I executed an iron condor spread in my paper trading account. My short options are highlighted in red and have a negative P&L value. Position is -1. However, on the left-most side of the screen, there is a +1 next to the ticker symbol and strike price...why not a -1 that matches my position? My long options are in green, with positive P&L, +1 position, and a -1 next to the ticker. Am I reading something wrong? Can somebody please explain this notation? Also what is the "LO" in the symbol CL FOP (LO)?
The top most contract is the spread. -1 indicates you sold the spread. The 4 rows after that indicates your position in each leg. Make note that your understanding of a short spread does not immedietely equate to a -1 or +1 for your total position. Highlight the contract my doing a mouseover or select contract details...I can't recall the actual procedure.
This is a more direct example which might be clear the confusion. This is the contract information screen. To short an iron condor, TWS indicates that you are buying a combo albeit at a negative premium of -$4.00(negative premium means it is payable to you). And yes, LO is the official contract symbol for CL options.
Ok thanks but I am talking about the left-most plus and minus ones that is in the same cell as the ticker symbol (the off-white cell). Each option has a +1 and -1 associated with it. I'm wondering what the ones in the off-white cells refer to.
You can expand the column just like an excel spreadsheet, so you can see the full name of the contracts. Just mouseover the edge of the column heading then hold the left click and extend.
Are you fluent in English xandman? I am asking what the +1s and -1s in the off white column refer to in my option spread...
Enough to get by. The off white column is the spread you are trading. The top most column in red means you sold that spread (Sell on the order ticket.). This resulted in an opposite position that is being implied by the off white column.