Optos Share Discussion Threads

[harvester] 29/8/2013 09:17

I have mixed feelings about todays price jump of VOD to 207 or thereabouts on the open .
I topped up on shares yesterday @ 188.09, virtually the days low adding to my shareholding since divi > 5% . I had hoped for further price weakness to top up more . Todays jump has stopped that game.
Also holding a VOD option position,i.e. short 10x dec 137P & short dec 156P and long 15x Dec 190C/200C spread . Hence, price jump is worth a few pennies if it holds but robs me of further investment opportunity . Not many other no-brainer investment opportunities around .

[younasm] 23/8/2013 20:37

I am expecting a sharp drop (10%) after Sept expiry -- cant see much of rise in between.

Its very difficult to work out a direction -- technically, there should be at least one more push to see highs for 2013 -- but with QE being stopped, and companies unlikely to exceed profit guidance, I can't see a catalyst for bulls.

[praipus] 23/8/2013 11:15

lol kind of "Iron Butterfly":)

This video shows the exception to the rule a female futures/options trader talking of the successful transition from floor trader to screen trader.

Floored: Into The Pit - Epic Trader Movie!

[stavros28] 23/8/2013 10:54

Women and Options don't mix Praipus bit like Oil and Water.
When is the last time a woman gave you any options in liffe.

LOL

[harvester] 22/8/2013 17:35

ALP: since we are both (usually !) cautious bears it's no surprise that we think alike ! :-)

[alphorn] 21/8/2013 20:53

Harv - I hope that you are right about the Sept expiry. I also can not see any major upward move.

[harvester] 21/8/2013 13:42

Prof: I hope it won't bolt north too strongly. I obviously feel less bullish than you .

Today: STO 1x Sep 5850P/6750C(correction !) @ 21.5 (also out of character;haven't traded the index for a long time .
I am expecting a range-bound market towards the Sep expiry. I can't quite see the catalyst for a major upward move in that time frame .

[profitaker] 20/8/2013 10:50

Cheers Harv. Never been away, just too busy to post.

Completely out of character - BTO 10 x ESX Sep 6750C Dr, 11.0

Have a feeling this market's just taking a breather and will bolt north before September expiry.

[harvester] 19/8/2013 16:59

Prof: welcome back.
It looks a promising trade since ftse seems to be hovering in a fairly narrow range . I might help you make a profit on that one since I am thinking of buying some more high-divi shares on any market weakness . Only problem is: its a 5-week month .

[profitaker] 19/8/2013 14:21

STO 10 x ESX Sep 5950P Cr, 12.5

[stavros28] 15/8/2013 08:19

Have a nice trip Alp, Bulgaria 22 years ago was an interesting place.

[praipus] 10/8/2013 16:18

Inverse VIX ETF XIV added to header

[praipus] 10/8/2013 16:15

I've been reading "The hour between dog and wolf" by Dr John Coats a former options trader recons women make better Asset Managers than men anyone known any female option traders if so how did/do they get on?

[praipus] 10/8/2013 16:14

Anyone got a view on Guy Cohens options services?

[zedder] 07/8/2013 08:49

Recovering nicely. I wonder if it has enough momentum to close the next gap back to 200p.

[alphorn] 06/8/2013 10:44

A couple of September adjustments today as off touring the former East bloc tomorrow; know very little about that region and won't have to worry about internet access.

[harvester] 05/8/2013 12:38

ALP: I got out of LLOY too early some time ago @ around 60.
After floatation @ 76 & uk gov getting out of the way the share price may strengthen further. Hence I might be more tempted to buy LLOY dec 80C @ 3.5 .

I am not holding any bank shares but considering selling Barc put option spreads , possibly jun 220/180 spread .

[alphorn] 05/8/2013 11:25

STO 10x Lloy Dec 80C for 3.5p. (Quite a few open short puts but the share price may be getting ahead of itself?).

Harv, you know I like UU as a utility, don't follow SSE).

[harvester] 03/8/2013 20:45

Looks like that one ran away from you a bit.
More rolls may be needed later .

Still quite a few ftse100 companies yielding more than 3% despite the rally .
SSE yielding 5.35% . Considering buying dec call spreads, selling mar put spreads in sse . Any views on that ?

[alphorn] 02/8/2013 10:41

IAG still causing me some grief. Market liked the results today so rolled 5x Sept 190C -> March 240C for net debit of 45p and STO 3x March 260P for 11.75p.
(Sept 230P open).

[harvester] 01/8/2013 23:16

ALP: I also hedged off against my portfolio on the call side but never looked that way on the put side . Several of my covered call sales are now ITM and I am wondering if I should roll up or let the shares go on expiry .
Protecting my share portfolio against a drop by options would be too costly.
If this rally continues to 7000 I may have to reduce share exposure or switch positions .
On QE: soft landing for the time being. However, there is a risk of a second housing bubble developing which could eventually lead to a hard landing .
Mortgages are now available with zero interest for a limited period . When rates eventually rise there will be many borrowers in difficulty .

[alphorn] 01/8/2013 09:27

Yes Harv, all short.

Lloy results today show continued improvement but as a pure domestic bank probably little scope for growth which makes it an ideal candidate to turn my positions into a strangle? Any views?

Market is high and when QE is switched off will it be a soft or hard landing? At present I go for the former.

[stavros28] 31/7/2013 22:13

Harv long time no chat.......

Harv I am hedged off with my portfolio if we go up I roll and take some profit from the stocks and vice-versa if we go down from the Options.

[harvester] 31/7/2013 17:54

ALP: 65:35 all short ??
I am 95% short puts, mostly in December, but the majority DOTM .
I have been tied up with other business and not been trading for months now. My longest period of inactivity .
With the market so high it seems very risky now to sell puts but I do not feel comfortable either to sell naked calls .
After today's xd drop I may sell; some OTM March puts in SSE .
Despite the long period of inactivity I still have 3 pages of listings of old positions. Waiting for some of these to expire in September .
Cash holders have few other investment options than shares to get a half-decent return . That may still be driving the market higher .

Stav: those call trades may turn out to be smart if we get the traditional summer dip which is now over-due .