Commentary for last week
| Week ending | Open | High | Low | Close |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. 4 | 2089.50 | 2105.00 | 2040.00 | 2088.50 |
| Nov. 27 | 2089.75 | 2098.25 | 2065.50 | 2090.00 |
Last week the market formed a doji, following quite wide swings in both directions. The California shootings, and then an ECB announcement on QE that disappointed European traders moved the market sharply down.
Then the Non Farm Payrolls (pretty good) and a second ECB press conference promising more moved the market back up to end the week very close to where it began. Lots of movement, little progress.
Option trades last week
Nat’s option trades, week ending Dec. 4, 2015
The volatility allowed us to make profitable trades selling both Calls and Puts. last week, and irrational exuberance among traders increased the profits.
When the price touched 2105 in the middle of the week, traders began thinking the futures would break the overhead resistance. We sold Calls with a strike at 2135.
When the market looked like it would end the week with a big loss, we were able to sell Puts with a strike at 2015.
Both expired out-of-the-money and we retained the entire premium.
This week:
After last week’s pump and dump, the S&P 500 index could struggle to hold above its 200-day moving average line (200sma) at 2065.50) and to find its balance point of support and demand. The volatility will remain high. This week is the rollover, when futures traders move to the next contract. The December contract will expire next week, and the March 2006 contract will be the front contract traded on Friday.
Member content
Here are Nat’s option trades for this week.
Calls:
There were lots of Calls bought above the 2075 strike. The 2065 level will be the key support line for this week. As long as the Index and ES stay above 2065, the buyers will keep pushing ES up to 2105-2110 zone or higher. Our system shows that ES could be pushed up to 2135 level, but it shouldn’t close above 2165. Therefore we look to sell Calls when the ES moves above 2105.
Puts:
The Puts have been bought below 2060 strike price. If ES moves under 2060 level, it could lead the index and the ES to retest last week’s low at the 2040 area. Our system shows that ES shouldn’t close below 2025 level, therefore we look to sell Puts while ES is below 2065 line.
Put/call volume ratio on SPX and ES Dec. 11 options is 1:4 from 2200 to 2060 level, and 5:1 from 2045 to 1900 level.
Nat’s option trades this week
| Expiration | Strike price | Sell options when ES price is |
|---|---|---|
| Dec. 11, 2015 | 2175, 2185 calls | |
| 2150 calls | Above 2105 | |
| Meanline | 2065 | |
| Dec. 11, 2015 | 2035 puts | Below 2065 |
| 2020 puts |