Publications

7/1/13 Market Briefing: VIX Non-Confirmation of SPX is a Market Signal

When the S&P 500 Volatility Index (VIX) and the S&P 500 (SPX) move in the same direction, one of them is correctly forecasting the future direction of stocks and the other is not. Always trust the VIX.
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6/27/13 Trade Alert: What’s on Sale?

Please Note: Two Separate Trades 1. Sell Put Credit Spread on Simon Property Group (NYSE: SPG) “Buy to Open” August $145 Put and “Sell to Open” August $155 Put Option Symbols: SPG130817P145 and SPG130817P155 Limit Order Price: Net credit of $2.60 or more ($260 per spread) — good til canceled (GTC) Directional View for Underlying […]… Read More

6/20/13 Trade Alert: Honeycrisp Fifth Time

Note: Two Separate Trades   1. Sell Put Credit Spread on Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) “Buy to Open” September $375 Put and “Sell to Open” September $385 Put Option Symbols: AAPL130921P375 and AAPL130921P385 Limit Order Price: Net credit of $2.30 or more ($230 per spread) — good til canceled (GTC) Directional View for Underlying Stock: Neutral […]… Read More

6/13/13 Trade Alert: Triple Play

Note: Four Separate Trades 1. Sell Put Credit Spread on Celgene (Nasdaq: CELG) “Buy to Open” October $97.50 Put and “Sell to Open” October $105 Put Option Symbols: CELG131019P97.5 and CELG131019P105 Limit Order Price: Net credit of $1.85 or more ($185 per spread) — good til canceled (GTC) Directional View for Underlying Stock: Neutral to […]… Read More

6/6/13 Trade Alert: Bullish on Clothing and Trash

Note: Two Separate Trades 1. Sell Put Credit Spread on VF Corp (NYSE: VFC) “Buy to Open” August $165 Put and “Sell to Open” August $175 Put Option Symbols: VFC130817P165 and VFC130817P175 Limit Order Price: Net credit of $2.05 or more ($205 per spread) — good til canceled (GTC) Directional View for Underlying Stock: Neutral […]… Read More

5/30/13 Trade Alert: A Secondary Bargain

Note: Two Separate Trades 1. Sell Put Credit Spread on Health Care REIT (NYSE: HCN) “Buy to Open” September $62.50 Put and “Sell to Open” September $67.50 Put Option Symbols: HCN130921P62.5 and HCN130921P67.5 Limit Order Price: Net credit of $1.10 or more ($110 per spread)–good ’til canceled (GTC) Directional View for Underlying Stock: Neutral to […]… Read More

5/23/13 Trade Alert: Breakup Potential

Sell Put Credit Spread on Baxter International (NYSE: BAX) “Buy to Open” August $65 Put and “Sell to Open” August $70 Put Option Symbols: BAX130817P65 and BAX130817P70 Limit Order Price: Net credit of $1.30 or more ($130 per spread)–good ’til canceled (GTC) Directional View for Underlying Stock: Neutral to slightly bullish Options for Income Portfolio: […]… Read More

5/21/13 Trade Alert: Volatile Reversion

Vertical Roll on Volatility Index (VIX) to October   “Buy to Close” May $18 Put and “Buy to Open” October $11 Put and “Sell to Open” October $20 Put Option Symbols: VIX130522P18 and VIX131016P11 and VIX131016P20 Limit Order Price for Three-Legged Vertical Roll: Net debit of $0.65 or less ($65 per spread) For those using […]… Read More

5/16/13 Trade Alert: Closing Cisco

Diagonal Call Spread on Cisco Systems (Nasdaq: CSCO) “Buy to Close” May $21 Call “Sell to Close” January 2015 $17 Call Option Symbol: CSCO130518C21 and CSCO150117C17 Limit Order Price: Credit of $4.10 or more ($410 per spread)–good ’til canceled (GTC) Options for Income Portfolio: Growth Tell your broker: I’d like to buy to enter an […]… Read More

5/16/13 Trade Alert: Take My Advice

Not many companies generate a return on invested capital of more than 60 percent and yet still trade at a reasonable valuation, but I found one.  Plus, a non-earnings gunslinger based on an up-or-down shareholder vote.

Please note: Stay tuned for a second trade alert that will address the Cisco Systems covered call after market prices have had time to adjust in reaction to the company’s May 15th earnings report.
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