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Optionable Stocks Stock Talk
Options and daytrading
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jwei  (35 posts) wrote on 4/27/03 2:18 PM
I used to day trade stock as well, though I have not attempt to day trade options. The draw back that I see from day trading options are that for ATM options, the option premium don't move very much relative to the price move. For ITM options, the gap between bid and ask are usually too high and not as liquid. With spread, it's worse because the movement in a spread is even less (one leg makes money, while the other leg lose money), not to mention comission is higher. When trading stock you can enter and close a trade of ~5,000 shares for a total commision of ~$20. While with options, a 5,000 shares (50 contract) spread trade would cost you about $250 in total comission. Straight options trade would still cost you about half of that.

From the way I see it, unless you expect a big move in an option premium, it's not worth trying to day trade options. Also you will probably have to stick to the front month option (options < 30 days to exp.) because these options give you a better price swing relative to the stock price swing. However the downside is when you are wrong, you can't sit on it becuase you will be losing time value very fast and if the price move is too small, the lost due to time value may even be higher than the gain from the price move.

That's just my view of daytrading options. I am sure there are people who day trade options and profit handsomely from it. I am just not ready to try it (I see to many downside to it).

John
Harry Nuts  (65 posts) wrote on 4/27/03 2:18 AM
Im experienced in daytrading equities but have recently become interested in using my techniques to daytrade index options. I do realize that the risk of buying a straight out call or put is greater then that of high liquidity stocks. Im use to 1 penny spreads and with the index options I see 30-40 cent spreads. Can you recommend to me what type of options I can buy to fit my trading style. Would it be better to go a little deep in the money or just look for the higher liquidity? Or even better, Is there a strategy used by momentum and day-traders(OPTION) like a certain spread to decrease the risk factor of the wide price spread


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