October 2003 Trades

Basic Strategy

Spread Trades

Index Trades


 

Basic Strategy Trades

This portfolio begins the first day of each month with $10,000 made up of the open positions from the previous month plus cash.

Disclaimer: This chart is for demonstration purposes only. No representation is made that these same returns are achieved by our subscribers.  Remember, past performance is no guarantee of future results.

We suggest that when this portfolio is in negative territory most traders would best be served by standing aside.

PositionSymbol ContractsEntry CurrentProfit/Loss ValueStopGoal Close Date
PricePrice
EBAY Nov$55CQXB KK 4$2.60$2.40 ($80)$960$1.70 $5.00Open
OMC Nov$75COMC KO 4$3.70$4.90 $480$1,960 OMC < 73.27$6.00Open
NVLS Dec$40CNLQ LH 4$3.10$3.00 ($40)$1,200NVLS < 36.88 $4.50Open
CTSH Dec$40CUPU LH 4$6.00$6.40 $160$2,560CTSH < 40.44$6.00Open
Total Value$6,680
BoughtSold DateContracts PriceTotalCash
$4,460
CAT Nov$70P10/1/2003 4$3.10$1,240 $5,700
ACS Oct$50P10/1/2003 4$3.90$1,560 $7,260
ERTS Oct$90C10/2/2003 4($5.00)($2,000) $5,260
ERTS Oct$90C10/2/2003 4$7.00$2,800 $8,060
QLGC Nov$47.50C10/3/2003 4($4.20)($1,680) $6,380
AZO Nov$95C10/6/2003 4($3.60)($1,440) $4,940
GS Nov$85C10/7/2003 4($4.30)($1,720) $3,220
BJS Oct$30C10/8/2003 4$6.00$2,400 $5,620
BAC Oct$75C10/9/2003 4$6.30$2,520 $8,140
QLGC Nov$47.50C10/9/2003 4$5.20$2,080 $10,220
GILD Nov$60C10/13/2003 4($3.80)($1,520) $8,700
OVTI Nov$50C10/14/2003 4($3.70)($1,480) $7,220
GILD Nov$60C10/17/2003 4$2.30$920 $8,140
OVTI Nov$50C10/17/2003 4$2.20$880 $9,020
GS Nov$85C10/20/2003 4$2.80$1,120 $10,140
SYMC Nov$65C10/21/2003 4($4.10)($1,640) $8,500
SYMC Nov$65C10/22/2003 4$2.60$1,040 $9,540
AMZN Nov$55P10/24/2003 4($3.20)($1,280) $8,260
EBAY Nov$55C10/27/2003 4($2.60)($1,040) $7,220
AZO Nov$95C10/28/2003 4$6.00$2,400 $9,620
AMZN Nov$55P10/28/2003 4$1.70$680 $10,300
OMC Nov$75C10/29/2003 4($3.70)($1,480) $8,820
NVLS Dec$40C10/30/2003 4($3.10)($1,240) $7,580
CTSH Dec$40C10/30/2003 4($6.00)($2,400) $5,180
PortfolioValue $11,860
OctoberProfit/(Loss) $1,860

Spread Trades

Spread trades are based on the assumption that we have $2,500 available per trade.  We offer trades as we find them.  You should not try to make all trades, but pick and choose your spots.


 

Date Trade Type Underlying Stock Expiration Month Type Of Order Strike Price Option Type Option Symbol Opening Price* Net Credit
9/16/03 Credit Spread ADTN October

October

Buy To Open

Sell To Open

75

70

Calls

Calls

RQA JO

RQA JN

-1.25

+2.25

$1.00

 

Opening  Debit (-) Credit (+)

Number Of Contracts

Cost of Trade

Additional Margin Requirements

Current Liquidation Value

Profit (Loss)

Stop

+1.00

6

+600

$2400 -1230 -630* -600

This trade is a bet that ADTN will be below 70 when October options expire on October 17th.  Should that happen, both the options we bought, and the options we sold will expire worthless, and we will keep the $600 credit we received when putting on the spread. 

* This trade stopped out 10/3 for a $630 loss after ADTN pre-announced an upside earnings surprise.


 

Date Trade Type Underlying Stock Expiration Month Type Of Order Strike Price Option Type Option Symbol Opening Price* Net Debit
10/3/03 Bull Debit Spread BZH October

October

Buy To Open

Sell To Open

85

90

Calls

Calls

BZH JQ

BZH JR

-4.10

+1.30

$2.80

 

Opening  Debit (-) Credit (+)

Number Of Contracts

Cost of Trade

Additional Margin Requirements

Current Liquidation Value

Profit (Loss)

Stop

+2.80

8

+2240

$0 3040 800* -600

Maximum profit is achieved if BZH approaches, but does not exceed the upper strike price of 90.  If this happens the options we sold will expire worthless, and we'll sell the options we bought at a profit.

* This trade closed out out 10/6 for an $800 profit.


 

Date Trade Type Underlying Stock Expiration Month Type Of Order Strike Price Option Type Option Symbol Opening Price* Net Credit
10/13/03 Credit Spread JCOM November

November

Buy To Open

Sell To Open

35

40

Puts

Puts

JQF WG

JQF WH

-1.00

+2.10

$1.10

 

Opening  Debit (-) Credit (+)

Number Of Contracts

Cost of Trade

Additional Margin Requirements

Current Liquidation Value

Profit (Loss)

Stop

+1.10

6

+$660

$2340 -$2190 -$1530* -$660

This trade is a bet that JCOM will be above 40 when November options expire.  If that is the case, both options will expire worthless and we we'll keep the $660 net credit we received when putting on the trade.

*This trade stopped out on a gap down due to reduced guidance on 10/21/03 for a larger than usual loss.


 

Date Trade Type Underlying Stock Expiration Month Type Of Order Strike Price Option Type Option Symbol Opening Price* Net Debit
10/17/03 Debit Spread CAT November

November

Buy To Open

Sell To Open

75

70

Puts

Puts

CAT WO

CAT WN

-2.75

+1.00

$1.90

 

Opening  Debit (-) Credit (+)

Number Of Contracts

Cost of Trade

Additional Margin Requirements

Current Liquidation Value

Profit (Loss)

Stop

-1.75

13

-$2275

$0 +3275 +$1000* +$1000

Bear Put (Debit) Spreads are similar to just buying put options.  The difference is you reduce the risk by selling the put with the lower strike price, the proceeds of which help you pay for the put you buy, and you limit your upside potential.

Maximum profit is achieved if CAT closes just above 70 when November options expire on November 21st.  Should that happen the options we sold will expire worthless, and we will sell the options we bought at a profit.

* This position closed out on 10/28 for $1000 profit when our adjusted stop was triggered.


 

Date Trade Type Underlying Stock Expiration Month Type Of Order Strike Price Option Type Option Symbol Opening Price* Net Debit
10/28/03 Straddle SYMC November

November

Buy To Open

Buy To Open

65

65

Puts

Calls

SYQ WM

SYQ KM

-1.85

-2.75

$4.60

 

Opening  Debit (-) Credit (+)

Number Of Contracts

Cost of Trade

Additional Margin Requirements

Current Liquidation Value

Profit (Loss)

Stop

-4.60

5

-$2300

$0 $2375 +75 -500

This trade is simply a bet that SYMC will move enough in either direction, before these option expire,  that the profitability from one option will overcome the loss from the other. 


 

Index Trades

This portfolio begins the first day of each month with $5,000 made up of the open positions from the previous month plus cash.

Disclaimer: This chart is for demonstration purposes only. No representation is made that these same returns are achieved by our subscribers.  Remember, past performance is no guarantee of future results.

We suggest that when this portfolio is in negative territory most traders would best be served by standing aside.

PositionSymbol ContractsEntry CurrentProfit/Loss ValueStopGoal Close Date
PricePrice
No Open Positions0 $0.00$0.00$0 $0$0.00$0.00
Total Value$0
BoughtSold DateContracts PriceTotalCash
$5,000
OEX Nov$510 Calls10/1/2003 1($12.60)($1,260.00) $3,740
OEX Nov$510 Calls10/3/2003 1$19.50$1,950.00 $5,690
OEX Nov$525C10/16/2003 1($10.00)($1,000.00) $4,690
OEX Nov$525C10/22/2003 1$5.00$500.00 $5,190
OEX Nov$510P10/24/2003 1($10.20)($1,020.00) $4,170
OEX Nov$510P10/28/2003 1$5.20$520.00 $4,690
PortfolioValue $4,690
OctoberProfit/(Loss) ($310)