What are puts and calls, and how do options work? Keep reading for these answers and to understand the basic terminology you need to know.
Options
The Power Of The Options Hedge
One of the more intriguing aspects of 2021 has been the relatively high levels of expected volatility in the equities markets. The VIX, a widely-used barometer of broad market volatility, has been consistently higher throughout the year compared to its long-term median. Despite the high levels of anticipated volatility, the market hasn’t yet seen that […]
Trade of the Week: Airlines
Looking at block trades and unusual options volume can be very enlightening. For instance, a big trade in US Global Jets ETF (JETS) can possibly give us clues towards what to expect for the airline industry in November. By looking closely at what trades hit the tape, you can often determine if a strategist is bullish or […]
How Does the Bitcoin ETF Affect You?
With the launch of the first ever Bitcoin ETF… The SEC has legitimized cryptocurrencies. Although the ETF doesn’t buy Bitcoin directly, but rather, the futures of Bitcoin… It still will cause disruptions in the market. In this weekly briefing, I’m going to break down what I see could happen in the broad markets and cryptocurrencies […]
This Movie Industry Stock is a Better Play on Recovery Than AMC
The movie theater industry has been one of the hardest hit sectors following the COVID-19 pandemic; however, cinemas are showing signs of rebounding in recent months as more and more blockbuster movies are released. That being said, the recovery has been slow and erratic and could continue over the foreseeable future. It is no secret […]
Using Options To Help Predict Big Market Moves
Options order flow, particular large or unusual block trades, can potentially help traders predict where a big market move may occur. Large traders will often use options on ETFs in order to take a directional position on a major asset class or industry. For example, using the iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF […]
Trade of the Week: Uranium
We recently saw a significant amount of action in Global X Uranium ETF (URA). Uranium has become a popular commodity to trade this year as energy prices in fossil fuels have soared. Uranium is often considered a potential stopgap between fossil fuels and renewable energy sources. URA is up nearly 90% this year and at least […]
Add This Moving Average Line to Every Stock You Watch
What’s my favorite moving average? It’s not too volatile… but also the juiciest trends are found in this timeframe. When prices break above it, I’m buying. When it drops below, I’m staying away. Since early 2020, this moving average worked well for getting in and getting out of stocks. We’re in a choppy market so […]
Here’s How to Trade Cryptocurrencies Without Actually Owning Them
I often get asked about cryptocurrencies and whether they are safe investments to add to a portfolio. For investors unfamiliar with the term, a cryptocurrency is basically a digital token, or coin, that trades on a distributed and decentralized ledger called a blockchain. The most popular, and well known, cryptocurrency is Bitcoin, which made its […]
Trade of the Week: HYG
Last week, we saw a substantial amount of options activity in the iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Bond ETF (HYG). HYG is a very popular ETF used for tracking junk bonds (aka high yield bonds). The ETF normally has about 220,000 options contacts that trade per day on average, but on a busy day last […]
