Options Strategy

• Using the “platinum hedge” to stretch out profits

  By J.L. Lord  |  April 24, 2013

  How do I stretch out my profits in a market that hit new highs without losing my shirt?

• How do I protect myself in a rising market when I write covered calls?

  By Alex Mendoza  |  April 1, 2013

  Simple. Roll the call.

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  Using butterfly options spreads to profit on nonfarm payrolls

  By James Ramelli  |  March 7, 2013

  Is there a way for a trader to trade the unemployment number, or any number for that matter, with a consistent set up and great risk vs. reward profile? The answer is yes, and the name of this options strategy is the long butterfly.

• Use an at-the-money vertical spread to make a big-ticket earnings play

  By Alex Mendoza  |  February 1, 2013

  Suppose Apple or some other big stock is going into earnings. You want to take a directional shot, but you don’t want to commit the large amount of capital that is required either for a stock purchase or as margin for a short sale.

• Protect a diverse portfolio using a cashless collar

  By J.L. Lord  |  November 1, 2012

  Using a cashless collar to protect a diverse portfolio without going broke.

• Trading the option ratio credit spread

  By James Cordier & Michael Gross  |  August 1, 2012

  Adding protection to a short option position and still profit while extending opportunity

• Chartview: Dividend premium

  By Daniel P. Collins  |  February 1, 2011

  A controversy in the ever competitive equity options space has been brewing for several year over "dividend trades"

• Using options to get back to delta neutral

  By Alex Mendoza  |  March 3, 2010

  You can use options instead of the underlying to get back to delta neutral.