Weekend Portfolio Analysis (06-23-2012)

We are finally past the Greek elections. And as anticipated by many, the markets moved up on Monday and Tuesday (although not as hard as many thought). We got to hit SPX 1360 and according to last weekend's article the market would reach overbought level at that point and I would try to sell calls on RUT.

Wall Street's Newest Scam Revealed

Excellent article by the Institute for Individual Investors. Check it out http://www.ifii.com/articles/854145056/wall-streets-newest

Weekend Portfolio Analysis (06-17-2012)

The S&P500 closed the week with a 0.7% increase. Pretty much sideways action until Thursday and Friday where bullish momentum was more obvious. The June portfolio saw its two remaining positions expire worthless for full profit. The SPY 137/139 Credit Call Spread was not touched at all as price never threatened the 137 level so no need to adjust or anything here for a 17.65% return on margin. The IWM 72/70 Credit Put Spread was also successful, and since IWM never hit 72.20, I didn't have to adjust/roll or anything. Full profit was obtained here of 16.28% return on margin.

July SPX Bear Call spread

Demo-trading:
SELL 6 SPX July 1415 Call (@3.30)
BUY 6 SPX July 1420 Call (@2.40)

Weekend Porftolio Analysis (06-10-2012)

In spite of everybody having a bearish outlook last week, the markets managed to close one of the best weeks of the year with the S&P500 moving up by 3.8%. Like I've said before, I strongly believe the markets tend to be sort of random or at least highly unpredictable in the very short term, and days like the recent ones convince me more and more. Now, in the very long term it starts to make sense when you take up charts of many years, and analyze bear markets and their coincidence with periods of economic crisis and all that. But, in the very short term, it is really tough to guess where the market will move tomorrow, or the day after. Specially when it may react positively to apparently bad news and vice versa.

Two ways to protect Iron Condors from a Flash Crash

Today's article is a guest post by Gavin from Options Trading IQ. Gavin's strategy is focused on income portfolios, where he trades Credit Spreads, Iron Condors, Calendar Spreads, Butterflies and Covered Calls. Always trying to keep his profit curve as smooth as possible with the extensive risk management he applies. Check out his website!

July SPY Bull Put Spread

Demo-trading:
SELL 15 SPY July 118 Put (@1.73)
BUY 15 SPY July 116 Put (@1.41)

Weekend Portfolio Analysis (06-03-2012)

Well, May 2012 is in the past now. This week I decided to close the June 125/127 Bull Put Spread in what was a good decision, given that the markets sold off strong after that closing the week with a -3.1% loss for the S&P 500. I held on to the plan outlined on Sunday and got good results.