Recent Volatility Got You Spooked? Try Spreads

Recent market volatility has some traders a little spooked - Try option spreads in situations like this.

Although there are no magic trading bullets to deal with short term volatility there are some things you can do as an options trader to take additional control over your risk. Option spreads are one way to take more control. A spread combines more than one option contract or an option and a stock into a single trade. Some spreads are directional (bullish or bearish) and others are neutral towards market direction but will profit if volatility falls (or rises.)Spread


Review of Today’s Market Action
 
  

 
 
  
Some option spreads like long straddles and strangles are designed to provide unlimited profits when you think the market is going to make some very big moves in the near term but you have almost no idea what direction the breakout will be. A long straddle or strangle has a fixed amount of risk but can be very expensive if the market moves very little.


Vertical spreads and covered calls can be used to limit risk, provide income and still take advantage of a bullish or bearish trend. Traders have to be careful when trading these strategies as they are a higher cost trade but they can offer the unique benefits of income (with short vertical spreads and covered calls) or a reduction in the negative effects of time value (with long vertical spreads.)

Read these articles to understand more about trading option spreads in today's market:

 

  Bigger Profits With Diagonals
 
Covered Calls the EZ Way
  More Income with Verticals

    Long Straddles / Strangles
 
Short Straddles / Strangles
 • Iron Condors; Spread combos

More...

 


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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

 

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