Wednesday, June 9, 2010

SLV trade idea

This is very similar to something I did about 18 months ago. This is going to kind of be a set it and forget it trade. I'll obviously follow the price of SLV but this isn't a short-term trade. I am basically buying an 18/20 bull call spread and financing it buy selling a strangle. I'm very comfortable owning silver at $13, and I'm not worried about my risk to the upside because I would close the trade out should SLV pass the short call at $20. It looks like I can put the trade on for close to break even, which is the goal. Maintenance margin will diminish as time goes on. Looks like initial margin is about $2400. Max return is $2 if SLV is above $20, so max return for a 10 lot would be $2000/2400 = 83%. I think this return is worth the risk so I'm planning on putting this trade on soon.

SLV is essentially in a long-term range here with the majority of the action over the last year between 15.5/18.5. Backing out to a two year chart below it looks like the long uptrending channel is now in a sideways consolidation range. 


3 comments:

  1. So your Max gain would be at 20 at about $2,060. How far past 20 are you willing to let this trade go before you stop out? Would you take delivery on the short puts if SLV crashed for some reason?

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  2. Should we pass the $20 strike, closing the trade would depend on how much time was left and what my view at that time is. I am willing to take possession at $13 so I would not be looking to close this trade out for a loss should it move down from here.

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  3. Two months after the initiation of this trade the price of SLV is essentially flat and in a range. So today I closed the 18/20 call portion of this trade for a .07 gain before commissions, .04 or $40 after. I am going to leave the short strangle on for longer though. I initially sold to open the 13/25 strangle at .65, it's currently at .35 but I'm willing to stay short here. I'm still willing to own at $13 and $25 is a big stretch from here.

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