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. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dec 1 | RUT | Condor | 1475/1480/1565/1570 | Both | Dec 15, 2017 | 0.92 | 0 | 20.22% | expired for profit |
Repeated reports of the markets setting new record highs are sounding like a broken record. It's like we set a new high each week, and sometimes on a daily basis. We are on the cusp of passing a tax reform bill which has been fueling Wall Street. It is expected to be signed into law before the end of the year.
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. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nov 10 | RUT | Vertical | 1450/1455 | Put | Nov 17, 2017 | 0.90 | 0 | 21.95% | expired for profit |
The US House of Representatives passed their version of the tax reform bill Washington is hard pressed to enact into law. Congress will vote on their version after the Thanksgiving break. Wall Street has begun to crack in recent weeks but the weakness is likely temporary...unless Congress fails to pass their bill.
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 21 | RUT | Vertical | 1495/1500 | Call | Oct 20, 2017 | 0.30 | 5.00 | -100.00% | Expired in the money 1495/1500 for 4.70 net debit. |
The markets continued to climb, setting record highs day after day. Analysts have been calling for a pullback but any downward pressure is met with even more buying. Whenever the bulls stop pushing the markets higher, we may see a very significant selloff.
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 30 | RUT | Condor | 1345/1350/1430/1435 | Both | Sep 15, 2017 | 0.52 | 0 | 17.19% | expired for profit |
During this cycle, North Korea fired 2 missiles over Japan and had a successful hydrogen bomb test. In addition, there was another terror attack in London, the 5th of the year. Despite this, the US markets continued to push higher, into record territory.
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. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aug 11 | RUT | Vertical | 1335/1340 | Put | Aug 18, 2017 | 0.50 | 0 | 11.11% | expired for profit |
Jul 26 | RUT | Condor | 1380/1385/1485/1490 | Both | Aug 18, 2017 | 1.03 | 2.55 | -33.41% | closed 1380/1385 for 1.52 net debit. |
It has been determined that North Korea has the capability to attach a nuclear warhead on their long-range missles. With the threat of nuclear war, markets around the globe took a hit... for one day. Wall Street steamed higher to new record highs and have remained at those levels despite the fears. It will take concrete actions or serious underperformance to bring this market down right now.
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. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jul 5 | RUT | Condor | 1380/1385/1455/1460 | Both | Jul 21, 2017 | 0.87 | 0 | 19.33% | expired for profit |
Wall Street is singing its tune as the markets continue to set new record highs. We've been slowly creeping up as the weeks go by and there hasn't been any prolonged chatter about a pullback. This trend is likely to continue for the time being.
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. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jun 1 | RUT | Condor | 1395/1400/1425/1430 | Both | Jun 16, 2017 | 1.10 | 2.80 | -38.20% | Gapped down in the money to settle at 1397.20 for a net debit of $1.70. |
Interest rates were increased by 25 basis points by the Federal Reserve this month. Economic data suggest a slowing of growth which may give the Fed pause on the timing of future rate hikes. The major indices continue to post new record highs even though concerns of a pullback grow.
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 28 | RUT | Condor | 1345/1355/1450/1460 | Both | May 19, 2017 | 1.85 | 0 | 20.56% | expired for profit |
This was an interesting cycle as far as world events go. Reports of Russian planes flying into our airspace or buzzing military ships; North Korea launching another test missle, further advancing their nuclear technology; and a worldwide computer virus. None of these events even shook the markets as they continue to trade near record levels.
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 29 | RUT | Condor | 1310/1315/1400/1405 | Both | Apr 21, 2017 | 0.90 | 0 | 20.00% | expired for profit |
A crazy month of terrorist attacks and missle strikes but the markets didn't even flinch. We are still trading at record highs and there aren't any signs that we will be selling off anytime soon. Some analysts believe that a selloff is coming but they've been saying that for months now.
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 23 | RUT | Condor | 1325/1335/1450/1460 | Both | Mar 17, 2017 | 1.80 | 0 | 19.46% | expired for profit |
Another quarter percent hike... that was the decision the Federal Reserve made this month. Investors apparently liked the decision since the markets pushed higher into record territory after the announcement. We are still at record levels and are holding.
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 26 | RUT | Condor | 1345/1355/1430/1440 | Both | Feb 17, 2017 | 1.75 | 0 | 19.34% | expired for profit |
The Dow Industrial Average finally crossed the 20,000 level. The Trump rally seems to still have some legs to it. We'll see if we hold at this level.
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. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jan 12 | RUT | Vertical | 1390/1395 | Call | Jan 20, 2017 | 0.40 | 0 | 8.70% | expired for profit |
The Santa Claus rally seemed to have run out of steam. We got VERY close to Dow 20,000 but pulled back since. We expect to hit this level in the near future, possibly before the end of this month.