Opening (IRA): TLT March 21st 81 Covered Call... for a 79.98 debit.
Comments: Adding a "rung" in March at a break even better than what I currently have on, selling the -75 delta call against shares to emulate the delta metrics of a 25 delta short put, but with the built-in defense of the short call.
Metrics:
Buying Power Effect/Break Even: 79.98/share
Max Profit (Excluding Dividends): 1.02
ROC at Max (Excluding Dividends): 1.28%
Generally looking to roll out-of-the-money short call down and out for a credit that is greater than the amount of strike destruction at expiry to generate a quasi-free cash flow setup consisting of (a) short call premium; and (b) dividends. This differs somewhat than what I would ordinarily do, which is generally money/take/run at 50% max.
Optionsstrategies
Opening (IRA): URTY January 17th 51 Covered Call.. for a 49.25 debit.
Comments: With my usual leveraged go-to TQQQ in kind of the IV doldrums (IVR 18.1/IV 49.6), opting for a play in URTY with its 63.4% 30-Day IV instead. It's not as liquid and doesn't have nearly as robust an options chain as TQQQ, but I will make do.
Metrics:
Buying Power Effect/Break Even: 49.25/share
Max Profit: 1.75
ROC at Max: 3.55%
50% Max: .88
ROC at 50% Max: 1.78%
Will generally look to take profit at 50% max, roll out short call on test of take profit price, and add should I be able to get in at strikes/break evens better than what I currently have on.
GOLD → Testing Key Resistance with Potential to Reach 2726-2790OANDA:XAUUSD currently testing an important resistance level from which we can expect the price to continue rising to key levels such as 2726-2790. Technically, gold has entered the buying zone and the fundamental context supports it.
Gold is supported by weak US inflation data, moderate Fed expectations, hopes for Chinese stimulus measures, and fading concerns about President-elect Trump's disruptive trade tariffs which have supported the risk-on sentiment prevailing in markets, causing the US dollar to decline sharply.
Focus shifts to other economic data releases from the US, including December Retail Sales and Weekly Unemployment Claims, which will provide more clarity on the Fed's interest rate trajectory after January. Markets have fully priced in a rate pause at the Fed's policy meeting later this month. Gold prices will also remain dependent on any speculation surrounding Trump's tariff plans.
Technically, all eyes are now on the resistance zone at 2697-2700. If gold can consolidate above this area, buyers will quickly enter the medium and long-term playing field. But don't forget about the upcoming news releases.
Best regards, Bentradegold!
Full ARKK Reverse Gamma Scalping PositionThe basic essence of reverse gamma scalping is to do additive and subtractive delta adjustments over time to keep delta fairly neutral so that theta can do its dirty work.
Shown here is my full ARKK position that started as a delta neutral iron condor to which (a) I layered in an additional iron condor as a delta adjustment trade; (b) mixed and matched profitable put side with profitable call side to reduce units and/or risk; and (c) did an additive long delta short put vertical as a delta adjustment. Rather than continue showing each of these additive/subtractive delta adjustments as separate trades, I'm setting out the full banana here.
I've collected a net 3.22 in credits on a buying power effect of 11.78, and the position has a delta/theta ratio of -2.09/6.00. With 36 days to go, I'll primarily look at doing profitable subtractive adjustments first; then additive ones.
Opening (IRA): TMF Feb 28th 35 Covered Call... for a 33.98 debit.
Comments: High IVR/IV at 40.7/44.2, which is no surprise, since this is a bullish 3 x leveraged 20 year paper exchange-traded fund. It does have a dividend that pays out quarterly in March, June, September, and December (annualized yield of 4.71%).
Selling the -75 delta call against shares to emulate the delta metrics of a 25 delta short put, but with the built-in defense of the short call. Using the February 28th expiry to keep things in that 45 DTE wheelhouse and will look to add at intervals, assuming I can get in at strikes/break evens better than what I currently have on.
Metrics:
Buying Power Effect/Break Even: 33.98/share
Max Profit: 1.02
ROC at Max: 3.00%
50% Max: .51
ROC at 50% Max: 1.50%
Will generally look to take profit at 50% max, roll in-profit short call out to reduce my break even.
Opening (IRA): MSTR 2x225/2x240/460/490 Iron Condor... for a 7.00 credit.
Comments: IV remains high here at 112.4%. Going "double double" (put spread half the width of the call spread, but 2 x the number of contracts) to accommodate skew. Earnings are on 2/4, so will probably want to get out before then.
Metrics:
Max Profit: 7.00
Buying Power Effect: 23.00
ROC at Max: 30.43%
50% Max: 3.50
ROC at 50% Max: 15.22%
Will generally look to take profit at 50% max, roll in untested side on side test to about half the delta of the tested side. Given earnings on the horizon, will naturally just money/take/run for less if presented with the opportunity.
Opening (IRA): URTY February 21st 41 Covered Call... for a 39.07 debit.
Comments: Adding in at strikes better than what I currently have on, selling the -75 delta against shares to emulate the delta metrics of a 25 delta short put, but with built-in short call defense. I would prefer using TNA, since it's more liquid and has more expiries available, but already have a position on in TNA where the short call strike is at or above the -75, so don't want to add here.
Metrics:
Buying Power Effect/Break Even: 39.07/share
Max Profit: 1.93
ROC at Max: 4.94%
50% Max: .97
ROC at 50% Max: 2.47%
Will generally look to take profit at 50% max, roll out the short call if the setup doesn't hit my take profit.
Opening (IRA): TNA February 21st 34 Covered Call... for a 32.45 debit.
Comments: Adding at strikes better than what I currently have on, selling the -75 delta call against shares to emulate the delta metrics of a 25 delta short put, but with the built-in defense of the short call.
Metrics:
Buying Power Effect/Break Even: 32.45/share
Max Profit: 1.55
ROC at Max: 4.78%
50% Max: .78
ROC at 50% Max: 2.39%
Will generally look to take profit at 50% max ... .
Opening (IRA): TAN Nov 15th 37 Covered Call... for a 35.89 debit.
Comments: Relatively decent IV here at 42.8%. Selling the -75 delta call against stock to emulate the delta metrics of a +25 delta short put, but with the built-in defense of the short call.
Metrics:
Buying Power Effect/Break Even: 35.89
Max Profit: 1.11
ROC at Max: 3.09%
50% Max: .56
ROC at 50% Max: 1.55%
Will generally look to take profit at 50% max; roll out short call on test.
Opening (IRA): EWZ Feb 28th 22.5 Short Put... for a .51 credit.
Comments: After closing my Feb 17th 23 for a small profit, opening up a position at a strike slightly lower than what I just had on, attempting to pick up shares at the lowest price the market will allow. Had to use the weeklies to get into the 22.5.
Opening (IRA): EWZ January 17th 23 Short Put... for a .71 credit.
Comments: Here, I'm just trying to reduce my cost basis in my shares of stock (which is kind of an "ugh" at 31.65), so looking to take assignment at $23/share. Because of this, I will look to run this all the way to expiry, at which point I either get assigned or it expires worthless.
Metrics:
Break Even/Buying Power Effect: 22.29
Max Profit: .71
ROC at Max: 3.19%
WFC Wells Fargo & Company Options Ahead of EarningsIf you haven`t bought WFC before the breakout:
Now analyzing the options chain and the chart patterns of WFC Wells Fargo & Company prior to the earnings report this week,
I would consider purchasing the 70usd strike price Puts with
an expiration date of 2025-3-21,
for a premium of approximately $2.82.
If these options prove to be profitable prior to the earnings release, I would sell at least half of them.
Opening (IRA): IBIT February 21st 47 Covered Call... for a 44.52 debit.
Comments: Adding to my position at strikes/break evens better than what I currently have on, selling the -75 delta strike against shares to emulate the delta metrics of a 25 delta short put, but with the built-in defense of the short call.
Metrics:
Break Even/Buying Power Effect: 44.52/share
Max Profit: 2.48
ROC at Max: 5.57%
50% Max: 1.24
ROC at 50% Max: 2.79%
Will generally look to take profit at 50% max, roll out short call on take profit point test.
Opening (IRA): SMH February 21st 195/220/270/295 Iron Condor... for a 3.91 credit.
Comments: Back into the semiconductor ETF, where I don't have a position on currently. Going comparatively low delta, with the short options camped out at the 17 delta on both sides and the wings about 1/10th the price of the underlying in width.
Metrics:
Max Profit: 3.91
Buying Power Effect: 21.09
ROC at Max: 18.54%
50% Max: 1.96
ROC at 50% Max: 9.27%
Will generally look to take profit at 50% max, roll untested side in toward current price on side test.
Opening (IRA): TNA Feb 21st 36 Covered Call... for a 34.33 debit.
Comments: Starter position on weakness/high IV in lieu of the less liquid URTY. Selling the -75 delta call against shares to emulate the delta metrics of a 25 delta short put, but with the built-in defense of the short call.
Metrics:
Buying Power Effect/Break Even: 34.33/share
Max Profit: 1.67
ROC at Max: 4.86%
50% Max: .84
ROC at 50% Max: 2.43%
Will generally look to take profit at 50% max, add at intervals should I be able to get in at break evens better than what I currently have on.
Opening (IRA): IBIT February 21st 50 Covered Call... for a 47.07 debit.
Comments: High IVR/IV (88.4/68.6) + weakness post-FOMC. Going out to February, as there are only 30 DTE left in January, selling the -75 delta call against shares to emulate the delta metrics of a 25 delta short put, but with the built-in defense of the short call. Looking at this as a "starter" position, so will look to add at intervals, assuming I can get in at strikes/break evens better than what I currently have on.
Metrics:
Buying Power Effect/Break Even: 47.07/share
Max Profit: 2.93
ROC at Max: 6.22%
50% Max: 1.47
ROC at 50% Max: 3.11%
Will generally look to take profit at 50% max, roll out short call on take profit point test.
Opening (IRA): MSTR 180/210/410/440 Iron Condor... for a 6.03 credit.
Comments: High IV at 95.8%. Here, going delta neutral, 1/10th the price of the underlying for my wing width, and setting up my short option strikes at the 16 delta on both sides.
Metrics:
Max Profit: 6.03
Buying Power Effect: 23.97
ROC at Max: 25.16%
50% Max: 3.02
ROC at 50% Max: 12.58%
Will generally look to take profit at 50% max; roll in untested side on side test.
$SPY Weekly Options | Last Week's Put +185%AMEX:SPY
Our range is $570 to $589 with our entry pivot at $580. For these options, we use 15-30 minute candle CLOSES for confirmation and stop-loss.
📜 $585 CALL 1/27
Entry: Confirmation over $580
Target🎯: $584, $585, $589, $595
📜 $570 PUT 1/27
Entry: Confirmation below $580
Target🎯: $575, $570
GOLD: Buy or Sell ?Dear friends, Ben here!
Gold begins the new week with a slight decline, retreating from the one-month high reached on Friday. Hawkish expectations from the Fed, rising U.S. Treasury yields, and a stronger USD are weighing on the precious metal in the short term. On the other hand, risk-off sentiment might provide support for the safe-haven pair XAU/USD and help limit further losses. :)
From a technical perspective, gold confirmed a bullish breakout from a month-long symmetrical triangle pattern on January 8, further reinforcing the ongoing bullish momentum. It is likely that the struggle will continue, and the price may retest the previously broken boundary or the liquidity zone at 2675–2665, which will determine the next phase of developments.
Resistance level: 2698
Support levels: 2685, 2665
The situation remains volatile, as numerous factors are exerting pressure on the price.
Accordingly: If, after the retest, buyers manage to hold the price above the 2680–2685 support zone, the upward momentum could continue in the medium term.
However, if the bullish support structure breaks and sellers push the price below 2680, this could trigger a correction down to 2665 or 2650 before the uptrend resumes.
EURJPY → Consolidating before dropping to 157.00OANDA:EURJPY is under pressure. This currency pair has broken its local uptrend. In the context of weak fundamental and technical foundations, overall market pressure may be experienced.
On the global timeframe, the pair lacks a clear trend and has been trading mainly within the range of 166 - 156. A closer look reveals that the recent growth attempt failed near the intermediate high. As the price approached a local resistance level, it reversed and stabilized below the EMA, moving toward the lower boundary of the flat range.
Locally, a structural shift has confirmed the bearish nature of the market. However, before further declines, the price may form a corrective move. Using Fibonacci levels to measure this potential correction, the short-term levels to watch are 0.618 (161.75) and 0.5 (162.28). In the medium term, however, the decline may continue.
Rate, share your opinion and questions, let's discuss what's going on with OANDA:EURJPY :)
Regards R. Linda!
Opening (IRA): USO February 21st 79/April 17th 107 PMCP** -- Poor Man's Covered Put
Comments: Shorting USO on strength using a long put diagonal/Poor Man's Covered Put, buying the back month 90 delta put and selling the front month 30 that pays for all of the extrinsic in the long.
Metrics:
Buying Power Effect: 22.96 debit
Break Even: 84.04
Max Profit: 5.04
ROC at Max: 21.95%
50% Max: 2.52
ROC at 50% Max: 10.98%
Will generally look to take profit at 50% max, roll out the short put on approaching worthless.
Opening (IRA): ARKK Feb 21st 45/50/61/66 Iron Condor... for a 1.43 credit.
Comments: An additive delta adjustment trade. With the short call of the setup I put on Friday (See Post Below) at -20 delta and the short put at 29, layering in an iron condor with the short call at the -28 delta and the short put at the 20 delta to flatten out net delta of the entire position. This is skewed slightly short to offset the slightly long delta skew of the setup I put on Friday, so am indicating that it's "short."
Metrics:
Max Profit: 1.43
Buying Power Effect: 3.57
ROC at Max: 40.06%
50% Max: .72
ROC at 50% Max: 20.03%
Since you can't close out an eight-legged setup, will either look to take off each iron condor individually at 50% max or mix and match profitable call side with profitable put side to reduce units/risk running into expiry.