SPX Credit Spread Trader

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

  1. Hope you didn't get whipsawed too badly if you went short at that level. Now down -0.75.....make that up +0.25. Yikes! Exciting day ahead :)

     
    #6441     May 15, 2006
  2. ChrisM

    ChrisM

    Momoney,

    thank you for taking care of me, but trading this was not my intention.

    I`ve seen this action many times before e.g. most recent - after bombing in London ES was down more than -10 and made up to positive levels right about open.

    I don`t guess any more.
     
    #6442     May 15, 2006
  3. thats why i prefer using the SPY. Unless you hold through or close to expiry you will always get cheated on the b/a. Nice trade nonetheless.
     
    #6443     May 15, 2006
  4. Anyone getting any bites? got an order in at 1235/1220 June puts short and even shaved .10 off mid...debating calling tos to "work" the fil:confused:
     
    #6444     May 15, 2006
  5. A, what credit are you looking for?

     
    #6445     May 15, 2006
  6. well after changing order several times tried to leg in BTO 1225 for 4.4 (also cutting down the # of contracts) and frantically tried to pair it up as the spx went higher...ugh:mad: finally STO 1245 for 6.3 and now have a(very..about 9mos) pg. butterfly 1250/1245/1225...should be interesting:p
     
    #6446     May 15, 2006
  7. ryank

    ryank

    I tried to grab some June put spreads on the dip at .05 off the mid, I was being too aggressive for the MMs. I tried the 1190/1200 and the 1190/1200 with no luck. The market has come back up now so these opportunities are gone for me.
     
    #6447     May 15, 2006
  8. rdemyan

    rdemyan

    I want to compare a current potential SPY trade with an SPX trade:

    1) 10 June SPX 1350/1360 bear call. Mid is at $0.70.

    Net credit (at midpoint) = $675 (includes $25 commission)

    2) 100 June SPY 135/136 bear call. Mid is at $0.10

    Net credit (at midpoint) = $750 (includes $250 commission).

    Now the SPY is "American", which means that I'm subject to early assignment. Also, realistically I'll have to give some on the SPX midpoint. If I have to give $0.05 on the SPY, then it certainly isn't worth trading the SPY. But isn't it easier to actually push a trade through at the midpoint on the SPY?

    Other than these things, refresh my memory as to why we generally ignore trading SPY credit spreads.
     
    #6448     May 15, 2006
  9. SPY being american style should be of no concern to your bear call spread unless you actually plan on letting the market go past your short side, no?

    I havent done any SPY credit spreads due to the fact that i can't get a 5-pointer there so i don't know the likeliness of a better fill than a fill on the SPX options but it has been my experience with debit spreads that most of the times i can get a fill at mid point whereas with the SPX i'd have to give up some of that credit even after comms are taken into account.

    Unless there is something i am missing due to my inexperience trading SPY credit spreads over SPX credit spreads, i dont see why you wouldnt go for the SPY spread in the above example.
     
    #6449     May 15, 2006
  10. Differences (interpreted as pros/cons depending on your perspective):

    • Settlement - SPY: Stock, SPX: Cash.
    • Settlement Time - SPY: PM (Closing price of Stock), SPX: AM Settlement via SET.
    • Exercise - SPY: American, SPX: European.
    • Last trading day - SPY: Friday, SPX: Thursday.
    • Listing - SPY: Listed on multiple exchanges, SPX: CBOE tight-fisted MMs only LOL.
    • Contract Size - SPY: Based on 1/10th value of SPX. Commission implication
    • Tax - not up to date but believe SPX 60/40 but SPY no.
    • Premium - Perception of more premium on FOTM options on SPX vs SPY.
    • Strike Selection - SPY: Strikes listed every point, SPX: Finer granularity on a like for like basis - every 5 points.
    • Fill issues - say the mid on an SPX spread is 4.00, you can adjust by nickel increments to 3.95, 3.90 etc. On SPY the same spread might be 0.40 giving you the option to adjust in nickel increments to 0.35, 0.30 etc. i.e. much more granular control with the larger contract.

    Extrapolate for SPY vs XSP.

     
    #6450     May 15, 2006