The majority of casual investors buy and sell stocks. If they are bearish on a stock, some will even short-sell stock. But relatively few investors fully understand and take advantage of trading options.
With stocks, you own a small piece of a company. However, with options, you purchase the right to buy or [...]
Nicolas Darvas was a dancer who invented a trading system while traveling the world, and made over $2,000,000 in about 18 months. Keep in mind: this was in the late 1950’s! In today’s dollars (at 5% annual compounding), he made over $20,000,000. That system, the Darvas box theory, relies on a very simple technical analysis [...]
We often hear people saying that trading or investing in options is very risky. Yes, it is certainly no mean feat to trade or invest, using options as your investment vehicle. But is it really that risky in the first place? If trading or investing in options is really risky, then why are there so [...]
Trading stock options can be enticing for those new to the equity markets. Their relative low cost as compared to the price of the underlying stock is what makes them so appealing since the amount of money laid out can be enormous when purchasing stock rather than stock options. Some people even refer to the [...]
Introducing the Amazing Stock Repair Strategy. This strategy involves buying one at-the-money call option while simultaneously selling two out-of-the-money call options on the same stock, in the same month.
The construction of this trade is critical. First, you must make sure to purchase exactly the equivalent amount of at-the-money call options as shares of stock you [...]
Back in 2003, (October and November ‘03), the giant biotech Amgen (AMGN) came under some intense pressure, trading down about $12.00 before it found what appeared to be a decent level of support, and began to consolidate. At this level, anyone interested in going long Amgen at a discounted price would be advised to do [...]
Options trading, and specifically writing options, is normally poorly understood, and more often than not, poorly communicated. This is why most people dismiss it as too complicated or too difficult. So many traders are put off trading in options purely because of lack of knowledge. But once educated in this area you will find you [...]
The individual investor will typically include some stocks in their investment portfolio. And whether they are a long term trader or in it for much quicker returns, many investors understand and feel somewhat comfortable with the concepts and techniques of trading stocks.
Options tend to be much less understood – and therefore avoided. But Options can [...]
As a reminder, a put gives an owner the right but not the obligation to sell a certain stock, at a specific price, by a specified date.
For this opportunity, the buyer pays a premium. The seller, who receives the premium, is obligated to take delivery of the stock should the buyer wish to sell the [...]
Stock trading is one of the last true meritocracies. All that matters for your investment success are your own decisions. Stock trading is a precision-based activity and one tiny mistake in judgment could send you plummeting right to the bottom and result in a huge loss.
Likewise, the opposite could happen. You may make a great [...]