Happy New Year! I don't know about you, but I couldn't be happier about kicking off 2020. Markets around the world are making new all time highs (including the US! -- I know, shocking for those of you fixated on War and Tariffs "news"), and volatility is surely to ramp up into the 2020 Comicon, er... I mean U.S. Election, resulting in tremendous swing trading opportunities for active traders like us.
So let's get to work!
During our recent All Star Options monthly conference call (link up soon), JC & I mentioned a few stocks I'm watching for potential entries.
One of those stocks is ready right now -- Oneok Inc. $OKE.
Welcome to 2020, where vision will not be in hindsight -- except when using past trends to inform decisions on future price action.
I don't know about you, but I'm pretty excited to kick off a year that is likely to see lots of volatility. Volatility is a traders best friend, when harnessed to our advantage. Sure, investors don't like volatility. But active traders thrive in it. And that's what we are here.
After that setup, I'm going to let you down with my first trade of the year being one to capture what we feel is some sideways action setting up in the metals space. LOL
As January gets under way, it’s time to review positions with January options that remain open (haven’t already hit profit targets or been stopped out).
Most trades I put on for All Star Options tend to have a minimum duration of 30 days (short premium plays) and often as long as 6-8 months (for long premium plays). As options approach expiration, greeks like theta and gamma start to become my enemy and whipsaw my P/L. Therefore, as options and spreads get into the expiration month, my best practice is to put each position on notice — it’s time to take action.
There's been lots of frustrating talk about companies with high share prices not splitting their stock. I tend to agree. While technically splitting shares of a stock doesn't do anything to enhance the value of your investment, it does help to provide greater liquidity for one to get into or out of a position quickly and at a fairer price.
But this is an argument for academics. We're just here to make money.
Perhaps you've seen JCs recently bullish post on Amazon $AMZN and you agree that you'd like to take a long position, but the high share price scares you?
I know what you're thinking? A bearish play? In this market?
Believe it or not, there are some weak sectors out there, and there's a stock we're bearish on that may have just exhausted itself in a last-gasp dead-cat bounce which may be soon reverse and resume its downward trend.
Believe it or not, there isn't a bull market EVERYwhere. Of course, if you give yourself a steady diet of SHOUT!TV! then this is not a surprise to you because everything is bearish (on TV).
As we begin the last leg of 2019 into the holidays, trading often gets a little uneventful (last year being a MAJOR exception). Feels to me a great time to be putting some delta-neutral income trades on.