Oct 26, 2019 | Exchange-Traded Funds, Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations
Implied volatility (IV) is directly related to the value of the premiums we receive when selling covered call and put options. The more volatile the underlying security, the greater the premium and risk exposure. I have written quite a bit about IV over the years and...
Oct 19, 2019 | Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations, Options Trade Execution, Stock Option Strategies
Strike selection is the second required skill when writing covered call options or selling cash-secured puts. Over the years I have been asked to suggest a specific Delta for strike selection implying that this statistic would be the sole criterion to determine strike...
Oct 12, 2019 | Covered Call Exit Strategies, Exit Strategies, Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations, Options Trade Execution, Stock Option Strategies
Position management or exit strategies for covered call writing and selling puts is the third required skill to achieve the highest possible return levels (stock and option selection are the first two). First, we must determine if an exit strategy opportunity actually...
Oct 5, 2019 | Exit Strategies, Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations, Put-selling
After selling an out-of-the-money (OTM) cash-secured put and then stock price accelerates substantially, the put value will decline. Share price and put value are inversely-related. This allows us to take advantage of our 20%/10% put-selling guidelines exit strategy...
Sep 21, 2019 | Covered Call Exit Strategies, Exit Strategies, Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations, Stock Option Strategies
When we sell and in-the-money or at-the-money strike and share price moves up substantially, we have an unrealized maximum return. On 4/5/2019, Doug wrote to me about such a situation he was in with Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALXN). He was considering...
Sep 7, 2019 | Covered Call Exit Strategies, Exit Strategies, Investment Basics, Option Trading Basics, Options Calculations, Options Trade Execution, Stock Investing, Stock Option Strategies
Covered call writing is a low-risk cash-generating strategy. It is not a no-risk strategy. As we become educated and master the 3-required skills (stock selection, option selection and position management), it is understandable why BCI members try to figure out...