No risk to the upside 80% on KRE (Jade Lizard)In the last 90 days we had a 14% down move and got rejected at the 200 EMA. We might still have more room to go to the downside, but I am betting that we are still correcting and some buyers may start to come in.
With an implied volatility rank of 34 and 50 days to expiration, I sold a Jade lizard to eliminate the risk to the upside and still have room to the downside until my break even. We collected $1.12 per contract and have 81% probability of profit, our break even is at the $47.90 level.
The trade:
50DTE
Sell the 52 Call
Buy the 53 Call
Sell the 49 Put
Prob of profit 81%
Credit Received $1.12 per contract
KRE
THE WEEK AHEAD: KRE, EWZ, GDXJWith the beginning of the next earnings season two weeks out (at least before we see something decent), I'm looking to put on some basic exchange-traded fund premium selling plays to bide my time until then. Even there, however, the premium selling opportunities aren't fantastic:
KRE (Regional Banks): I haven't played this one before, but its background implied volatility is at 25%, putting it slightly above its mid-range over the past six months (it's in the 54% percentile or so). I generally like to see exchange-traded funds at >70% implied volatility percentile over the past six months and implied volatility at 35% or more, but if I abide by those metrics, I'd be totally sidelined here. (The May 19th 49/54/55/60 "nearly an" iron fly pays 2.53 at the mid with a buying power effect of 2.47; preliminary/off hours quotes).
EWZ (Brazil): In spite of the fact that its implied volatility has been a good deal higher over the past six months (background implied is at 32% -- in the 28th percentile over the past six months), it still has some decent premium to be offered if you're willing to short straddle or iron fly. (The May 19th 33/37/38/42 iron fly pays 2.12 at the mid with a buying power effect of 1.88; preliminary/off hours quotes).
GDXJ (Junior Gold Miners): This is one I was actually looking to play directionally off of support, but waited too long to put on the play, so now it's "nondirectional" for me or nothing. (The May 19th 30/33/40/43 iron condor pays 1.21 at the mid with a buying power effect of 1.79; preliminary/off hours quotes).
VIX: With VIX, my eyeballs are always peeled for a "Term Structure" play if there isn't a pop to be had. Unfortunately, neither a pop nor a Term Structure play are to be had currently. VIX spot is at 12.4, and the first /VX futures front month that currently is >16 is September -- way too far out in time for me to put on a play (I currently still have June 17/20, and July 16/19 short call verticals on).
Hedging A Black Swan: KREI believe now is the appropriate time to begin hedging for huge Black swan style events. This near vertical run in the KRE banking index is now above the 07 highs. It tried to break above the +8 year long channel but failed. I expect a much lower retest. At the very least, I believe low delta long duration put options on this ETF to be a very cheap trap that others may suddenly decide they need in their portfolio.