Friday, September 9, 2011

Long Put (12 Sep 11)

Long Put (ETFs)

A Put option gives the buyer the right to sell stock at a specific price (strike price) on or before a specific date in the future (expiration date).  When you purchase a Put option you are basically betting that the price of the underlying stock will fall.  The Put buyer loses money if the underlying stock does not fall before the expiration date.

EFA  $48.75
Buy to Open (1) Jan 12 48 P @ $4.45 
Net Debit: $4.45 ($445.00)
Profit Target (50%): $6.70 ($670.00)
Stop-Loss Point (50%): $2.25 ($225.00) 

FXI  $35.95
Buy to Open (1) Jan 12 35 P @ $2.74 
Net Debit: $2.74 ($274.00)
Profit Target (50%): $4.15 ($415.00)
Stop-Loss Point (50%): $1.40 ($140.00) 

EEM  $40.01
Buy to Open (1) Jan 12 40 P @ $4.00 
Net Debit: $4.00 ($400.00)
Profit Target (50%): $6.00 ($600.00)
Stop-Loss Point (50%): $2.00 ($200.00) 

XLI  $30.18
Buy to Open (1) Jan 12 30 P @ $2.65 
Net Debit: $2.65 ($265.00)
Profit Target (50%): $4.00 ($400.00)
Stop-Loss Point (50%): $1.35 ($135.00)

VWO  $41.15
Buy to Open (1) Jan 12 41 P @ $4.30 
Net Debit: $4.30 ($430.00)
Profit Target (50%): $6.45 ($645.00)
Stop-Loss Point (50%): $2.15 ($215.00)

REMEMBER: “When there is a small movement in the stock, there is a magnified movement in the option”.  The “Long Put” strategy can be easily transformed into a “Bear Put Spread”, “Calendar Put Spread”, or “Diagonal Put Spread”.   

All positions displayed are for educational purposes only and are not intended to be recommendations.

Bull Call Spread (12 Sep 11)

Bull Call Spread (ETFs)

A Bull Call spread is a debit spread created by purchasing a Call with a lower strike price and selling a Call with a higher strike price.  Both options expire in the same month.  This is a bullish strategy and should be implemented when you expect the market to close above the strike price of the short Call option—the point of maximum reward (at expiration).  

VXX  $45.83
Buy to Open (1) Oct 11 40 C @ $8.45
Sell to Open (1) Oct 11 45 C @ $5.35 
Net Debit: $3.10 ($310.00)
Breakeven: $43.10
Max. Profit: $190.00
Pct Return: 61.3% (41 days)

GDX  $65.80
Buy to Open (1) Oct 11 62 C @ $5.85
Sell to Open (1) Oct 11 67 C @ $2.92
Net Debit: $2.93 ($293.00)
Breakeven: $64.93
Max. Profit: $207.00
Pct Return: 70.6% (41 days)

TLT  $113.71
Buy to Open (1) Oct 11 109 C @ $6.40
Sell to Open (1) Oct 11 114 C @ $3.45 
Net Debit: $2.95 ($295.00)
Breakeven: $111.95
Max. Profit: $205.00
Pct Return: 69.5% (41 days)

GLD  $180.70
Buy to Open (1) Oct 11 172 C @ $13.50
Sell to Open (1) Oct 11 177 C @ $10.50 
Net Debit: $3.10 ($310.00)
Breakeven: $175.10
Max. Profit: $190.00
Pct Return: 61.3% (41 days)

All positions displayed are for educational purposes only and are not intended to be recommendations.

Bear Put Spread (12 Sep 11)

Bear Put Spread (ETFs)

A Bear Put spread is a debit spread created by purchasing a Put with a higher strike price and selling a Put with a lower strike price.  Both options expire in the same month.  This is a bearish strategy and should be implemented when you expect the market to close below the strike price of the short Put option—the point of maximum reward (at expiration).  

EFA  $48.75
Buy to Open (1) Oct 11 54 P @ $6.20
Sell to Open (1) Oct 11 49 P @ $3.10 
Net Debit: $3.10 ($310.00)
Breakeven: $50.90
Max. Profit: $190.00
Pct Return: 61.3% (41 days)

FXI  $35.95
Buy to Open (1) Oct 11 40 P @ $4.55
Sell to Open (1) Oct 11 35 P @ $1.54 
Net Debit: $3.01 ($301.00)
Breakeven: $36.99
Max. Profit: $199.00
Pct Return: 66.1% (41 days)

EEM  $40.01
Buy to Open (1) Oct 11 44 P @ $4.80
Sell to Open (1) Oct 11 39 P @ $1.92 
Net Debit: $2.88 ($288.00)
Breakeven: $41.12
Max. Profit: $212.00
Pct Return: 73.6% (41 days)

XLI  $30.18
Buy to Open (1) Oct 11 32 P @ $2.72
Sell to Open (1) Oct 11 27 P @ $0.64 
Net Debit: $2.08 ($208.00)
Breakeven: $29.92
Max. Profit: $292.00
Pct Return: 140.4% (41 days)

VWO  $41.15
Buy to Open (1) Oct 11 45 P @ $4.80
Sell to Open (1) Oct 11 40 P @ $1.80 
Net Debit: $3.00 ($300.00)
Breakeven: $42.00
Max. Profit: $200.00
Pct Return: 66.7% (41 days)

All positions displayed are for educational purposes only and are not intended to be recommendations.