Option Credit Spreads Destroyed My Life
Hi there and welcome to this article on credit spreads. In a few words I'd like to express the risk involved in this type of option spread just in case you are new to trading options. The reason I would like to bring this up now is because I have had many phone calls from option traders who lost huge chunks of their trading portfolios in October of 2008. Some traders lost up to 80% of their trading capital using this strategy, and the reason is because although this trade has a 90% probability, the risk and the stress involved is not often addressed correctly.
The credit spread is one of the most popular option spreads traded today. The reason is because the credit spread is simple, it makes money over time and it is a trade with a high probability. But this probability rating can be very misleading. The dangers of the credit spread are rarely addressed in books and online credit spread courses. The sad truth is that most people teach the credit spread because it's a good business, but not because it's a good option strategy. It's actually a very risky trade and very directional.
It is very well known that we can construct an options credit spread with a probability of 90%, but how much money will be made with a 90% probability options trade? Not very much at all... usually we can make between five and 10% in one month. This sounds like a lot of money, but what are the risks involved? What happens to your portfolio when this trade goes against you? Catastrophic losses can and will occur to your trading capital if you have the least range short-term credit spreads.
Option courses pushing credit spreads do not tell you about the risk. They do not tell you how far you can be behind on this trade just a few days after you enter it. They don't value how you can lose 90% of your trading capital in one month. They don't tell you how this 90% probability trade can lose the very first month of its existence. Just because the trade has a 90% probability, doesn't mean it makes money nine times before it loses once. This just means that it makes money 90% of the time out of a lot of trades. You might have to do 1000 trades before his trade averages its 90% probability.
Credit spreads are actually very directional trades. If you look at a risk graph of a credit spread, then you understand what I am saying. Even though this trade has been on its side, the Gamma is so high that it makes the trade extremely risky. If this trade goes against you, you will lose money really fast. If you are trading short-term credit spreads, and often times you will find yourself at the edge of a cliff and about to lose all of your money.
Finally I would like to say that credit spreads can be used effectively in an options portfolio. Normally however, the credit spread should be combined with another options strategy. This will limit a risk and increase your return potential each month. There is a place for credit spreads in my portfolio, but if you are thinking of doing them alone as a standalone strategy, then I encourage you to think again. - 23199
The credit spread is one of the most popular option spreads traded today. The reason is because the credit spread is simple, it makes money over time and it is a trade with a high probability. But this probability rating can be very misleading. The dangers of the credit spread are rarely addressed in books and online credit spread courses. The sad truth is that most people teach the credit spread because it's a good business, but not because it's a good option strategy. It's actually a very risky trade and very directional.
It is very well known that we can construct an options credit spread with a probability of 90%, but how much money will be made with a 90% probability options trade? Not very much at all... usually we can make between five and 10% in one month. This sounds like a lot of money, but what are the risks involved? What happens to your portfolio when this trade goes against you? Catastrophic losses can and will occur to your trading capital if you have the least range short-term credit spreads.
Option courses pushing credit spreads do not tell you about the risk. They do not tell you how far you can be behind on this trade just a few days after you enter it. They don't value how you can lose 90% of your trading capital in one month. They don't tell you how this 90% probability trade can lose the very first month of its existence. Just because the trade has a 90% probability, doesn't mean it makes money nine times before it loses once. This just means that it makes money 90% of the time out of a lot of trades. You might have to do 1000 trades before his trade averages its 90% probability.
Credit spreads are actually very directional trades. If you look at a risk graph of a credit spread, then you understand what I am saying. Even though this trade has been on its side, the Gamma is so high that it makes the trade extremely risky. If this trade goes against you, you will lose money really fast. If you are trading short-term credit spreads, and often times you will find yourself at the edge of a cliff and about to lose all of your money.
Finally I would like to say that credit spreads can be used effectively in an options portfolio. Normally however, the credit spread should be combined with another options strategy. This will limit a risk and increase your return potential each month. There is a place for credit spreads in my portfolio, but if you are thinking of doing them alone as a standalone strategy, then I encourage you to think again. - 23199
About the Author:
Learn Maximum Reward Option Credit Spreads in our Live Options Trading Rooms at San Jose Options.
posted by X - Men @ 4:55 AM
1 Comments
1 Comments:
This is my first time i visit here and I found so many interesting stuff in your blog especially it's discussion, thank you.
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