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.
Dec 4	RUT	Vertical	1565/1570	Put	Dec 20, 2019	0.75	0	17.65%	expired for profit

Fears of a repeat December like 2018 have been pushed aside. Wall Street sentiment has been positive and we are trading near record levels. The US/China trade deal has been in the spotlight and as long as no additional tariffs are imposed, it favors the market moving higher.

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 25	RUT	Vertical	1620/1625	Call	Nov 15, 2019	0.45	0	9.89%	expired for profit

The markets pushed toward new highs and as long as we don't get back news from the US/China trade talks, we may continue higher. If a trade deal is reached, we should see substantial gains to finish the year.

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.
Oct 3	RUT	Vertical	1400/1405	Put	Oct 18, 2019	0.60	0	13.64%	expired for profit

Promising negotiations from the US/China trade talks have buoyed the markets. Although no concrete details have come out of the talks yet, there is hope for tariff relief and equal trade rules for both countries.

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 26	RUT	Vertical	1370/1375	Put	Sep 20, 2019	0.70	0	16.27%	expired for profit

The markets were pretty stable during this cycle. The US/China trade talks resumed, providing optimism for Wall Street. The Fed is still on course to cut rates at their next meeting and the US economy is doing well. We are near record highs for the major averages and should test those in the coming weeks, barring any negative trade talk news.

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 12	RUT	Vertical	1420/1425	Put	Aug 16, 2019	0.80	0	19.05%	expired for profit

A crazy selloff happened this month, on the heels of an inverted yield curve and an escalating trade war with China. An inverted yield curve is a sign of a possible recession on the horizon. On average, this is about 22 months away, if the signal is even accurate. Since it inverted, the rates have reversed and hints of the Fed cutting rates more aggressively are being forecast.

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 1	RUT	Condor	1520/1525/1620/1625	Both	Jul 19, 2019	0.90	0	20.00%	expired for profit

The latest trade deal the US and China have agreed to is to not increase tariffs on each other until an actual deal is reached. Basically, we are in the same position as a month ago with uncertainty looming. The Federal Reserve may be cutting interest rates when they meet again at the end of this month. They feel cornered but don't want to be controlled by Wall Street. Whatever they decide will be a market moving event.

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 31	RUT	Condor	1385/1390/1565/1570	Both	Jun 21, 2019	1.00	0	22.99%	expired for profit

Tariffs were in the forefront of investor worry this month until the Fed showed dovish signs about the federal funds rate. Some analysts feel a rate cut will happen as early as July. Markets jumped at this news, sending the major averages to record highs.

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 26	RUT	Vertical	1520/1525	Put	May 17, 2019	0.60	0	13.64%	expired for profit

The final week of this cycle was a bit of a scare. When US-China trade talks failed, the markets went into sell mode and it looked like the world was going to end on Monday. As the week went on, most of the one-day losses were recovered and the market outlook was positive. Cooler heads will prevail with the trade talks and that's exactly what happened with traders this week as well.

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	Vertical	1600/1605	Call	Apr 18, 2019	0.60	0	13.64%	expired for profit

Up, up, and away this month! Thoughts of failed China trade talks, increasing rates, and stalling economy were curbed this month. China reported a slowdown in their economy as tariffs appear to be hurting them much more than us. We haven't made any progress with their trade practices but the continued pressure is expected to help. Our economy is still showing strength but not enough to warrant increased rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. This is a great environment for Wall Street right 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.
Mar 1	RUT	Vertical	1535/1540	Put	Mar 15, 2019	0.70	0	16.28%	expired for profit

Investors were temporarily spooked as selling seemed to spread fears of falling below recent support levels. Sentiment did balance out as we reached expiration but some are forecasting that we will test those support levels again.

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.
Feb 7	RUT	Vertical	1530/1535	Put	Feb 15, 2019	0.75	0	17.65%	expired for profit

Talks of a China trade deal propelled the markets in the final week of the expiration cycle. We are currently hitting resistance levels and may break through them in the coming weeks.

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 4	RUT	Condor	1285/1290/1495/1500	Both	Jan 18, 2019	0.95	0	21.84%	expired for profit

January was much more calm than last month. We have leveled off and it looks like the decline has come to an end for now. The Federal Reserve has decided to make future rate hikes dependent on economic data and the forecast of additional hikes this year are off the table. Earnings and trade deals will be in the spotlight now.