Covered Write

This is the combination of a Bull Put Spread and a Bear Call Spread. The trade is created by selling a Put and buying a lower strike price Put and also selling a Call and buying a Call with a higher strike price. The short options have consecutive strike prices (short strangle).

This is basically a big change in Implied Volatility [IV]. IV gaps higher when the market expects the underlying Stock/ETF to make a big move in the short term. IV can gap lower when an important event, like an earnings report, has passed. The big gap up in the IV can cause the premium of…

This is a type of options contract that can only be exercised at expiration. Most, but not all, index options settle European Style. The American Style Option has a different exercise schedule.

A Calendar spread is when you sell an option and buy another one with a more distant expiration date. This can be created with either puts or calls. For example, let’s say you wanted to play Netflix with calendar spread because you figure that the stock has dropped too far too quickly and will bounce…

Order Flow is basically the study of the way a stock reacts to the limit or market orders that are placed at certain price levels.  When it comes to Unusual Options Activity, the order flow principles are the same, in that you want to pay attention to how the Option price, and the price of…

To anyone new to trading options. You need to understand, this is a craft. A skill. You must learn and respect it, or it is going to disrespect you. Very violently in some cases. You HAVE to know what you’re doing, not just THINK you know what you’re doing. You must understand the Greeks. This is essentially what your option is. If you…