Market Analysis | by Kirk
These past two weeks have been tough as an options trader. Differentiating between trading an a possibly irrational market or bull market trend is sometimes very difficult to assess. We all know that the stock market can push us to extremes and then, just when we “give up” and “give in” the turn happens. Timing …
Market Analysis | by Kirk
For many people who are beginning options trading, they make the mistake of investing too much of their money in the new business. And since I get this question a lot from new traders I wanted to take time to cover it in more detail. A key part of a financial education is understanding the …
Market Analysis | by Kirk
Today we are opening the new position as follows: Trade: Sell RUT February 675 PUT AND Buy RUT February 670 PUT Premium: $20 (0.20) Net Credit or better per contract Underlying Price: $784 Max Return: 4.17% Break-Even Price: $674.80 Time Until Expiration: 25 Days Probability of Loss: 5.74% Trade Explanation: For the Credit Spread portfolio we are adding our 1st trade for …
Market Analysis | by Kirk
Casinos are built on odds and probabilities and to a certain extent, so should your trading system when it comes to the stock market. As traders we know that we are never going to be right in picking the direction or magnitude of a stock market move all the time. So why don’t we take …
Market Analysis | by Kirk
In addition to the variety of monthly contracts available, many underlying stocks are beginning to offer weekly options. These weekly options can be employed in various trading strategies to manage both the theta and delta risk associated with options expiration. Overall, the growth in weekly options can provide a richer strategy platform that should not …
Market Analysis | by Kirk
When most traders get started they come into the market with one thing on their mind; make money fast! Return on capital becomes more important than return of capital. Risk management and protecting your portfolio becomes an after thought to making money and earning a high rate of return. How poor and ignorant this thinking …
Market Analysis | by Kirk
If I could sum up the stock market performance for 2011 in one word it would be: choppy. With some of the largest percentage swings in a single year since 2008 the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index closed at 1,257.60. For those who fell asleep all year, that’s exactly 0.04 points below where it started …
Market Analysis | by Kirk
We are taking options trading education to a whole new level this year with the launch of our new video platform. I guess what I always found frustrating when trying to learn about options trading was that there was never a single, easy to navigate source with all the information I needed. I’m sure you’ve …
Market Analysis | by Kirk
As the stock market heads into the last trading week of the year, the historical performance figures actually favor the bulls slightly. Last week the market inched out a slightly gain on the YTD return numbers. Odd how all the trading for an entire year comes down to just this last week. If stocks have …
Market Analysis | by Kirk
Too often I hear new traders talk about how they like to buy options that are cheap because they think it’s a good investment. I can understand where they are coming from because they relate option pricing to how stocks are priced. Cheap stocks are seen as a good investment because they can quickly rise …
Market Analysis | by Kirk
Today we are opening the new position as follows: Trade: Sell RUT January 830 Call AND Buy RUT January 840 Call Premium: $30 (0.30) Net Credit or better per contract Underlying Price: $730 Max Return: 3.09% Break-Even Price: $830.30 Time Until Expiration: 31 Days Probability of Loss: 2.56% Trade Explanation: For the Credit Spread portfolio we are adding our 1st trade …
Market Analysis | by Kirk
I often have a hard time trying to explain how short selling stock works and more importantly, why we need it to keep the market alive. Now I understand completely the biggest hurdle that people have to overcome when we talk about short selling stock and it’s the ability to sell something you don’t own …