short calls at $0.05



8/24/2015 (7:09:04 am, PT)
The Dow dropped 1000 points at the Opening Bell


 
Roll to Nov 2015  $204 puts 

Net credit:  $3.89 (nice!)



8/28/2015 (expiration)

The Aug 28, 2015  $217 long calls expired "worthless"



10/22/2015 (10:40:11 am, PT)

buy back all 7 Nov $204 puts at $2.64

GROSS PROFIT:  $1862


Success!



Learn to SELL OPTIONS.  
If your trade goes against you, you can make adjustments so you'll be profitable in the end.

Learn on your own for FREE by watching my YouTube videos HERE or
Pay for customized, private training (details HERE).



Spiders (SPY) Put Options

7/21/2015 (11:38:56 am, PT)  FP

sold  -4 August 28, 2015  $205 puts at $1.30

probability of success:  75%

Note:
  • I was impatient and sold (to open) these puts even though the timing was horrible (i.e., the stochastics were in the "overbought" region)
  • On August 28 (expiration), these options did, indeed, end up in-the-money



8/21/2015 (7:42:02 am, PT)

Roll all 4 August $205 puts to October 2, 2015  $200 puts
Net credit:  $0.45

Note:
  • The net credit of $0.45 is very small, but I wanted to roll down my strikes for safety.



8/24/2015 (6:59:29 am, PT)

The Dow dropped 1000 points at the Opening Bell.


Roll all 4 Oct 2, 2015  $200 puts to November 2015  $200 puts
Net credit:  $1.55



10/22/2015 (10:33:11 am, PT) 

buy back all 4 Nov 2015  $200 puts at $1.58

Why did I close this trade?
  • stochastics in overbought region
  • SPY up 1.69% today

GROSS PROFIT:  $688

Success!




Learn to SELL OPTIONS.  
If your trade goes against you, you can make adjustments so you'll be profitable in the end.

Learn on your own for FREE by watching my YouTube videos HERE or
Pay for customized, private training (details HERE).

Monday, September 28, 2015

Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) Iron condor

9/4/2015 (11:11:31 am, PT)

buy +1 October 2015  $119 call
sell -1 October 2015  $115 call  (37% prob ITM)
sell -1 October 2015  $109 put  (40% prob ITM)
buy +1 October 2015  $107 put

net credit:  $2.02 x 1 x 100 =  $202 received


Analysis:
  • no risk on the down side
  • $198 risk on the up side
  • break even at $117.02


9/28/2015 (9:46:15 am, PT)

buy back entire iron condor for $1.11 (debit)

NET PROFIT:  $78.64


Success!



Use OPTIONS to hedge on the down side.
Learn on your own for FREE by watching my videos HERE or
Pay for private training (details HERE).

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Spiders (SPY) August Jade Lizard

6/25/2015 (12:42:16 pm, PT)  RD

buy +4 August 2015  $216 calls at $1.24  [22% prob ITM]
sell -4 August 2015  $215 calls at $1.60  [26% prob ITM]
sell -4 August 2015  $203 puts at $2.18  [30% prob ITM]


Why did I place this trade?
  • stochastics in overbought region
  • max profit = $1016 if SPY closes between $203 and $215 at expiration


8/12/2015 (6:43 am, PT)  [stochastics bottom]

buy to close the four $215 short calls at $0.04 to remove the risk


8/19/2015 (11:12:45 am, PT)

buy to close the four $203 puts at $0.04 to remove the risk


8/21/2015 (expiration)

the four long $216 calls expired "worthless"

NET PROFIT:  $966.40


Success!!



THANK GOD I closed those four naked puts early because SPY closed at $197.63 on Expiration Friday!!!!  Those puts would have ended up ITM. 

The lesson here is:  
ALWAYS BUY BACK YOUR SHORT OPTIONS AND REMOVE THE RISK EVEN IF EXPIRATION FRIDAY IS JUST A FEW DAYS AWAY!!!



Use OPTIONS to enhance your returns and protect your portfolio.
Learn on your own for FREE by watching MY VIDEOS HERE or 
Pay for customized, one-on-one training (details HERE).

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Spiders (SPY) Jade Lizard (options)

6/25/2015 (11:50:25 am, PT)

buy  +1 August 2015  $216 call at $1.25
sell  -1 August 2015  $215 call at $1.61  (27% prob ITM)
sell  -1 August 2015  $203 put at $2.18   (30% prob ITM)

Why did I place this trade?
  • stochastics in "overbought" region
  • if SPY closes between $203 and $215, profit = $254
  • if SPY closes above $216, profit =  $154 (fine)


8/13/2015 (12:26:36 pm, PT)

buy (to close) 1 August 2015  $215 call at $0.02 (to remove the risk)


8/18/2015 (9:50:44 am, PT)

buy (to close) 1 August 2015  $203 put at $0.05 (to remove the risk)


8/21/2015 (expiration)

the long $216 calls expired "worthless"

NET PROFIT:  $237.56


Success!







THANK GOD I bought back those short puts early because they would have ended up ITM on Expiration Friday (8/21/2015).  SPY closed at $197.63 on expiration.

Learn to trade OPTIONS.  It's easy, fun and profitable!
Learn on your own for FREE by watching MY VIDEOS HERE or
Pay for private, 1-on-1 training (details HERE).

Friday, August 14, 2015

Spiders (SPY) Aug Put Options

7/21/2015 (11:50:17 am, PT)  stoch top (bad!)

sell  -10 August 28, 2015  $202.50 puts at $1.00

Probability ITM:  20%


8/14/2015 (11:42:29 am, PT)

buy (to close) all 10 puts at $0.44

NET PROFIT:  $537.38

Success!





Learn to trade OPTIONS.  It's easy, fun and profitable!
Learn on your own for FREE by watching MY VIDEOS HERE or
Pay for private, 1-on-1 training (details HERE).

Friday, July 31, 2015

Spiders (SPY) August Put Options

7/2/2015 RD

sell  -1 August 2015  $191 put at $1.26

Why did I place this trade?
  • stochastics in "oversold" region
  • high implied volatility
  • 83% probability of success

7/31/2015

buy back put option at $0.10

NET PROFIT:  $113

Success!



Sell put options and get paid up front.
Learn on your own for FREE by watching MY VIDEOS or
Pay for one-on-one training (details HERE).

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Spiders (SPY) Credit Put Spread

6/30/2015 (9:37:15 am, PT)

sell -10 August 2015  $180 puts at $0.83 (10.27% prob ITM)
buy +10 August 2015  $170 puts at $0.43 (5.50% prob ITM)

Why did I place this trade?

  • stochastics in oversold region
  • high implied volatility
  • max profit:  $400

7/30/2015 (11:42:20 am, PT)

buy to close all 10 of the $180 puts at $0.05
sell to close all 10 of the $170 puts at $0.02

NET PROFIT:  $323.87

Success!



Learn to trade PUT OPTIONS.
Learn on your own for FREE by watching my videos HERE or
Pay for online, one-on-one training (details HERE).

Friday, July 17, 2015

Spiders (SPY) July Jade Lizard

5/11/2015 (10:44:40 am, PT)

buy  +4 July 2015  $216 calls at $1.78
sell  -4 July 2015  $215 calls at $2.20  (32% probability ITM)
sell  -4 July 2015  $205 puts at $3.03  (35% probability ITM)

Why did I place this trade?
  • stochastics in "overbought" region
  • high probability of success
  • no matter where SPY lands at expiration,  this trade will still be profitable

Analysis:
  • If SPY closes between $205 and $215 (ideal outcome), profit will be $1380
  • If SPY closes above $216, profit will be $980


7/6/2015 (6:30:02 am, PT)

buy back the 4 short calls ($215 strike) at $0.04 to remove the risk


7/17/2015 (expiration)

SPY closed at $212.47 (ideal!), so short puts and long calls expired "worthless"

NET PROFIT:  $1347.51


Success!!





Sell put options and GET PAID up front!
Learn on your own for FREE (watch MY VIDEOS) or
Pay for 1-on-1 training (details HERE).

Spiders (SPY) Put Options

6/9/2015 (12:06:16 pm, PT)

sell  -3 July 2015  $203 puts at $2.18

Why did I place this trade?
  • stochastics in "oversold" region
  • probability of success:  68%

7/17/2015 (expiration)

SPY closed at $212.47, so puts expired "worthless"

NET PROFIT:  $649.39

Success!




Sell put options and GET PAID up front!
Learn on your own for FREE (watch MY VIDEOS) or
Pay for 1-on-1 training (details HERE).

Spiders (SPY) July Ratio Put Spread

5/22/2015 (10:35:02 am, PT)  RD

buy  +6 July 2015  $210 puts at $2.96
sell  -12 July 2015  $209 puts at $2.67 (37% probability ITM)

  • net credit:  $2.38 x 6 x 100 =  $1428
  • max potential profit:  $2028
  • stochastics in "overbought" region

7/16/2015 (6:48:36 am, PT)  stoch top

buy back 6 July $209 puts at $0.05 to remove the risk
leave open July 209/210 debit put spread for potential profit on 7/17 (expiration)


7/17/2015 (expiration)

SPY closed above $212 so debit put spread expired worthless

NET PROFIT:  $1370.27

Success!



Learn to trade PUT OPTIONS.  It's easy, fun and profitable.
Learn on your own for FREE (watch MY VIDEOS) or
Pay for 1-on-1 training (details HERE).