Week in Review – December 26 – 30, 2016

 

Option to Profit

Week in Review


December 26 – 30, 2016

NEW POSITIONS/STO NEW STO ROLLOVERS CALLS ASSIGNED/PUTS EXPIRED CALLS EXPIRED/PUTS ASSIGNED CLOSED EX-DIVIDEND
2  /   0 0 2 0   /   0 2   /   0 0 3

 

Weekly Up to Date Performance

December 26 – 30, 2016

Well, 2016 is over and the Christmas Rally came way too early and left nothing for the final week.

Surprisingly to me, I actually opened 2 new positions in the final week of the year.

Those new positions were 1.3% higher, as they outperformed the adjusted S&P 500 by 2.1% and the unadjusted S&P 500 by 2.4%, as the unadjusted S&P was 1.1% lower for the week to end the year 9.5% higher.

Existing positions outperformed the S&P 500 by 0.9%, but that still meant that they were lower 0.2% on the week.

Still it was a good 2016, even if the end wasn’t anything to write home about.

What was nice this week was the ability to rollover a few positions, even as 2 did expire and will begin 2017 uncovered.

There were also 3 ex-dividend positions on the week, although one of those was for only $0.01.

Also not much to write home about.

2016?

That I would write home about, though, even as there were so few closed positions for the year.


This was a mixed way to end the year, with the relative good news of outperforming the market, but without the good feeling that comes along with actually making money on paper.

Or the even better feeling of making money by closing a position.

What the week was good for was for generating some revenue and keeping the ball moving forward.

2016 was a good year for that as there were lots of rollover opportunities and lots of dividends, even as there weren’t anywhere near as many closed positions as I might have liked.

That leaves 2017 with cash on hand, stocks near their all time highs and a big question as to what the new administ
ration will actually do.

I don’t have a clue, but I won’t be shy about using that cash and looking for opportunities.

Earnings season will be interesting as will the new President’s first State of the Union speech.

For now, I look at 2017 as being a continuation of where the past 2 to 3 weeks have been.

That means a continuing uncertainty about what tomorrow may hold.

But I think that tomorrow holds some good things regarding company profits and guidance and that there is more upside, but I would be very happy to see some profit taking bring us further away from the current levels.

That’s always easier to say than it is to live through and as I’m often reminded, you do need to be careful what you wish for.

I hope everyone has a Happy and a healthy New Year and is ready to enter 2017 with a continuing positive outlook.

This is the last Week in Review, but if you have the time and inclination, I’ll be posting periodically on TheAcsMan.com and will still try to have trades posted in real time.

Just much less of the other fare.

Thank you to all of the loyal subscribers that have stayed with me for so long and always in good humor and in constructive ways.

This week’s details may be seen in the Weekly Performance spreadsheet * or in the PDF file, as well as in the summary below

(Note: Duplicate mention of positions reflects different priced lots):



New Positions Opened:  BX, UA

Puts Closed in order to take profits:  none

Calls Rolled over, taking profits, into the next weekly cycle:   none

Calls Rolled over, taking profits, into extended weekly cycle:  MRO

Calls Rolled over, taking profits, into the monthly cycle: none

Calls Rolled Over, taking profits, into a future monthly cycle:  none

Calls Rolled Up, taking net profits into same cyclenone

New STO: none

Put contracts expired: none

Put contracts rolled over: CLF

Long term call contracts sold:  none

Calls Assigned:  none< /p>

Calls Expired:  none

Puts Assigned:  none

Stock positions Closed to take profits:  none

Stock positions Closed to take losses: none

Calls Closed to Take Profits: none

Ex-dividend Positions   CY (12/27 $0.11), GPS (12/30 $0.23)

Ex-dividend Positions Next Week: BMY (1/4 $0.39)

For the coming week the existing positions have lots that still require the sale of contracts:   AGQ, ANF, AZN, BBBY, BBY, CHK, CLF, COH, CSCO,  CY, DOW, FAST, FCX, GDX, GM, GPS, HAL, HFC, HPQ, INTC, IP, JCP, JOY, KMI, KSS, LVS, MCPIQ, MOS, NEM, RIG, WFM, WLTGQ, WY (See “Weekly Performance” spreadsheet or PDF file)



* If you don’t have a program to read or modify spreadsheets, you can download the OpenOffice Suite at no cost.



Daily Market Update – December 30, 2016

 

 

Daily Market Update –  December 30, 2016 (7:30 AM)


The Week in Review will be posted by 10 PM and for the first time in years, there will be no Weekend Update..

The following trade outcomes are possible today:

Assignments: none

Rollovers: UA

Expirations:   M

The following were ex-dividend this week:    CY (12/27 $0.11), JOY (12/28 $0.01), GPS (12/30 $0.23)

The following are ex-dividend next week:  BMY (1/4 $0.39)


Trades, if any, will be attempted to be made prior to 3:30 PM EDT

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL AND BEST WISHES FOR A WONDERFUL 2017

.


Daily Market Update – December 29, 2016 (Close)

 

 

Daily Market Update –  December 29, 2016 (Close)

Yesterday was a surprise. Today, not so much.

At a time when the DJIA nears 20,000, it shouldn’t be too surprising when we see triple digit moves, anymore. Maybe what should be more surprising is when there is very little movement, just like today and so many recent days.

What was really surprising was 30 years ago when the DJIA was standing at about 2500 and we were seeing lots and lots of triple digit moves.

Now, 100 points is nothing.

But yesterday was only the second time since the election that we had a triple digit move lower, not as if there have been many of those higher, either.

There really was no reason, except maybe related to some end of the year strategies by people who thought they would out-smart everyone else.

This morning, it seemed back to normal, even as that might not really be very normal.

I’m glad that I had the chance to do a couple of rollovers yesterday, leaving only a single position still in contention for a rollover this week.

What really surprised me today was that while I had the money to spend, I actually spent some, as looking at the final 2 days of trading in 2016 ass some sort o opportunity that would never return.

For tomorrow, I think I will just watch the year come to its happy end and any trades that may come along the way just add to the happiness of 2016.

.


Daily Market Update – December 29, 2016

 

 

Daily Market Update –  December 29, 2016 (7:30 AM)


Yesterday was a surprise.

At a time when the DJIA nears 20,000, it shouldn’t be too surprising when we see triple digit moves, anymore.

What was surprising was 30 years ago when the DJIA was standing at about 2500 and we were seeing lots and lots of triple digit moves.

Now, 100 points is nothing.

But yesterday was only the second time since the election that we had a triple digit move lower, not as if there have been many of those higher, either.

There really was no reason, except maybe related to some end of the year strategies by people who thought they would out-smart everyone else.

This morning, it seems back to normal.

I’m glad that I had the chance to do a couple of rollovers yesterday, leaving only a single position still in contention for a rollover this week.

I have the money to spend, as we look at the final 2 days of trading, but no real reason to do so.

I think I will just watch the year come to its happy end and any trades that may come along the way just add to the happiness of 2016.

.


Daily Market Update – December 28, 2016

 

 

Daily Market Update –  December 28, 2016 (7:30 AM)


It looks as if it’s going to be another quiet day today as we really get ready to close out the year.

It really has been a tale of different markets.

We had the January correction, followed by Jamie Dimon’s rescue of the market.

Then we had 2 horribly wronged predictions about vote results and the aftermaths of each.

Brexit and the US Presidential elections.

Could pollsters and market predictors have gotten each one more wrong?

No matter, 2-016 has been a good one, especially if still holding onto the big losers from 2015.

I still have lots of cash on hand following yesterday’s single new position opened.

I also continued making another of those side DOH trades that have kept me busy for much of the past month and I definitely hope to do more of those and with some regularity in 2017.

I will definitely have more time to devote to the maintenance of those trades and definitely appreciate the way the relatively some premiums do add up, even as they may exact a toll on your nerves.

Still, what’s the worst that happens?

I expect to be doing little today other than looking for rollover opportunities and counting the days down until the accounting can begin anew for 2017.


.


Daily Market Update – December 27, 2016 (Close)

 
 
Daily Market Update –  December 27, 2016 (Close)
 
The final week of 2016.
For lots of reasons, I can’t wait, but will still be sad to see it go, although it won’t be sad if 2017 was destined to be as completely boring as it was today.
It was likely, and still is, to be a pretty quiet week on the planned news front, at least as far as economic reports go and earnings are done, at least for another few weeks.
That leaves us with a market where traders may be rolling the dice.
Will there be strategic tax loss selling? Will there be opportunity to take advantage of expected light volume?
Will anything unexpected happen anywhere just from an errant Tweet or fake news story?
Amazing that those latter two are even a thing.
So, regardless of what this week’s trades may or may not bring, it was by far my least busy trading year since I’ve started doing what I’m about to give up doing.
It’s also the slowest trading year since I started trading, with temerity, on my own.
I hope that changes next year, although I hope that the end result and the bottom line continue along the same path.
With still way too much in commodities, I think that 2017 will be another good year, regardless of what happens with the overall market.
I plan on trying to leverage those long dormant positions with every possible opportunity in 2017 and trading more and more, even if not opening as many new positions.
I also plan to going longer term, as I’m getting a little older and not as keen about keeping an eye on news and events day in and day out.
Although I never get bored, all of the above is subject to change if the slightest bit of boredom creeps in.
I do know what I like, but I’m not certain of how I might respond to boredom, so it may be best to be prepared to go back to what I know I like.
This week, I have cash.
I do like that.
I also have some inclination to spend cash.
I like that, too and so, now I actually have less cash.
I have some ex-dividend positions.
Like.
And a couple of expiring positions.
Like that, too.
So, even as not expecting much on the week, I;m approaching it with a smile and am ready to go, even of only for 4 days.
Hopefully, whatever few days are left will usher in a nice and welcoming 2017 for all of us.
 
 
 
 
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TheAcsMan Returns on January 2, 2017 (More or Less)

Just as a teaser, on Tuesday, at 9:58 AM, I purchased Under Armour (UA) at $25.35  and sold the weekly $25.50 option for a $0.44 premium

trade-theacsman

Daily Market Update – December 27, 2016

 

 

Daily Market Update –  December 27, 2016 (9:00 AM)


The final week of 2016.

For lots of reasons, I can’t wait, but will still be sad to see it go.

It will also be a pretty quiet week on the planned news front, at least as far as economic reports go and earnings are done, at least for another few weeks.

That leaves us with a market where traders may be rolling the dice.

Will there be strategic tax loss selling? Will there be opportunity to take advantage of expected light volume?

Will anything unexpected happen anywhere just from an errant Tweet or fake news story?

Amazing that those latter two are even a thing.

So, regardless of what this week’s trades may or may not bring, it was by far my least busy trading year since I’ve started doing what I’m about to give up doing.

It’s also the slowest trading year since I started trading, with temerity, on my own.

I hope that changes next year, although I hope that the end result and the bottom line continue along the same path.

With still way too much in commodities, I think that 2017 will be another good year, regardless of what happens with the overall market.

I plan on trying to leverage those long dormant positions with every possible opportunity in 2017 and trading more and more, even if not opening as many new positions.

I also plan to going longer term, as I’m getting a little older and not as keen about keeping an eye on news and events day in and day out.

Although I never get bored, all of the above is subject to change if the slightest bit of boredom creeps in.

I do know what I like, but I’m not certain of how I might respond to boredom, so it may be best to be prepared to go back to what I know I like.

This week, I have cash.

I do like that.

I also have some inclination to spend cash.

I like that, too.

I have some ex-dividend positions.

Like.

And a couple of expiring positions.

Like that, too.

So, even as not expecting much on the week, I;m approaching it with a smile and am ready to go, even of only for 4 days.

Hopefully, whatever few days are left will usher in a nice and welcoming 2017 for all of us.

.


Dashboard – December 26 – 30, 2016

 

 
 

SELECTIONS
MONDAY:   Happy Boxing Day
TUESDAY:    Looks like maybe another quiet day in what could be a quiet week and maybe even a quiet end to the new year
WEDNESDAY:  More quietude appears to be in store today as the futures are still in bed, not having gotten out of there since sometime a week ago
THURSDAY:  A surprising decline yesterday looks like it will be followed by the more normal slumber, today
FRIDAY:. It looks as if 2016 may go out on the quiet side, bringing a pretty good year to an end. Sorry to see it go, actually in many ways.
I hope that 2017 brings the best for everyone in all of the ways that really matter
 
 
 

 
                                                                                                                                           
Today's TradesCash-o-Meter
 
 
 

 “SNEAK PEEK AT NEXT WEEK” APPEARS ON FRIDAYS

Sneak PeekPie Chart Distribution

Weekly Summary