Option Credit Spread Trading - Limited Risk with Limited Profit
Selling Option Credit Spreads on the broad based stock indexes was my new strategy. My goal was to collect premiums each month using OTM (Out of The Money) options spreads, specifically Bull Put Spread and Bear Call Spreads on the SPX index. I was choosing spreads that were very far OTM so that I had a greater cushion which reduced my risk.
Selling spreads is more akin to waiting for the big move to occur and it rarely does. Time decay is very relevant because despite being a spread, the spread does have a significant rate of decay in the last week or two. The beauty of this strategy is that you do not necessarily need to sit on top of it all the time. If your strikes are 40-60 points OTM and the SPX is up 1.20 today, you gain nothing by checking the quotes every minute. You can just check in the morning and at the close at your leisure as long as you are sufficiently OTM. When the market starts moving closer to your short strike, some due diligence is required. With credit spreads you want the position to expire worthless or buy back for way less that you sold it for.
The goal is to collect premium month to month. Using OTM spreads is a way to do this without predicting the market for the month. In any given month, the market can still move sideways, lower or higher and your positions will still be profitable. You are trading without concern over market direction for a major crash lower.
Today I employ a very safe and conservative Iron Condor credit spread trading strategy. My strategy with iron condor trading is to leg into the trade by selling the Bull Put Spread first for .20 – .25 cents. This is only a 2% – 2.5% return but the trade is very safe and the short strike is usually 60 points or more away from the current index price. I will then complete the condor by selling the Bull Call Spread later on for another .20-.25 cents, but only if the trade is safe. Safety is the key to my strategy with a goal of earning on average a 3% return each month.
Related Tags: credit spreads, option trading, index option trades, credit option trades, credit spread, net credit
Brad Griffin (griffin.brad@tx.rr.com ) is an Accountant and CPA and has been investing in the U.S Stock Market for 10 years and the options market for the past 5 years. I am now sharing my knowledge and success trading options at my website http://www.indexspreadoptionstrading.com.
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- The Beginning of the Cataloging Code
The first significant cataloging code was published in 1841. The realization that cooperation and s - In the Lap of the Gods 24
Life moved on. Lily became well liked by both students and staff because of her cheerful outlook on - In the Lap of the Gods 23
Does fate decide the future? Is it all mapped out for us, predestined, or can we influence what com - Write Your Memoir: How to Write About What Troubles You the Most
Everyone has a story to tell, and unfortunately those stories aren't always pleasant. What makes me - How Crafty Word Order Can Instantly Improve Your Writing
by Philip Yaffe I am usually very reticent about offering writing tips. Unless they are linked to - You Say Grandpa, I Say Deda
I was born with two grandmothers but only one grandfather. In nature's rules of familial supply and - My Russian American Dichotomy
I was a Russian girl and an American teenager. I had no choice about the first but I tried very har - In the Lap of the Gods 22
This is just an explanation for those who have read some of the other Chapters of, "In the Lap of t - Write a Book: 8 Reasons You Should Do it
Studies have shown that 82% of people want to write a book, but few of these actually ever achieve - Book Review: the Book of Common Prayer
Book Review: The Book of Common Prayer, "My carry-with-me copy is this size, and I recommend it for
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Real Estate Investment - Investing In Commercial Properties
As in any other type of investment, its obviously advisable to do your research well so that the pro - Taking Care Of Acne Prone Skin With Proper Skin Care Products
Although acne has been largely associated with teeners and puberty, the condition is not only confin - Do I Really Need Eight Hours Of Sleep Each Night?
What if you were told that there is no definitive answer for why we need to sleep? Your initial reac - How to Improve Your FICO Credit Score
If you didn't know this already, having a good credit score is more important than having a lot of c - 10 Tips for a Magnificent Memory
"Where did I leave my keys?" "What did I come in here for?" "Your glasses are on top of your head!" - Things You Might Like To Know About Card Companies
If you have a regular income and are 18 or over then you may be able to get a credit card. You will - Bad Breath in Babies and Toddlers
If your baby or toddler has had bad breath lately, not to worry. There are plenty of things you can - Starving College Students No More
The majority of today's college students are extremely Internet savvy. In fact, many of those studen - Cosmetic Surgery Financing: How Can You Get It?
Cosmetic surgery, a branch of plastic surgery, can be quite expensive, especially if you are plannin - Article Marketing, Improve Your Ranking With Links
Article Marketing, without a doubt remains the best free formula for attracting website traffic. At
