SPX Credit Spread Trader

Discussion in 'Journals' started by El OchoCinco, May 17, 2005.

  1. ryank

    ryank

    2 days of good moves higher and a drop in volatility is sucking the wind out of my DD. Getting a little close to my short 1400 calls, need to keep a close eye on this move.

    How is everyone doing with their ICs? I should have done the CTM put spread a few days ago, didn't put my money where my mouth was :D.
     
    #11651     Nov 7, 2006
  2. tplast

    tplast

    Just finished legging into 20 ES NOV 1400/1405 call spreads for 1.7 credit
     
    #11652     Nov 7, 2006
  3. MTE

    MTE

    Mine are doing good. Lost about half the value since entry.:cool:
     
    #11653     Nov 7, 2006
  4. I am so angry at myself. I started closing down the upside spreads last week. I got out of the 1430/1420 in one account at a debit of .1 but my other account did not execute the same but larger order. I have been trying to get out all week and the debit just keeps increasing - at last check about .3. If i could do penny spreads I would have been completely out of danger for .12-.14 now Its not worth the debit expense but I am beginning to get nervous at the upside strength which I have been very fearful of ever since getting bulldozed last options period to the upside. This bull does not seem to want to give it a rest...

    TS
     
    #11654     Nov 7, 2006
  5. That's pretty gutsy given the strength to the upside. Do you plan to hold to expiration or close on the first dip down at whatever debit you can get out at?

    TS
     
    #11655     Nov 7, 2006
  6. tplast

    tplast

    I'll hold them with a 2.5 stop. I may close earlier if we get a good drop.
     
    #11656     Nov 7, 2006
  7. I'm not trying to criticize, but under the current circumstances I think long puts would be better than a bear call vertical. Those puts are really cheap right now, half the commissions, and much easier to control with a stop. JMHO
     
    #11657     Nov 7, 2006
  8. kapil

    kapil

    The problem is that the spread is a credit and a long put is a debit. Credits are addictive. :)
     
    #11658     Nov 7, 2006
  9. tplast

    tplast

    Yes, you are right. And I must confess that I didn't even price the puts. I guess because I don't really expect any big drops.
     
    #11659     Nov 7, 2006
  10. tplast

    tplast

    I don't have a problem with debits but I feel that you have to be right about more things with the long options than the CTM spreads.

    In any case, is always a good idea to compare different strategies and choose the one with the greater expectancy. In this case, that may have been the puts, as Cache pointed out.
     
    #11660     Nov 7, 2006