SPX Credit Spread Trader

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

  1. If anyone is bored and wants entertainment...on TOS thinkspreads you can see all of those trying to roll out/ I did decide to try and roll my 20 contracts in the cash account to 1300. for a 2.55 debt at 3:01 (ET) I had built up an ES credit of abt $5700 and decided to spend it now. Don't know if it will fill tho.
     
    #9491     Aug 17, 2006
  2. Sailing

    Sailing

    Just hanging tight

    SET could be up... but BE is 1307.... the reward is far greater than the risk at this point.

    Thanks for asking...



     
    #9492     Aug 17, 2006
  3. Sailing

    Sailing

    Interesting scenario....

    If you're holding short contracts... say Aug 1300c... and you have a long Sept say... 1325c....

    Will you be naked in the morning if you sell the 1325c, while still technically holding the Aug 1300c until SET.

    It would appear you would be naked until SET is annouced and margin released.... but ToS said NOT! Strange!

    Hmm...


    ( I took the name and work number of the live chat person and a copy of the transcript... just for good measure)



     
    #9493     Aug 17, 2006
  4. #9494     Aug 17, 2006
  5. Both OptionsXpress and Thinkorswim have been known to free margin on Friday after SET is released...

     
    #9495     Aug 17, 2006
  6. As Murray would say, the best article is in your head.

    Probably more has been written on ET about calendars than you'll find in any book/article.

    Start with ET search. The archives are a genuine gold mine.

    There is also the Calendar Spreads thread.

    Then there's a little known tool called Google. Seek and ye shall find.

    Lastly, there are a bunch of relevant thinkorswim chat transcripts e.g calendar spreads.

    [Submlinal Message]
    Join the cult of thinkorswim. You have no choice.[/Subliminal Message]

    MoMoney.
     
    #9496     Aug 17, 2006
  7. Technically, the options do not expire until Saturday morning. Thus, you would be naked short, after you sell your Sept options.

    But, it is obvious that OX or TOS grant you margin relief from being naked, while IB does not.

    Of course, once the market opens on Friday - and it doesn't matter if SET has yet been calculated and announced - those short Augs can no longer hurt (or help you). So, even though technically 'naked short' those Augs, it's no big deal - if your broker agrees.

    This is one more example where the low cost of doing business with IB interferes with operating the trading business efficiently.

    I closed almost all my Aug/Sep postitons today because I did not want to be in a position in which I would be forced to hold (or roll to a cheaper long) until Monday before being able to unload. After all, the premium collected when selling those September options represents a huge portion of the month's profits.

    Mark
     
    #9497     Aug 17, 2006
  8. I have always hated that they use Friday's open instead of Thursday's close (since thats the last time you can trade it) for european options. It exposes you to completely unneccessary risk from what was essentially an operational decision.

    I too have seen people blow this. Its sad really.
     
    #9498     Aug 17, 2006
  9. Settlement procedures are a known risk when getting into the trade and one can argue that you get compensated accordingly for that risk e.g. higher premium. Blowing up on settlement procedures is completely avoidable IMO.

    Technically, it's not Friday's open in case anyone was under that assumption :eek:

    In addition, XEO is European and PM settlement :) but you have one more trading day to contend with. That one day can occasionally make a big difference e.g. most recently 07/21/06 but even more so 01/20/06 :eek:

    2 cents to add to the $5,235,396,873.43 already contributed to this topic on this thread.

    MoMoney.
     
    #9499     Aug 17, 2006
  10. completely true and something I thought of even as I posted (its in the premium!). But I dont have to like it :D
     
    #9500     Aug 17, 2006