Opened: IWM May 20th 176/229 Short Strangle... for a 1.19 credit.
Comments: A bit of an experiment here, selling the 90 day duration 2 x expected move strikes in shorter duration. Using the June 30th expiry (86 days) as the basis for this setup, I looked at the strikes nearest the 16 delta in that duration, and then sold premium in those same strikes in the expiry nearest 45 days. The benefit is a higher probability of profit setup, with the trade-off being less credit received.
I'll look to manage it, however, like any other short strangle -- rolling in untested sides, taking profit at 50% max and/or rolling to a delta neutral setup in longer duration for a realized gain and a credit.
Shortstrangle
Closed: SPY April 29th 436/454 Short Strangle... for a 9.75 debit.
Comments: Collected a total of 11.84 in credits with this; closing out here results in a realized gain of 2.09 ($209).
Here is the blow by blow (See Posts Below):
Opened the April 29th 375/454 for a 6.96 credit (delta neutral).
Rolled the 375 up to the 431 for a 4.09 credit (cut net delta).
Rolled the 431 to the 436 for a .79 credit (cut net delta).
Rolled: QQQ April 22nd 348 Short Put to 356... for a 1.95 credit.
Comments: Rolled up the untested side of my April 22nd short strangle, the short call aspect of which is at the 361 strike. Total credits collected of 12.90 relative to a setup value of 12.55, so probably could have also closed it out for a small winner here. Delta/theta of -14.66/39.23 with 343.10/373.90 break evens.
Opening: XBI May 20th 76/105 Short Strangle... for a 2.35 credit.
Comments: And here's my "clean" XBI setup after having scratched out my previous position. High IVR/high IV at 61/41. Selling around the 16 delta on both sides. 2.35 on buying power of 9.05 (on margin); 26.0% ROC as a function of buying power effect; 13.0% at 50% max.
Rolling: SPY April 29th 375 Short Put to April 29th 431... for a 4.09 credit.
Comments: Flattening net delta directionality by rolling the short put to the strike that is one-half the delta of the call (which is at the 454 strike). Total credits collected of 6.96 (See Post Below) plus 4.09 equals 11.05.
Rolling: NVDA April 14th 215C/265P to 220C/280P... for a 12.80 credit.
Comments: Chasing my tail a little bit with this one. Total credits collected of 70.48 on a 60 wide inverted, so I can still make money on a finish between my break evens which are now at 290.48 and 209.42, but am basically just looking to scratch it out at this point.
Previously, it was functionally as though I was long stock at 265 covered by a 215 short call. Now, it's though I'm short stock at 220 covered by a 280 put (i.e., covered put).
Opening: KRE April 14th 60/79 Short Strangle... for a 1.76 credit.
Comments: Popped to the top of my screener with an IVR of 95 and a 30-day of 45.1. Selling the 16 delta strikes for a 1.76 credit on buying power of 7.06; 24.9% ROC at max; 12.5% ROC at 50% max. Will look to take profit at 50% max, roll sides on approaching worthless/side test.
Opening: QQQ April 22nd 290/361 Short Strangle... for a 5.85 credit.
Comments: IVR/IV still high here for a broad market instrument at 77.5/35. Selling 15 delta premium on both sides. A 5.85 credit on buying power effect of 36.15; 16.2% ROC at max/8.1% ROC at 50% max. Will generally look to take profit at 50% max, adjust sides to delta balance.
Closing: QQQ May 20th 390/358 Short Strangle... for a 12.12 debit.
Comments: Collected a total of 13.98 with defensive rolls in this puppy. (See Post Below). Rather than adjust further, pulling it off for a profit here to free up the buying power for shorter duration setups. 13.98 - 12.12 = 1.76 ($176) profit.
Rolling: QQQ May 20th 385 Short Call to May 20th 376... for a 1.38 credit.
Comments: A small delta adjustment here to realize a gain on the call side, recenter my risk, and get a credit for doing it. Both sides are now at the 18 delta (ish) strikes, with net delta basically flat. Total credits collected of 10.88 with 77 days to go.
I generally wait for side approaching worthless/side test to do an adjustment, but you can also do adjustments with greater frequency, depending on how "delta anal" you are. Alternatively, you can monitor your theta/delta ratio in the position and look to make adjustments at certain theta/delta ratio intervals (e.g., 2:1, 1:1, etc.). Here, the position wasn't all that skewed out from that standpoint and is currently at 16.38/1.31, so I could've probably also just left it alone, since a theta/delta ratio of >1 implies that theta decay will be such as to outpace any change in the delta of the position (at least when looked at from that snapshot of the position in time).
Rolling: XBI March 18th 93C/99P to April 20th 93C/99P... for a 2.38 credit.
Comments: Rolling this "as is" at 21 days until expiry to collect additional credit and improve my break evens. Total credits collected of 12.66 on a 6-wide inverted with a downside break even of 86.34 relative to where the underlying is currently trading at 88.22
Rolling: ARKK April 14th 80C/103P to May 20th 77P/102.22C... for a .93 credit.
Comments: There isn't much extrinsic left in the deep in-the-money short put, so rolling it out to May to collect additional credit and reduce cost basis further. Total credits collected of 25.86 on what is now a 24.22 inverted with a break even of 76.36 relative to where the underlying is currently trading at 65.37.
I'll continue to scalp around this position to reduce cost basis further, but have been working it for several cycles already, so it's more about mitigating loss at this point than attempting to make money on the position (although you never know).
Opening: QQQ April 14th 295/376 Short Strangle... for a 6.63 credit.
Comments: Selling some fresh premium in the QQQ's. 6.63 credit on buying power effect of 34.20; 19.4% ROC at max as a function of buying power effect; 9.7% at 50% max. Will generally look to take profit at 50% max and/or manage sides on approaching worthless or side test.