Past Trades - Mouse over the header of each column for detailed explanations.

December

Open DateDate we would have opened this trade.	UnderlyingUnderlying security	Trade TypeTrading strategy	StrikesStrike prices	Option TypeCall or Put	ExpirationExpiration date	CreditAmount we would open trade.	DebitAmount we would close trade.	ResultPercentage this trade would have earned.	Trade NotesSpecial notes regarding this trade.
Nov 21	RUT	IronCondor	760/770/820/830	Both	Dec 21, 2012	3.60	4.85	-19.53%	closed Call Spread for 4.85. Put Spread expired for net debit of 1.25.

The Fiscal Cliff took the spotlight this cycle as Wall Street tried to price in a deal before the December 31, 2012 deadline. With hints of a deal in the headlines, the markets made significant gains this month. The Russell 2000 added nearly 5% since the end of November's cycle. This move forced us to close down a position to limit our loss. This is a good example of our exit team's discipline in limiting loss and managing positions properly. If this position was not closed when it was, losses would have been devastating.

November

Open DateDate we would have opened this trade.	UnderlyingUnderlying security	Trade TypeTrading strategy	StrikesStrike prices	Option TypeCall or Put	ExpirationExpiration date	CreditAmount we would open trade.	DebitAmount we would close trade.	ResultPercentage this trade would have earned.	Trade NotesSpecial notes regarding this trade.
Oct 9	RUT	IronCondor	790/800/870/880	Call	Nov 16, 2012	3.60	2.30	20.31%	closed for 1.30 net credit.

Earnings season helped drive the markets this cycle in which we saw mixed corporate results with some expectations having been met and others missed. With the economy seemingly improving, the Federal reserve continues with the purchasing of about $40B in mortgage-backed securities each month in addition to having pledged to keep interest rates unchanged until at least through mid-2015 in efforts spur economic growth and foster hiring in the labor markets. Our return averaged 20.3% for this month's trade.

October

Open DateDate we would have opened this trade.	UnderlyingUnderlying security	Trade TypeTrading strategy	StrikesStrike prices	Option TypeCall or Put	ExpirationExpiration date	CreditAmount we would open trade.	DebitAmount we would close trade.	ResultPercentage this trade would have earned.	Trade NotesSpecial notes regarding this trade.
Sep 20	RUT	IronCondor	815/825/880/890	Both	Oct 19, 2012	3.70	2.40	20.63%	closed for 1.30 net credit.

Positive economic data released in recent weeks helped to bolster the markets following a decline stemming from euro-zone concerns once again. The Federal Reserve is following suit to what the ECB has pledged to do in Europe to instill confidence in the global market by triggering its unlimited bond-buying initiative to help ease economic tensions and to foster global growth. On to the next trade...

September

Open DateDate we would have opened this trade.	UnderlyingUnderlying security	Trade TypeTrading strategy	StrikesStrike prices	Option TypeCall or Put	ExpirationExpiration date	CreditAmount we would open trade.	DebitAmount we would close trade.	ResultPercentage this trade would have earned.	Trade NotesSpecial notes regarding this trade.
Aug 15	RUT	IronCondor	750/760/835/845	Both	Sep 21, 2012	3.60	5.65	-32.03%	closed for 2.05 net debit.

All this month the market had been trading flat to modestly positive. The VIX was over 18 and really choppy sessions and huge swings got us close to either exiting for about 15% profit or exiting for about 15% loss. The 2% spike on Thursday, September 6, sealed our fate as the market skyrocketed to news of the pledge by the ECB to buy unlimited bonds in support of the euro zone economic recovery efforts. That triggered buying to send us into market-highs not seen in five years. Our target max loss of 15% was blown through and we had to get very aggressive with the exit price in order to fill everyone’s accounts or face the possibility of having to hold the position overnight and risking another pop on Friday. Our average fill for the exit order was $5.65 while the credit we received was $3.65 for an average of $2.05 debit for the month.

August

Open DateDate we would have opened this trade.	UnderlyingUnderlying security	Trade TypeTrading strategy	StrikesStrike prices	Option TypeCall or Put	ExpirationExpiration date	CreditAmount we would open trade.	DebitAmount we would close trade.	ResultPercentage this trade would have earned.	Trade NotesSpecial notes regarding this trade.
Jul 9	RUT	IronCondor	740/750/840/850	Both	Aug 17, 2012	3.75	2.40	21.60%	closed for 1.35 net credit.

The markets sputtered for several days after we opened our position for this cycle and dropped five days in a row. Earnings reports starting rolling in as we entered our second week and sparked the fire heating up the markets again. In one week, the RUT gained thirty (30) points at the peak on the 19th and then took a dive with euro zone concerns surfacing once again, presenting us with our exit point.

July

Open DateDate we would have opened this trade.	UnderlyingUnderlying security	Trade TypeTrading strategy	StrikesStrike prices	Option TypeCall or Put	ExpirationExpiration date	CreditAmount we would open trade.	DebitAmount we would close trade.	ResultPercentage this trade would have earned.	Trade NotesSpecial notes regarding this trade.
Jun 7	RUT	IronCondor	700/710/820/830	Both	Jul 20, 2012	3.65	2.20	22.83%	closed for 1.45 net credit.

The past two weeks have been a test of patience as the markets traded sharply within a relatively narrow range. Volatility sharks found fertile market conditions with Europe providing a lot of drama. Domestic news offered little to help settle the markets as investors had to tirelessly scour data and Federal Reserve press releases in efforts to find select gems in the mix of reports and statements. The strong downward pressure on our closing day presented an early opportunity for us to buy back our position and lock in a handsome profit for this cycle.

June

Open DateDate we would have opened this trade.	UnderlyingUnderlying security	Trade TypeTrading strategy	StrikesStrike prices	Option TypeCall or Put	ExpirationExpiration date	CreditAmount we would open trade.	DebitAmount we would close trade.	ResultPercentage this trade would have earned.	Trade NotesSpecial notes regarding this trade.
May 7	RUT	IronCondor	740/750/840/850	Both	Jun 15, 2012	3.70	2.40	20.63%	closed for 1.30 net credit.

With an abundant amount of time on our hands and the fact that we were deep in oversold territory, we gave the markets room to work after having breached our short strike on the Put side. Positive reactions to China's apparent growth spurt were tempered, once again, by the financial crisis in Europe. We took the opportunity to finally exit our position after hitting our profit goal for the month.

May

Open DateDate we would have opened this trade.	UnderlyingUnderlying security	Trade TypeTrading strategy	StrikesStrike prices	Option TypeCall or Put	ExpirationExpiration date	CreditAmount we would open trade.	DebitAmount we would close trade.	ResultPercentage this trade would have earned.	Trade NotesSpecial notes regarding this trade.
Apr 9	RUT	IronCondor	750/760/850/860	Both	May 18, 2012	3.90	2.60	21.31%	closed for 1.30 net credit.

Investors had taken stock of dismal employment data resulting in a dip when we opened our position. All eyes turned to upbeat international economic data and the move up was again soon underway. Choppy sessions trading within a nice range allowed us room enough to comfortably exit our position with positive results.

April

Open DateDate we would have opened this trade.	UnderlyingUnderlying security	Trade TypeTrading strategy	StrikesStrike prices	Option TypeCall or Put	ExpirationExpiration date	CreditAmount we would open trade.	DebitAmount we would close trade.	ResultPercentage this trade would have earned.	Trade NotesSpecial notes regarding this trade.
Mar 12	RUT	IronCondor	755/765/860/870	Both	Apr 20, 2012	3.55	2.25	20.16%	closed for 1.30 net credit.

Positive news out of Europe had all but been ignored in lieu of the results of the bank stress tests by the Federal Reserve. Tepid domestic economic data and the absence of other positive global developments were taken as a good excuse for a bit of a sell-off which put us in prime position to exit our position and lock in profits.

March

Open DateDate we would have opened this trade.	UnderlyingUnderlying security	Trade TypeTrading strategy	StrikesStrike prices	Option TypeCall or Put	ExpirationExpiration date	CreditAmount we would open trade.	DebitAmount we would close trade.	ResultPercentage this trade would have earned.	Trade NotesSpecial notes regarding this trade.
Feb 6	RUT	IronCondor	770/780/870/880	Both	Mar 16, 2012	3.65	2.35	20.47%	closed for 1.30 net credit.

What a wild ride. European finance ministers held hostage the next installment of bailout funding to Greece by demanding another €325M in cuts additional to what was already agreed upon. Fickle investors then turned their attention to positive housing and employment data to boost the markets higher. Also fueling the move upward were the financial and materials sectors. We closed down our position for a positive gain for the month.

February

Open DateDate we would have opened this trade.	UnderlyingUnderlying security	Trade TypeTrading strategy	StrikesStrike prices	Option TypeCall or Put	ExpirationExpiration date	CreditAmount we would open trade.	DebitAmount we would close trade.	ResultPercentage this trade would have earned.	Trade NotesSpecial notes regarding this trade.
Jan 9	RUT	IronCondor	680/690/800/810	Both	Feb 17, 2012	3.65	4.65	-15.75%	closed for 1.00 net debit.

Our position was bullied right out of the gates as over-exuberant investors drove the markets higher despite global economic fears as well a mixed bag of domestic economic data. We were forced to exit our position for an acceptable loss and then watched the markets continue even higher.

January

Open DateDate we would have opened this trade.	UnderlyingUnderlying security	Trade TypeTrading strategy	StrikesStrike prices	Option TypeCall or Put	ExpirationExpiration date	CreditAmount we would open trade.	DebitAmount we would close trade.	ResultPercentage this trade would have earned.	Trade NotesSpecial notes regarding this trade.
Dec 12	RUT	IronCondor	650/660/790/800	Both	Jan 20, 2012	3.90	2.50	22.95%	closed for 1.40 net credit.

We were able to get far enough out of the money to create a sizeable buffer for our short strikes. Despite weak earnings and soured investor sentiment to the European financial crisis, the markets settled down after President Obama signed a two-year payroll tax-cut extension. Although we might have been able to hang on for a higher return, we hit our profit goal nicely and closed the position down to lock it in.