EOFeb Update

Yesterday I bought more shares of MPW and PRAA, and converted some of my URI calls to well-in-the-money call spreads. CRZO did well and URI is still running well.

GTLS was up 10.8% for the day.

I have some SLV calls that expire tomorrow that need a little help.

Good Recovery

I got distracted this morning and ECL and JAZZ tripped the trailing stop loss orders after reporting earnings. SLRC followed shortly thereafter. -2.7%, -8.1%, and -2.3% respectively. ECL rebounded nicely with a 4.2% gain.

Low limit orders for ARR and URI filled and both stocks closed higher. I bought calls for CRZO which reported a good quarter and closed up over 6%.

I closed out my TBT credit spread to free up some options money, +12.8%.

Good Start, Bad Finish

I re-bought some AI shares early on, and some SLV calls. Later the rest of the VRTU order finished filling. The trailing stop loss orders are in place (mostly) but I hope they don't fire off just yet.

At least GLD, GDX, and SLV were up.

I'm expecting a choppy ride this week followed by a rally at some point. I'll probably adjust or suspend my TSL orders so I don't get kicked out at the bottom.

Stupid Apple

I covered my AAPL $140/$150 credit spreads before the close since AAPL couldn't stay above $150. At least not until the last 5 minutes of the trading day. How aggravating. Returns were +7.9% and +5.6%, which isn't bad for a week, but there was way too much risk and drama.

My GLD spread will take the max loss, -100%.

I bought back shares of KOG and VRTU. Both closed higher. The calls purchased yesterday for URI and TAL are helping recoup losses.

Round Two

The morning started off with more trailing stop loss orders firing off. GEOS (+3.4%), KOG (-2.9%), and TAL (-0.4%) shares sold.

Both TAL and URI were down quite a bit so I bought call options on them.

The Sell-Off

What a day. It started out okay and I bought shares in JAZZ, FLT, and ARR, calls on URI and FLT, and sold bull put spreads on XLB and XLI. All underwater. What a difference a few hours made today.

I decided to sell 1/3 of my REGN to lighten up that losing position, -15%. Later the stop loss orders started kicking in. URI (+4.5%), AI (+8.5%), and HAIN (-11.4% and -3.6%).

Dead (GLD) Bug

Last Thursday was bad. But on Friday when GLD gapped below my short put strike, then dropped below the long put strike, it was bad for my GLD credit spreads. For lots in two accounts, -92% and -100%. Then there's the spread for this Friday and next month. Oh, and there's GDX for next month too. Fingers crossed.

The UNG credit spread puts expired worthless, +25%.

The new position in NSM just clipped the trailing stop and sold Friday, -0.6%. Today DVA hit the stops, +4.8%.

I bought calls in DBA, hoping for a short term reversal.

I bought shares of GOOG and GTLS.

GALE, GEOS, and AI had a good day.

GLD Spreads

Well the GLD spreads sold after all when it turned tail at 1030 and my limit orders filled. I should have held out for more. That gives me bull put spreads at $157 (Feb 15), $156 (Feb22) and $154 (Mar 15).

It was a good day with PRAA and TAL closing with > 5% gains and NSM, KOG, AI, and MPW chipping in too.

ARR

Bought it! On the dip after ARR announced the secondary. I have another low ball limit order in place too. I missed ARR on the last sell-off after my stop loss orders took me out of it and I underbid the stock on the rebound.

I tried to sell GLD credit spreads but I think they got away from me.

Shaken, Not Stirred

I got shaken out of SLRC and NSM earlier and now I'm back in (shares purchased).

I sold some Feb 22 $450/$440 AAPL bull put (credit) spreads this morning when the share price dropped. That should return 18.3 and 21.8% (two accounts) on risked money (less fees) over the next seven trading days.

GLD Quickie, EWT, ICLR Gone

ICLR tripped the trailing stop near its low today, -5.90%. I was hoping it was about to turn around when I bought it. Guess not.

I sold the other batch of Feb. EWT calls, +1.24%. There was no value in converting to a spread. Too bad the run to $13.65 didn't come a bit sooner ... I could have made a respectable profit rather than just break even (though that's a great outcome sometimes!).

I sold some Feb GLD credit spreads for Friday. So far so good.

EWT and FLT Sold

I'm a bit out of sorts here while I reinstall everything following a computer drive failure. It has been very distracting to say the least.

Some of my Feb. EWT calls sold today as they got back to even, but I think the better play may have been to sell the Feb $13 calls for a $12/$13 bull call (debit) spread. I'll look at doing the spread conversion on the OH account. +2.65%.

The FLT shares sold as it was oscillating at the open and tripped the trailing stop, +17.32%.

FXI

Today I sold March FXI bull put (credit) spreads.

There are no very overbought or oversold alerts on my ETF watchlist. Anything that is close to an alert condition is in an extended trend (usually an up-trend) so I'd be giving them a wide berth anyway.

FLT had a nice day after reporting.

GEOS and More

I closed out the credit spreads for VXX and XRT, -36.4% and -45.2% respectively.

I sold my XRT puts, -51.6%.

I bought shares of GEOS, HMA, and more of PSEC early on. I had to pay up when GEOS gapped up, but it went on to have a great day.

This month is not looking good. Bearish plays on GME and NFLX backfired, bear call spreads on SPY and XRT lost money as did the bull put spreads for VXX. Betting against the market's continued run was a bad bet. The bearish positions were smaller, but they added up. That just leaves the UNG credit spread to close at expiration, and any equity positions that might be stopped out. The equities continue to do well (save REGN), and next month's options are looking good. Fingers crossed!

Less AAPL, More Everything Else

That nice 20 minute rally by AAPL tripped my limit orders and let me close out some dicey positions. The calls that were underwater since the morning after I bought them closed +0.19%. The credit spread only had to hold $440 until Friday, but the way AAPL has been trading that was not a given. Less stress and a quick +14.1% profit.

I went shopping first thing and added URI calls, and shares of AI, ECL, ICLR, MPW, PSEC, TAL, and URI.

Two More Gone

I cut my losses on GME today when I sold my puts, -81.9%. Better late than never I guess.

I sold my NSM calls today, +35.3%.

Nice moves by AAPL and CRZO.

Plan? What Plan?

Okay, so this weekend I'm reviewing my SPY credit spread and despite the fact that it is overdue for a sell-off, the trade is moving toward a loss. So I put in an order to cover, to be reviewed before the open Monday. Did I do that? NO. It closes at the open, just when things were starting to move my way ... and the spread was still in the money. -23.9%. Uggh.

 At least the other credit spreads at risk, VXX and XRT, moved my way. Not counting AAPL of course, which is still seeking a support level.