Tuesday, February 28, 2017

February Month End Results

February Trade Results
Total Opened Trades: 7
Total Closed Trades: 7
Month Realized P/L: $1,661.49
YTD Realized P/L: $2,709.98
YTD ROC: 8.4%

Closing Trade - 17 MAR K 75 Straddle

With 17 DTE, theta still hasn't come in like expected so I decided to close the trade so I can transfer the funds to my new brokerage.

Closing Trade [Opening Trade]
Bought: five @$3.28

Total Debit: $1,640.00
Total Commissions/Fees: $17.75
Balance: $37,633.23
Trade P/L: $349.45
YTD Realized P/L: $2,709.98


Closing Trade - 17 MAR RUT 1360 Put Calendar

With 16 DTE, I decided to use today's sell-off in the market to scratch the trade to free up the funds to transfer to my new brokerage.

Closing Trade [Opening Trade]
Sold: five 17 MAR RUT 1360 Put Calendars @$13.45

Total Credit: $6,725.00
Total Commissions/Fees: $17.75
Balance: $39,291.01
Trade P/L: $64.50
YTD Realized P/L: $2,360.53



Friday, February 17, 2017

Closing Trade - 17 MAR HIG 44/50 Strangle

Closing Trade [Opening Trade]
Bought: ten 17 MAR HIG 44/50 Strangles @$0.32

Total Debit: $320.00
Total Commissions/Fees: $25.49
Balance: $32,583.74
Trade P/L: $209.02
YTD Realized P/L: $2,296.03


New Opening Trade - 17 MAR FRED 17.5 Straddle [Closed]

Opening Trade
Sold: ten 17 MAR FRED 17.5 Straddles @$2.88

Total Credit: $2,880.00
Total Commissions/Fees: $25.57
Balance: $32,929.23



Closing Trade - 17 MAR BKD 13/17 Strangle

Brookdale announced on 2/16 that they were in talks to be acquired by Ventas so decided to scratch the trade.

Closing Trade [Opening Trade]
Bought: thirty 17 MAR BKD 13/17 Strangles @$0.35

Total Debit: $1,050.00
Total Commissions/Fees: $56.47
Balance: $30,074.80
Trade P/L: $37.02
YTD Realized P/L: $2,087.01




Thursday, February 16, 2017

Switching Brokerages After March Expiration

After March Expiration I'll be switching my brokerage from TD Ameritrade to tastyworks.  So until then I won't be putting on any new trades with expirations beyond March.

The reasoning behind the switch to tastyworks is:

1) Speed of their platform - their software is based on the same technology as high frequency trading platforms
2) Second and most important, there are no commissions on closing trades

So I'll be able to achieve better executions and keep a higher % of my profits resulting in a higher ROC.