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Options Trader Pro
Advanced Trading Strategies for Big Profits in Any Market
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It was a fairly quiet week in terms of the leading indexes’ performance as the S&P 500 fell marginally, the Dow mostly finished the week unchanged, and the Nasdaq fell by 0.4%.
Partially aided by declines in mega-cap technology stocks Apple (AAPL) and Nvidia (NVDA), both of which lost 6% last week, the holiday-shortened week was not particularly kind to the bulls as the S&P 500 fell 1.3%, the Dow lost 0.75%, and the Nasdaq declined by 2% last week.
The market is on course to have a nice week as the S&P 500 is higher by 3%, the Dow is up 1.2% and the Nasdaq tacked on 3% of gains. The VIX is trading at 13, which is lower by 17% on the week, which given the market’s gains is not surprising ahead of a long weekend.
The market had many ups and downs last week, and despite a nasty sell-off on Thursday the indexes closed the week mostly higher. The S&P 500 gained 0.8%, the Dow lost 0.45%, and the Nasdaq rose by 2.26%.
It was another rough week for the bulls as the bond market and China worries continue to weigh on the indexes. By week’s end the S&P 500 and Dow had both lost 2.22%, while the Nasdaq declined by 2.6%.
Last week was the first week in what feels like months that the sellers really took control. And while it was hardly a disaster in terms of the indexes as the S&P 500 fell 1.3%, the Dow lost 1.11% and the Nasdaq declined by 2.85%, the pain was worse in individual stocks, many of which fell hard on earnings.
As earnings season approaches the midway point, and following the Federal Reserve’s announcement of a 25-basis point interest rate hike last week, the market continued its ascent. For the week the S&P 500 gained 1%, the Dow rose by 0.65% and the Nasdaq added 2%.
Sector and index rotation was the name of the game last week as money raced out of tech to end the week and into sectors that had not been participating in the market’s advance recently. That being said, this is not necessarily a bad sign as the S&P 500 gained 0.7%, the Dow rallied 2.08% and the Nasdaq lost 0.6%.
The market surged higher yet again last week, and traders are beginning to wonder if a run at new highs is in the cards in 2023. While there is a way to go until we reach those peaks, last week’s gains of 2.4% for the S&P 500, 2.3% for the Dow, and 3.32% for the Nasdaq gives the bulls hope.
The market came under some pressure last week as the S&P 500 fell 1.16%, the Dow lost 2% and the Nasdaq declined by 1%. And while the market lost ground, I would note that it was a holiday-shortened week, and option volumes were down dramatically.
You are receiving the typical Monday morning update today as the Cabot office will be closed on Monday, and then the stock market is closed on Tuesday. Have a great Fourth of July weekend!
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Options Strategy
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Using Options to Hedge a Portfolio


A few Cabot Options Trader subscribers have asked me about ways to protect gains in their portfolios, so I thought I would write to everyone with a couple of strategies using options to hedge your portfolio.

Options Education
From the questions I receive, I’m aware that a decent percentage of my subscribers have stock and/or options positions in a handful of stocks, including Apple (AAPL), Facebook (FB) and Alibaba (BABA).
Worried about another market correction? This bit of options education should help you learn how to hedge your portfolio using puts.
Options education is one of my main goals for Cabot Options Trader subscribers. And here are three important lessons I’ve been telling people lately.
Options education is one of my main goals for Cabot Options Trader subscribers. And here are three important lessons I’ve been telling people lately.
All options are a wasting asset whose time value erodes to zero by expiration. This erosion is known as time decay.
A protective put is used when a trader is bullish on a stock he is buying or already owns, but is wary of the stock’s short-term future. It is used as a means to protect unrealized gains, while giving the trader continued upside potential.
Combining Cabot Options Trader and Cabot Growth Investor
Below is an article I wrote a couple years ago in response to a subscribers’ question regarding options and option volatility around earnings.
I’ve received a ton of great emails from subscribers over the last couple of days about huge profits this year. I’m thrilled that you are making lots of money. That said, while it’s great that we are making good money, we must remember the risks as well.
The S&P 500 is down 0.5% this morning, though well off the overnight lows (lower by 1.25%) following news that Gary Cohn, President Trump’s top economic advisor, is leaving his position. As the market has heated up, I’ve received many great questions from subscribers.
As the market has rebounded just short of 2018 highs, an interesting and somewhat complex trade structure has become popular: 1x2 Bull Call Spreads.
As the market was falling apart and the VIX was exploding to multi-year highs, Cabot Options Trader Pro subscribers executed a short volatility trade, selling an Iron Condor. Here are the details of the trade and some of my commentary.