Delta neutral or directionality: which one do you pick?

Discussion in 'Options' started by ferrycorsten, Dec 31, 2012.

  1. As I've stated several times, my goal is a % return in the 13 - 19% range.
    Generally speaking, the more volatile a stock is, the higher the credit.
    I don't use the higher vol and credit for more % gain.
    I use them for more otm cushion.
    Thus keeping 99% of my trades earning in the 13 - 19% range.

    We've really gone off topic here.
    Sorry about that.
    If anyone wishes to discuss my trades, please continue it on "My 2013 Option Trades" thread.
     
    #61     Jan 5, 2013
  2. Like the man said, you can make 100% ROI and it's not really that big of a deal

    but you can only lose 100% once, and it's a life changing event

    the traders understand that

    but I'm not sure the mathmaticians do
     
    #62     Jan 5, 2013
  3. I'm not sure most spread traders understand that either.

    Again, we are really off topic on this thread, so feel free to continue it on the appropriate thread if interested.
    I'm taking a break.
    But I thought it was a good overall discussion.
     
    #63     Jan 5, 2013
  4. wow thats all i have to say about this thread haha.. ....

    right right there are differences in trading options period to trading the underlying.. as is there are differences in trading direction with options and using delta to hedge sold or even bought options depending on your view..

    my pick... long or short delta in butterfly's , credit spreads, and selling options against positions.. i don't have a problem overwriting if i feel this risk of jumps is manageable.. and i would reduce my size in the entire position if i thought there was jump risk in general.. i don't have the account size to overwrite call options on aapl or many others for that matter.. i've tried breaking wings on the flys to emulate ratios with less margin requirement but i really don't know what i'm doing..

    never dealt with commodity options.. didn't know there was a big difference in skew.. it would make sense with the jumps and limits being up alot of times.. with the fact that droughts and catastrophes can send ags sky rocking. although i'm learning about currency options as i go..

    So you can see the catastrophe coming? and diffuse the jump? i just would think buying deep otm wings in some ratio backspread would be better then outright strangles.. but as i've noticed any series with a steep skew its costly buying wings..
     
    #64     Jan 5, 2013
  5. I am not picking on you, but can you tell me wtf that means? Did you read a paper on a shitty French model? Or Merton's? It's not a verb in this context.
     
    #65     Jan 5, 2013
  6. option traders seem to have a lot more ability to treat the whole thing more like a business

    as opposed to the commodity trader who bets it all on his fundamental analysis

    so, the original question was

    delta neutral or directional?

    they won't ever write a book about you if you are delta neutral

    unless it is about old traders who are getting social security
     
    #66     Jan 5, 2013
  7. hahaah you know me to well.. jump diffusion is a type of stochastic/random process ... i was using it more like diffusing a bomb(jump) in your options book.. which is clearly the wrong use.. thanks for pointing that out.. always can count on ya ;)
     
    #67     Jan 5, 2013
  8. The point is that he's not harvesting skew. He's attempting to trade outside of the forward distribution. He would trade ATM if he were attempting to trade vola. He would be trading index or ETF if he were selling skew. There is no mention of vola in any of his posts. Now we get some blather that hedging is strike selection and technical criteria prior to establishing a trade.
     
    #68     Jan 5, 2013
  9. Any idea why etf and index skew is higher?..

    I dont think put master isnt gonna get it... he will start spitting back stuff about percentage otm slash risk reward ratios and spread trading leverage till your blue in the face
     
    #69     Jan 5, 2013
  10. There was a slight up and out skew prior to the 1987 crash.
     
    #70     Jan 5, 2013