Betting on a Crash With Options

Discussion in 'Options' started by louisjxn, Jan 9, 2016.

  1. thigle

    thigle

    but however i am trying, i cannot find such option that would possibly give me 1 to 100 or similar payout. you say 10000%. can you give an exemple of specific option that could go up that much, if for ex. we reach 1000 on SPX before jan2017 ? or any other exemple. thank you
     
    #11     Jan 9, 2016
  2. xandman

    xandman


    Nice post. I see these plays in many different instruments and markets. Spreads with lottery like payoffs done in huge size. It is definitely how smart money plays. Obviously, they don't bet the farm. These bets are tactical overlays within an existing strategy where they "stay the course".

    Specifically for the OP, experiment with a far otm vol spread with modest spreads requiring little capital. It goes without saying, this type of play requires a good understanding of how the skew can evolve.
     
    Last edited: Jan 9, 2016
    #12     Jan 9, 2016
  3. instead of buying puts you COULD sell calls/call credit spreads to play a bear market:

    http://finance.yahoo.com/echarts?s=SPY+Interactive#{"range":"5y","allowChartStacking":true}

    SPY
    Sell Jan '17 220 call and buy Jan'17 225 call for a net credit of $109

    Price............. Profit / Loss......... ROM %
    143.94............. 109.00.................. 21.80%
    170.29............. 109.00.................. 21.80%
    198.03............. 109.00.................. 21.80%
    220.00............. 109.00.................. 21.80%
    221.09................ 0.00..................... 0.00%
    225.00........... (391.00)................. -78.20%
    225.77........... (391.00)................. -78.20%
    253.51........... (391.00)................. -78.20%
    281.25........... (391.00)................. -78.20%

    Here's a basic question: What is the macro-economic rationale to expect a bear market??

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jan 9, 2016
    #13     Jan 9, 2016
  4. thigle

    thigle

    i dont have any advanced understanding of options, but still i cant get my head around the statement that there are OTM puts that can grow 10.000% in value in 6 months from now if we crash 50%.

    can anyone of you guys who understand it well enough,
    give a CONCRETE SPECIFIC exemple of a put that grows so much in value if we lets say fall 50% before jan2017 ? that would be cca 1060 on SPX.

    ??? i can find such that it shows me would be 1 to10 or 1 to 50 at most.
    but 1 to 100 ?!?

    i wanna know that this exists. please enligten me with a single specific exemple.

    thank you.
     
    #14     Jan 9, 2016
  5. Yes, using Black-Scholes (flat-vol), it will come out to around ~3500% or so on average. You have to account for the skew as well which should add more to the return.
     
    #15     Jan 9, 2016
  6. thigle

    thigle

    what will come out to around 3500% ? i dont get it. jan2017 1060 put ?!?
     
    #16     Jan 9, 2016
  7. Bry

    Bry

    This is an election year. The market goes up 80% of the time in election years. I wouldn't count
    on a crash this year, people. Just google: "election year stock market."
     
    #17     Jan 9, 2016
    Wisard likes this.
  8. thigle

    thigle

    big crashes happened in last 2 years of 2 term presidents.
    80% doesnt matter.
    spx and dow had worst opening in decades and ever !
    for 140years, sp500 NEVER ended in red in a year with 5 in it.
    this year it did.
    commodities index at 48years lows,
    baltic dry at historic lows.
    etc etc etc.
     
    #18     Jan 9, 2016
  9. Bry

    Bry

    don't bet the farm!
     
    #19     Jan 10, 2016
  10. thigle

    thigle

    okey. i bet accordingly to my capital.
     
    #20     Jan 10, 2016