The Option Pit VIX Traffic Light Goes Red
The VIX traffic light was dead on when it switched from Red to Yellow. “But Mark, the VIX went up, and then down, and is back where it started…how is this dead on?” You might ask. Remember, a yellow light does NOT mean that the VIX is going higher. A yellow light means the VIX…
Realized Vol Primer Review
Surge in XLE Means A lot to the Future of Oil
Oil has been in a bear market for almost 3 years. Oil being down has KILLED the entire energy complex. XOM, CVX…you name the oil company… …it has had a BAD few years. Tuesday’s oil surge saw stocks in XLE, the Energy Sector ETF, take off. XOM up 5% CVX up 3% RIG up 13% […]
Mark’s Best Idea for 2021
Trader’s, I have about 15 good ideas for longer term trades in 2021. But, I want to share with you what is probably my favorite pick for 2021. Using my BETS system Background: We are about to start distributing the Covid-19 Vaccine in what is going to be the largest inoculation campaign in US history. […]
Why You Should Care About This $626,000 QQQ Trade That Hit Yesterday
The QQQ has out performed the SPY by a wide margin. Year to date, the QQQ ‘s return is about +47%. The SPY year to date total return is about +15% (total return is actually closer to 17%). But the spread ebbs and flows. With the QQQ’s return expanding and contracting over the SPY as […]
ALARM!!(NOT!)… VIX Light Inside
Hey Traders, The S&P 500 was up just under 1% on Monday. The VIX was up slightly as well … This would sound the alarms, as one of the pieces of our volatility trading system is how the VIX is correlating to the S&P 500. The VIX, because of the way volatility is calculated versus…
How Santa Could Impact Your Profits!?
Hey Traders, My wife’s family has a group text message where they all share pictures and stories. On Fridays my mother-in-law posts a question for the family to answer. A few weeks ago she asked, “What is the best Christmas gift that you have ever received?” I responded quickly: Castle Grayskull from He-Man and the […]
I Win, You Lose?
Dear Trader, After the bell last Friday, the FOMC made a major announcement: The banks are again allowed to buy back shares. A lot of traders are afraid to buy options in today’s half day. Why? Because they think their options are going to decay over the 3 ½ days the market is closed for […]
Merry Christmas!
Hi Shoppers, I know we are all scrambling with our last minute shopping and cooking, I am a pro at last minute. It’s funny the gift I am most excited about is the Flippity Fish for our cat. I think that reflects what a crazy year this has been. Actually, our pets become an important…
Are you taking Christmas Eve off? I’m Not + Here’s Why
Hey there Trader, Often, traders take Christmas Eve off. After all, the market is only open until 1pm EST. But taking today off is a mistake, and I’ll tell you exactly why I’ll be looking to be in–>out of quick positions in today’s trading session. First, let’s talk about yesterday. As we predicted, the air […]