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Writing covered call options: an introduction
August 17, 2020
Concepts

Writing covered call options: an introduction

Martin Noël

Perhaps you would like to start using options, but you do not know which strategy to implement. The simplest and most popular strategy among individual and institutional investors is covered call writing. This article is the first in a series of four articles on covered call writing. It covers the basic features of this...

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4 years ago
Using USX options to hedge U.S. dollar risk
August 11, 2020
Concepts

Using USX options to hedge U.S. dollar risk

Martin Noël

With interest rates at historic lows, it is unlikely that the Bank of Canada will decide to raise the policy rate anytime soon. But we live in a world that is full of surprises, and things can change quickly. Events with the most unexpected repercussions can and do occur (the current pandemic comes to mind). Who really knows...

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4 years ago
Stock Repair Strategy Using Options
July 30, 2020
Bearish Outlook

Stock Repair Strategy Using Options

Patrick Ceresna

The coronavirus crisis seemed to come out of nowhere. It caught retail and professional investors off guard equally. Almost overnight many stocks fell by more than 25%, and although some have managed to recoup their losses over the past few months, many have not. What is an investor to do in such an environment? One could...

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4 years ago
Harvesting Premium By Shorting Out-of-the-money Calls
July 30, 2020
Bearish Outlook

Harvesting Premium By Shorting Out-of-the-money Calls

Patrick Ceresna

Have you ever been in the fortunate position of holding a stock that had rallied a long way, but you were concerned it had gone too far too fast, yet you did not want to sell your position? Or, have you ever thought that the market would go sideways for a while, and you did not expect your stocks to rally? Maybe you have seen...

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4 years ago
A Twist on Risk Reversals
July 10, 2020
Bullish Outlook

A Twist on Risk Reversals

Patrick Ceresna

The past few months have been challenging for investors. During the first month of the coronavirus crisis, the stock market fell from record highs with unprecedented speed. Meanwhile, the subsequent rally has been just as befuddling to many. Canada’s most liquid stock index ETF, the XIU, plunged from $27 to $17 (a loss of...

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4 years ago
Using options in times of market uncertainty
July 07, 2020
Bearish Outlook

Using options in times of market uncertainty

Martin Noël

In times of market uncertainty like we are seeing now, many investors turn to options for the protection they can provide. Although the markets have recouped a good portion of their losses of the past few months, we cannot rule out another plunge that could test the depths of the recent decline. The high volatility in today’s...

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4 years ago
Butterfly on Shopify
June 10, 2020
Concepts

Butterfly on Shopify

Patrick Ceresna

Recently the Royal Bank of Canada lost its title as our country’s most valuable company in terms of market capitalization. For two brief weeks, Shopify sat at the top of the heap.   Chart 1: Royal Bank vs. Shopify May 31, 2020 Source: Bloomberg   SHOP’s run has been a sight to behold.   Chart 2: Shopify...

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4 years ago
Simplifying Complex Orders
June 01, 2020
Other

Simplifying Complex Orders

Steve Sosnick

One of the best features of options is that they can facilitate a wide variety of strategies.  Are you bullish on a stock but don’t expect a rise in volatility?  Then a call or put spread might be for you.  Do you expect a big move in an ETF, but don’t know which direction is more likely?  Then a straddle may be the...

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4 years ago


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