optionsguy’s Blog posts
Synthetic Stock Defined and More
TradeKing Senior Options Analyst, Brian Overby, discusses many different ways options can be used to create synthetic positions. Hello Traders, In my blog written on 11/19/12 titled “Are the p... more
Mini-Options: A Crash Course for Options Traders
Trading options on high-priced stocks just became more affordable for individual investors. On March 18th, mini options will be introduced on Amazon (AMZN), Apple (AAPL), Google (GOOG) and a... more
Potential options strategies for the fiscal cliff
TradeKing Senior Options Analyst, Brian Overby, discusses potential option strategies for the looming fiscal cliff. Surprisingly, the options marketplace - until recently - has been discounting ... more
Are the price of calls and puts related?
TradeKing Senior Options Analyst, Brian Overby, dispels another option trading myth about the pricing of call and put options. Hello Traders, Today, we are going to explore an important relati... more
Long Calendar Spread - How to Video
A Long Calendar Spread is the simultaneous sale of a near term option (front month) and the purchase of a far term option (back month) of the same strike price and the same type (puts or call... more
VIX Options - The need to know before you trade.
TradeKing Senior Options Analyst, Brian Overby, provides some tips if you are thinking about trading VIX options in September and October. Hello Traders, With the CBOE Volatility Index (VI... more
Long Straddles & Strangles - How to Video
This video covers the basics of the long straddle and strangle. Long straddles and strangles involve the purchase of a call and a put at the same time with the same expiration date. The long s... more
Introducing the VIX of the VIX
TradeKing Senior Options Analyst, Brian Overby, gives some insight on a new volatility index and discusses an option strategy that may be useful when trading VIX option contracts. Hello Traders, ... more
Leveraged Covered Call - How to Video
This video covers the basics of the leveraged covered call strategy. This strategy involves the purchase of a long tern in-the-money call option (LEAPS) on a particular underlying stock, while ... more
Where's the VIX future again?
TradeKing Senior Options Analyst Brian Overby discusses the VIX option contracts and how to use a VIX index option chain to help determine the value of a VIX future contract. Recently I wro... more
Risks of Trading Options on Facebook Video
Listed stock options have not yet begun trading on Facebook. The anticipated date for the listing of Facebook option contracts is May 29th, according to a press release put out by the International... more
Facebook IPO: Options coming soon!
TradeKing’s Brian Overby outlines some points to remember if you're interested in trading option contracts when they are available in facebook after the Initial Public Offering (IPO). Details of... more
Bull Put Spread How to Video
This video covers the basics of the short put spread. A short put spread involves the sale of a put option on a particular underlying stock or index, while simultaneously purchasing a further ... more
Gamma & calendar spreads - what's the deal?
TradeKing Sr. Options Analyst Brian Overby fields a question from Keith about the greek gamma and how it works inside a calendar spread. Hi Brian, I've been doing a lot of long calendar spreads ... more
Bear Put Spread How to Video
This video covers the basics of the long put spread. A long put spread involves the purchase of a put option on a particular underlying stock or index, while simultaneously selling another pu... more
Bear Call Spread How to Video
This video covers the basics of the short call spread. A short call spread involves the sale of a call option on a particular underlying stock or index, while simultaneously purchasing a call opti... more
Are there really VIX options?
TradeKing Senior Options Analyst Brian Overby discusses the tricky VIX option contracts and some of the pitfalls that traders are running into when trying to track it. Hello Traders, The CBO... more
VIX Options How to Video
This video provides a background for CBOE VOLATILITY INDEX® (VIX®) option contracts. Below are some of the product specifications from the Chicago Board Options Exchange. For more information pleas... more
Introducing the Midday Market Call
Spend 10 minutes of your lunch hour with Barron’s columnist Michael Kahn, CMT and TradeKing’s Brian Overby, as they analyze the market during this live online session. Hello everyone, I’m exci... more
Straddles and Strangles Explained
Welcome back, traders! TradeKing Sr. Options Analyst Brian Overby fields a question from an email from an options trader whose straddle hasn't gone as planned. Hi Brian, I tried to follow your... more
