NaughtyPines

... for a 4.83/contract debit. Fading the treasuries move higher ... again. Here are the metrics: Max Loss On Setup: $483 Max Profit On Setup: $217 Break Even on Setup: 121.17 Debit Paid/Spread Width Ratio: 69% Theta: .32 Delta: -42.26 Notes: Will look to take profit at 20% max. Ordinarily, I like to do these skip month (e.g., Aug/Oct) to give me an ...

With volatility at somewhat of an ebb here, I'm eyeing exchange-traded funds for directional plays in lieu of just hand sitting. The setup pictured here is of a XLU diagonal with the long dated option out in Dec, the front month in August. I would prefer setting this up as a skip month (Aug/Oct), but an Oct expiry isn't available yet. Here are the metrics: ...

With various things Brazilian in implosion mode, it's no surprise that PBR and EWZ have high implied volatility here. PBR: Bullish Assumption Setups: The July 20th 30 delta 9 put is paying .43/contract, resulting in an 8.57 break even, which isn't very compelling, but might appeal to some smaller account holders who are willing to hold the short put until near ...

... for a .77/contract credit. Truth be told, I kind of hate USO, with XOP being my go-to for petro-based plays. That being said, with its high implied volatility rank (65) and its decent background volatility (31%), I figured I'd throw a "can't hurt much" trade on here as a demo trade for a "safety tape" setup. The basic notion of a "safety tape" trade is to ...

With this quarter's earnings pretty much in the rear view mirror, there isn't much single name to play here, particularly since we start right back up again with earnings around the July monthly. Consequently, if you're going to play single name, you may get caught in a volatility expansion running into earnings, so if you absolutely can't resist the urge to pay ...

HPQ announces tomorrow after market close; COST on Thursday after market. Neither underlying's rank/implied vol metrics are particularly compelling, however, with the former's implied at 29.6%, the latter at 23.5%. Even so, the 68% probability of profit, ~20 delta COST June 15th 188/207.5 short strangle's paying 2.31; managed early (<50% max), that could make ...

... for a 3.22/contract credit ... . Metrics: Probability of Profit: 50% Max Profit: $322/contract Max Loss: $278/contract Theta: 1.71/contract Delta: -7.06/contract Break Evens: 35.78/42.22 Notes: With a background implied of around 31%, it's the highest vol exchange-traded fund out there. As with a short straddle, I'll look to manage the trade early (25% ...

With the vast majority of options-liquid earnings plays in the rear view mirror, premium selling becomes a search for just plain Jane high implied volatility underlyings. This week, TSLA, RIG, X round out out the top implied volatility single names; EWZ, the exchange-traded fund top implied volatility play. Here are some possible nondirectional setups, which are ...

... for an .79/contract credit. Taking a directional shot here on silver weakness. In essence, it's a synthetic covered call with the short put aspect of the setup around the 70 delta. The long put is thrown in to bring in buying power effect over the naked for those that are working in a cash secured environment. On margin, you won't be saving much in buying ...

DISH announces earnings on Tuesday before market open and is a state of high volatility (>50%). While you can naturally go with the plain Jane volatility contraction play around earnings (short strangle), there might be an opportunity here to catch it at significant lows while simultaneously taking advantage of risk premium present here which will lower your cost ...

With most of the earnings heavy hitters in the rear view mirror, there isn't much to trade this week of quality from an earnings announcement volatility contraction standpoint, with DIS being the standout name. DIS announces on Tuesday after market close with a 30-day implied volatility of 25%, which is in the upper half of its 52-week range. The May 18th 96/97 ...

... for an .83/contract credit. Notes: I seem to be on a double diagonal kick of late ... . Will look to take profit at 20% of the width of the wings/roll the short straddle aspect at 25% max or at 21-25 DTE.

... for a 1.00/contract credit. Metrics: Probability of Profit: 57% Max Profit: $100/contract Max Loss: $200/contract Break Evens: 79.00/94.00 Delta: -.28 Notes: Will shoot to take profit at 50% max ... .

... for an .79 credit/contract. Roll the short straddle aspect at >25% max; look to exit for 20% of the wing width ... .

When playing with a small, cash secured account, buying power effect can limit one's ability to trade since even something as basic as the 30-delta 27 short put in ROKU in the June cycle pictured here can tie up quite a bit of buying power. The June 15th 27 short put brings in a nice 1.27/contract in credit, but comes with a cash secured price tag of the strike ...

Although AAPL and GILD announce earnings next week, the only earnings announcement that interests me from a premium selling standpoint is TSLA, with a background implied volatility of over 65%. The 73% probability of profit May 11th 255/330 short strangle is paying 5.83 at the mid (off hours quotes) with its defined risk counterpart, the 68% probability of profit ...

... for a .07/contract credit. Taking a directional shot here at long-term horizontal support, with some flexibility to roll the short put aspect down in the event I'm wrong. Notes: Will roll the short put aspect "as is" on 50% decrease in value and look to exit for 20% the width of the spread in profit.

... for a .58/contract credit. Basically, this is a calendarized iron condor or iron fly, where you roll just the short strangle/short straddle body of the setup for cost basis reduction, while keeping the long strangle aspect in place for purposes of defining the risk ... . Take profit is somewhat subjective, but I start to look to bail on the trade at >20% of ...