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Know Your Options: Archive
Selling Puts is not as Risky as it Sounds
by David Borun
In a stock you want to buy, selling naked puts is actually a less risky alternative
NFLXPositive Net Change DISPositive Net Change AAPLPositive Net Change
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Looking for a Glimpse of the Future...In the Past
by David Borun
Another look at using historical data to analyze potential options trades
CBOEPositive Net Change
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What do Baseball and Options Trading Have in Common
by David Borun
Answer: The stakes are higher in October
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Open Interest in Options Influuences Stock Movement
by David Borun
The behavior of market makers often makes an underlying stock move in predictable ways.
CBOEPositive Net Change
options
Rolling Covered Calls Up and Out
by David Borun
Maintaining a covered call position that's been working is as easy as knowing how to "roll" an options trade.
AAPLPositive Net Change
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Volatilities Sink, How do we "Buy Low"?
by David Borun
We sold calls when implied volatilities were high, now it may be time to close those trades and buy downside protection.
CBOEPositive Net Change
options
VIX Revisited and a Trade for Volatility Spikes
by David Borun
There's a smart way for the average investor to trade implied volatilities
CBOEPositive Net Change
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What is the VIX Telling Us About the Equity Markets?
by David Borun
The last time the VIX was this high, it was time to buy
CBOEPositive Net Change
options
Spread Trade #8 - The Calendar
by David Borun
Buying or selling a calendar spread is a bet on a divergence between actual and implied volatilities
options
Spread Trade #7 - The Collar
by David Borun
In volatile markets, a low-cost collar can protect a stock position
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Spread trade #6 - The Strangle
by David Borun
Just like a Straddle, the Strangle is a bet on movement in the underlying stock and implied volatility
DISPositive Net Change
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Spread Trade #5 - The Straddle
by David Borun
Trading calls and puts at the same time is a bet on both actual and implied volatility
DISPositive Net Change
options
Spread Trade #3 - Iron Butterflies (and #4 - Iron Condors)
by David Borun
We can generally recreate the butterfly and condor spreads at more favorable entry prices by making them "iron"
DISPositive Net Change
options
Spread Trade #2 -The Condor
by David Borun
Similar to the butterfly, the condor offers a wider range of profit opportunity
DISPositive Net Change
options
Spread Trade #1 - The Butterfly
by David Borun
Episode #1 in a series about common spreads
DISPositive Net Change
options
A Call is a Put and a Put is a Call - Even in Spreads
by David Borun
The principles of call-put parity apply to spread trades as well as individual options
DISPositive Net Change
options
Trading Options on Commodities
by David Borun
It's shaping up to be a wild Summer in commodities. Learn how the options markets work.
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options
Shorting Beyond Meat? Be Careful...
by David Borun
Both selling the shares and buying puts mean paying hidden costs
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options
Unusual Options Activity and Implied Volatilities
by David Borun
After a big trade, sometimes the best strategy is write covered calls
CBOEPositive Net Change
options
Warrants are Options, Too
by David Borun
Understanding options can shed light on the components of corporate deals that include warrants
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options
When to Exercise Your Puts
by David Borun
Avoid leaving interest on the table by knowing when puts should be exercised rather than held.
CBOEPositive Net Change
options
How Dividends Affect Early Exercise of Calls
by David Borun
Understanding the role of dividends will help you understand when to exercise a call early - and when a short call might be assigned.
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Trading Options on Futures
by David Borun
Futures options are not nearly as complicated as they seem
CMEPositive Net Change
options
Earnings Trades Revisited
by David Borun
Profits from trading short term options around events is all about hedging
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What's the "Right" Level for the VIX?
by David Borun
We saw a few notable spikes in the Volatility index in 2018, but now it's settling back down.
CBOEPositive Net Change
options