The biotech sector may be a big winner into the year’s endThe $XBI has been one of the worst performing ETFs this year as the biotech sector faced important headwinds coming from Washington. A cap on prices has been since dropped, which is extremely beneficial for the long term. In addition, from a historical perspective, November and December are this ETF’s strongest months. The candidates for the Ash conference of biotechs will be announced this week which may prove to be yet another positive catalyst. We are long some $XBI calls for January and continue to hold our small bio spec play, $MBIO.
XBI
Closing (IRA): XBI November 19th 110 Short Puts... for a .13/contract debit.
Comments: Opened these for 1.71 credit/contract. (See Post Below). Closing here for .13 results in a realized gain of 1.58 ($158) per contract. Although this remains somewhat weak here, implied volatility isn't the greatest at around 28%, so decided not to roll it out; my preference is for weakness plus implied volatility in >35% in exchange-traded funds to take bullish assumption shots.
XBI will complete upwards 26 period than go up 1 or 2 cyclesXBI (Small Cap Biotech Index) is due for 2 or 3 upwards movements (includes current wave). XBI moves in cycles of 2 or 3 (or 4 when it became overextended) and in between we have a 1, 1 pattern (it takes a break) where it goes up 1 sideways / 1 down, or 1 up / 1 down.
I predict it will complete the upwards 26 period and then go upwards for 1 or 2 more 26 candle periods (daily timeframe).
The pattern doesn't say if it is going to move for 2 or 3 but it shows that it can be one or the other.
In addition, I factor the current bullish signs for XBI which helps to support this theory.
Note: The stock GH is included but hidden in order to allow me to show the higher pattern. It just a way to scale up the chart.
AXNX: Calls on IncontinencePromising biotech setup here, had a nice break of 70 recently and may be looking to go higher. Potentially risky if XBI rolls over but strong momentum here nonetheless. Good luck traders!
Should be scanning ETFsCome Monday going to look at a position in XBI (if it has not gone too far). Pulled back and spiked at the Weekly 50% Retracement that matches with prior price action. Stop needs to be just below the low of May 11th.
The industry for this ETF is Biotech. This should make Cathie Wood happy.
The Week Ahead: ARKK, ARKG, GDXJ, MJ, XBI, XLE, X, CLF, SAVE, FHere's where the premium was at as of Friday's close:
Broad Market Exchange-Traded Funds With 30-Day Implied >20%:
IWM (1/23)
Comments: I have quite a bit of IWM on here, but my order of preference is broad market, then sector, then single name, so am comfortable with adding if we get both weakness and a pop in volatility. IWM/RUT has been fairly rangebound, so it's worthwhile to pop open a chart and see where the bottom of the range is and where any puts you sell are relative to the range between 210 and 235.
Sector Exchange-Traded Funds With 30-Day Implied > 35%:
ARKK (31/45)
ARKG (18/41)
GDXJ (0/40)
MJ (7/40)
XBI (12/38)
XLE (2/36)
Comments: I've got ARKK, ARKG, and MJ July monthlies on, so I may look to add some GDXJ, even though its implied volatility is literally at the bottom of the 52-week range (which is still afflicted by the 2020 pandemic range, so implied volatility rank/percentile aren't all that helpful here), and it isn't exactly weak relative to where it's been. MJ and XBI are currently the most weak out of the group, so I'm personally leaning toward putting on some more XBI, having taken have a June trade last week.
Single Name With 30-Day >50% That Do Not Have Earnings Before Contract Expiry:
X (Steel) (9/74)
CLF (Basic Materials) (18/73)
SAVE (Airlines) (2/55)
F (Autos) (19/55)
OXY (Oil and Gas) (8/53)
SABR (Airlines; Technology) (25/51)
MRO (Oil and Gas) (0/50)
Comments: Given the slim pickings in the broad market and exchange-traded funds space, I've made a list of options highly liquid single name to potentially play while I wait for broad market or sector volatility to return. This list isn't exhaustive, and I've culled out a ton of meme names that have juicy implied volatility but are more likely to become a headache because they're (ironically) too volatile or they're in a space where they're more likely to blow up in my face (e.g., biopharma research and development, crypto).
Pictured here is an X July 16th 22 Short Put (20 delta), paying .74/contract as of Friday close, 3.48% ROC at max/27.6% annualized. As you can see, that play is somewhat close to price action of late, so I'd only put that play on if you're comfortable with potentially taking assignment at 22 and then wheeling it from there. Alternatively, opt for a setup that is consistent with any directional assumption you have as to where U.S. Steel goes from here and that takes advantage of the high implied here.
Closing (IRA): XBI June 18th 115 Short Put... for a .37/contract debit.
Comments: In for 1.50/contract (See Post Below), out for .37/contract here; 1.13 ($113) profit per contract with 21 days to go. It's still somewhat weak here, but implied volatility has crushed into sub-35, which is kind of my exchange-traded fund implied volatility cut-off.
Opening (IRA): XBI May 21st 120 Short Put... for a 2.17/contract credit.
Notes: 30-day at >35% at 40.1%. Selling the 16 delta here. 1.84% ROC at max as a function of notional risk. As usual, will take profit on approaching worthless or, if in the money at expiry, take assignment and sell call against.
long set upmassive support at 12. looks like a great r/r swing trade or hold for a potential break out over 30 $XBI