Butterfly Option Strategy » Spread

Spread Trading: An Introduction to Trading Options in Nine Simple Steps (Wiley Trading) (Hardcover)

admin — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:22:37 +0000

A proven,easy-to-understandmethod for makingmoney with options “If you’ve never invested in the stock market,this is the book for you. If you’ve been investingfor years . . . this is still the book for you. A fantastic introduction to options.” —Jon “DOCTOR J” Najarian, Co-founder, OptionMonster.com Spread trading-the practice of combining optiontrades and adjusting them over time-is being used successfullyby more and more professional traders. In this book, Greg Jensenshows nonprofessionals the tremendous advantages thissafe and profitable method offers. In simple and precise terms, Spread Trading providesreaders with all the essential tools to begin trading options.It explains, in nine simple steps, the basics of puts, calls,strike prices, and spreads-assuming no prior knowledge onyour part-and tells how to profit no matter what the market does.The author has helped thousands of people achieve successimplementing this approach, and with Spre (more…)

Spreads: Understanding and Trading Options Spread Strategies (with CD-ROM) (Spiral-bound)

admin — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 22:49:21 +0000

Options Investigator CD-ROM included with Spreads book.

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Spread Trading in Listed Options (Paperback)

admin — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:57:25 +0000

No description for this product could be found, but have a look over at Amazon for reviews and other information.

Spread trading in listed options (Unknown Binding)

admin — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:29:28 +0000

No description for this product could be found, but have a look over at Amazon for reviews and other information.

Spread Trading: An Introduction to Trading Options in Nine Simple Steps (Kindle Edition)

admin — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:51:57 +0000

A proven method for making the most of options While professional investors are doing more and more in the way of options trading, nonprofessionals know little about this opportunity and the tremendous advantages it offers. This book provides readers with the basic tools to begin trading options through the best and safest method available: spread trading. With Spread Trading, Greg Jensen continues to educate individuals on the benefits of trading this way. And while most discussions about options trading do not emphasize how both parties in an options trade can come out ahead, Spread Trading takes the time to explain what it takes to profit from either side of the table. Greg Jensen is a Registered Investment Advisor and cofounder of Spread Trade Systems, an industry leader in investment education.

From the Inside Flap

Though there are many variations and nuances, the basic concept of option trading is simple-an investor can purchase an option to bu (more…)

Option Spread Strategies: Trading Up, Down, and Sideways Markets (Paperback)

admin — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:30:47 +0000

Review

“An excellent guide for learning how to trade option spreads. Saliba offers in-depth discussions on how and when to employ these advanced strategies and to manage the risk of each position.” Peter LipskyTrader, Pan Capital

Saliba is back with the best option trading strategies for all markets, whether they are trending up, down, or sideways. Exercises and quizzes are included to reinforce lessons throughout the book.

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Commodity Trading Strategies – The Spread

admin — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 22:18:05 +0000

Many of the more common commodity trading strategies actually serve two purposes. The turn of a profit is but one. A hedge is the other purpose. Hedging is a method of minimizing risks by attempting to purchase some form of insurance. As well as minimizing risks, it also usually caps potential profits. One of the strategies to accomplish this is known as the spread.
The majority of the commodities trades do not involve trading the commodity directly, but more in buying or selling a futures contract. “Going long” and “going short” are two of the most basic strategies
To go long means to purchase a futures contract while anticipating that the price will rise before the contract expires. Futures contracts are very similar to stocks or options because vary rarely do the traders or specialists have any actual contact or participation with trading the commodity itself.
Conversely, to go short means to sell the contract while anticipating that the price will drop before the contract expires. Many novices are often perplexed by this strategy. The have trouble wrapping their mind around the concept that the contract is sold by the trader before they even own it.
While the notion may be confusing, the practice is quite simple. While the technicalities remain unseen by the traders, the inner workings are rather simple. The contract is borrowed and the one is bought to make of the shortfall later.
An illustration of this concept is as follows: Trader X sells a futures contract in May for September wheat for $6.00 per bushel. The contract will be written for a minimum amount, which is typically around 5,000 bushels. The price falls in August to $5.40 per bushel. This will yield a profit of 60 cents on each bushel, which equals $3,000, excluding commission. The profits and losses for these ventures are settled daily for trading accounts and the broker balances the books by buying a contract of the same type on the trader’s behalf with the trader’s money.
Effective trading strategies are a combination or different types and lengths of contracts. Throwing in some form of spread is one of the simplest. There are a number of varieties that can be executed, but a simpler approach is sometimes the best move.
An example of this more simple approach is illustrated in this hypothetical situation. In May, the price for a July wheat contract is $5.90 per bushel and for a September contract the price is $6.00 per bushel. By predicting the spread between these two and by anticipating changes before July to greater than 10 cents – and to be correct in that prediction could yield a profit by selling the July and purchasing the September. By shorting July and going long in September, you do profit.
This profit is incurred by watching carefully the behavior of the contracts and acting accordingly. In June, the July contract may have risen to $6.00 per bushel and the September to $6.25 per bushel. By liquidating both positions, in other words, settling both contracts, this results in a 10 cent loss on the July contract, but a gain of 25 cents on the September contract. This means a 15 cent profit per bushel. A small commission will be incurred on the turn around, but it is minute. On a contract that covers 5,000 bushels, this means a net gain of $750.
While a larger gain would have resulted had July not been shorted, but all trading carries risks and it is impossible to predict the future, especially in the stock market, with any degree of certainly. Hence, the term, speculation is used to refer to these activities.
There is an element of rationale for betting against yourself by shorting and by going long at once allows the trader to hedge their best on whichever direction they expect the market to take. Utilization of this spread strategy as well as with many other variations does succeed in capping the potential for profit. However, it does work to minimize downside losses as well.