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XLE

THE WEEK AHEAD: USO/XLE/XOP, EWW, XLUEXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS ORDERED BY IMPLIED VOLATILITY RANK: USO 67/167 EWW 57/73 XLE 57/87 XLU 57/53 GLD 51/32 EWZ 50/85 XOP 49/105 SMH 47/58 GDXJ 44/86 XLF 41/53 FXI 32/39 GDX 31/66 TLT 30/25 BROAD MARKET EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS ORDERED BY IMPLIED VOLATILITY RANK: IWM 59/60 EEM 46/49 SPY 47/58 QQQ 46/44 EFA 39/45 FUTURES ORDERED BY IMPLIED VOLATILITY RANK: /NG 72/67 /CL 67/157 /GC 51/31 /ZS 51/19 /ES 47/56 /SI 41/51 /ZW 40/32 /ZC 29/27 VIX/VIX DERIVATIVES VIX finished the week at 46.80 with the entire /VX term structure in backwardation. MUSINGS: Shown here is an EWW short put in the May cycle paying 1.00. Camped out at the 23 delta strike, it has a break even of 22.00 and has a 4.54% return on capital in a cash secured environment. Alternatively, the May 15th 22/29 short strangle is paying 1.54 at the mid. * * * Long /CL at $20/barrel via out-the-money short puts or short put verticals may turn out to be the "trade of the year" after (in my case) being taken to the wood shed playing it non-directionally/rangebound between 52 and 63. Only time will tell; it's come up substantially off its lows already with it remaining to be seen whether OPEC+ can get its shit together and quit with the self-harm. * * * In the IRA, it looks to be touch and go for acquiring stuff on my shopping list. (See Posts, below). I've stuck my lines in the water; the best I can hope for is to get some bites at April opex. If I don't get assigned, I'll re-up with a rung to replace any expiring worthless if the market stays down here. Simultaneously, I'm looking to exit my TLT position, which has a cost basis of below $110/share, thinking that the capital can be better deployed elsewhere, but don't want to do that if I don't pick any other dividend-generating underlyings to replace it. Looked at from that perspective, my "personal" yield on the TLT position in light of my particular cost basis is 2.98/$110 or about 2.71%, which isn't horrible.
AMEX:EWW
by NaughtyPines
2
THE WEEK AHEAD: CCL, XLU, XLE, SMH, TQQQ, /CLEARNINGS: CCL (67/284) (What?! 284% 30-day) announces earnings this coming week. Unless you've been under a rock the past several weeks, you'll know how hard it's been hammered with COVID-19 and can easily anticipate further hammering, both with earnings, forward guidance, and the potential reduction of its 2.00 annual dividend (12.86% yield as of Friday close). They have yet to announce a dividend cut, but cruise lines are also not part of the $2 trillion bailout package, so there is probably more pain ahead in the short to medium term, and a potential suspension or reduction the dividend payment will only add fuel to the fire. For those looking to bet on an eventual recovery, however, the May 17th 10 short put is paying 2.30 at the mid price as of Friday close with a resulting cost basis of 7.70 if assigned, a 53% discount over where the stock is currently trading. EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS ORDERED BY RANK XLU (67/57) XLE (67/99) SMH (67/72) USO (67/161) EWW (59/86) EWZ (59/95) GDXJ (59/1O2) GLD (58/35) XOP (49/115) SLV (48/63) FXI (44/49) GDX (41/78) TLT (34/28) BROAD MARKET EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS ORDERED BY RANK TQQQ (80/175) DIA (78/76) IWM (76/72) SPY (71/65) QQQ (71/55) EEM (73/61) EFA (53/50) FUTURES ORDERED BY RANK /NQ (74/72) /ES (71/66) /CL (58/34) /GC (58/34) /SI (48/60) /ZS (45/23) /ZW (36/36) /ZC (22/34) VIX/VIX DERIVATIVES VIX finished the week at 65.54 with the /VX futures term structure in backwardation. MUSINGS On Margin: Truth be told, I'm not doing a ton here besides either (a) waiting for assignment; or (b) making adjustments where doing so doesn't subject me to "call side whip" such that my put side headaches become call-side ones. And although the high volatility environment is great for premium selling, it does have one minor, pesky side effect that I may have mentioned before -- options liquidity hasn't been all that great, even in what are usually the most liquid underlyings. Additionally, I generally like to be managing the smallest number of crap piles at once as possible, and this closely correlated sell-off has resulted in a few that I'd like to clean up before potentially inheriting more. To a certain extent, one has to be fine with that; it is, after all, the challenging trades that make your life interesting. The IRA: As usual, the IRA's a patience game. Having stuck short puts out there in things on my shopping list (HYG, XLU, IYR, and EFA), the only thing to do here is wait until expiry, at which point I'll be assigned shares or the short puts will expire worthless. On the other end of the stick, I'm looking to dump pieces of my low-yielding TLT at or near all-time-highs and substantially up from my cost basis in those shares at or below 110, which is the last time I acquired shares. Unfortunately, I have been less than religious about keeping tracking of my cost basis of shares in the IRA, since the basic setup was that these were intended to generally be "never exit" or "never get called away" plays. However, I think U.S. treasuries have had a fairly good run, and there are probably better places to stick that capital. The /CL Chart: I've thrown up a monthly USOIL chart here to show how current prices in oil could be a multi-month, if not multi-year opportunity here to take a bullish assumption position in either /CL directly, USO, or one of the beaten-down oil exchange-traded fund sector exchange-traded funds (XOP, OIH, or XLE). With /CL implied/rank at 67/165, I've done some of that already with /CL out-of-the-money short puts, (See Posts Below), but this can also be done in USO more incrementally, since it's a much smaller instrument and has the added advantage of having .03 wide markets here. Alternatively, there is also the USO Zebra/Call Ratio Spread, about which I'll post separately ... .
TVC:USOIL
by NaughtyPines
THE WEEK AHEAD: A PREMIUM RICH MARKETOPTIONS LIQUID EARNINGS ANNOUNCEMENTS: MU (77/112) NKE (74/103) EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS ORDERED BY IMPLIED VOLATILITY RANK: EWZ (91/132) USO (89/210) XLU (84/76) GDXJ (82/141) XLE (77/109) EWW (76/105) SMH (73/105) TLT (71/47) XOP (63/154) SLV (73/79) GLD (63/37) FXI (61/63) GDX (57/106) BROAD MARKET ORDERED BY IMPLIED VOLATILITY RANK: IWM (76/71) EEM (74/73) SPY (73/66) QQQ (73/60) EFA (54/53) VIX/VIX DERIVATIVES VIX: 66.04 /VX APRIL: 62.00 /VX MAY: 56.95 /VX JUNE: 49.95 MUSINGS: On Margin: As you can see by the chart showing the top five or so exchange-traded funds having the highest implied volatility ranks, this is largely a closely correlated sell-off. Because of this, I'm somewhat hesitant to pile into a bunch of nondirectional stuff simultaneously, if at all. If we get relief from the selling, these very same instruments could whip back to the call side in closely correlated fashion, leaving me with a bunch of tested call side; whereas now I'm just put side tested (and how). Naturally, this means I have to put up with being far more directional than I would ordinarily be, but these things happen and being patient and mechanical with how you manage current positions will be more productive in the long-term than going bonkers here and bailing out of everything in panic. Unfortunately, this likely means that I will be taking on far more shares of stock than I ordinarily like to hold on margin and then reducing cost basis over time via covered call. I'm always prepared for that, but being in stock on margin isn't buying power efficient, although you always have to plan somewhat for that possibility and go with the flow if taking on shares is really the best way to work yourself out of the trade. In The IRA: As pure luck would have it, leaving my SPY position monied throughout this nonsense (as well as erecting some additional call diagonals at market highs as delta cutters) has served me well. This wasn't particularly prescient or a stroke of genius; I was just doing what I felt I had to do to protect the largest element of my retirement portfolio at a point at which it made the most sense to do that and nothing else. Anyone else who did that and got lucky isn't a guru. No one saw this crap coming, and if they're saying they're a genius, well, I say you're free to call bullshit. Is this an opportunity to pick up things on your shopping list? Maybe. I've taken this opportunity to ladder some out-of-the-money short puts out in a few things that I've had on that list for ages -- XLU, IYR, EFA, and HYG; all dividend generators which have been just far too pricey to deploy the frustratingly large bit of dry powder I've had sitting on the sidelines for ages as the market inexplicably ground up to more and more ridiculous valuations. Will I get in at the best possible prices? The jury's out. I will be getting in far lower than at the market highs we saw just a few weeks ago (assuming price stays below the rungs of my ladders) and won't let anyone talk me out of the proposition that lower is always better in your retirement account even if I don't hit the lows perfectly. The basic strategy here, after all, isn't largely about share price; it's about assembling a portfolio that will pay out dividends regardless of growth and in which you can reduce cost basis over time via short call. It's three-legged: dividends, short call premium, and (if it happens) growth. If the grand arc of time has taught us anything, it's that growth may be an "average given" over the entire life of the market, but may not be over shorter time frames.
AMEX:EWZ
by NaughtyPines
5
THE WEEK AHEAD: ADBE, ORCL EARNINGS; GDX/GDXJ, USO/XOP/XLE, EWZEARNINGS: ADBE (89/65) and ORCL (77/60) both announce earnings on Thursday after market close and have the metrics I look for in earnings-related volatility contraction plays (>70% rank; >50% 30-day implied). Pictured here: a short strangle paying 11.65 at the mid price camped out around the 16 delta. Its defined risk counterpart: the 265/275/395/405 ten-wide iron condor pays 2.46. Off hours markets are showing wide, so look to price setups out during the regular session. The delta neutral ORCL April 17th 40/55 short strangle pays 1.45. EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS WITH EXPIRY IN WHICH THE AT-THE-MONEY SHORT STRADDLE PAYS >10% OF THE STOCK PRICE: GDX (99/51), April USO (97/66), April GDXJ (96/58), April XLE (97/75), April EWZ (92/52), April XOP (92/51), April TLT (91/41), May EWW (91/48), April XLU (90/43), June SMH (84/56), April FXI (65/33), June BROAD MARKET WITH EXPIRY IN WHICH THE AT-THE-MONEY SHORT STRADDLE PAYS >10% OF THE STOCK PRICE: EFA (87/37), June QQQ (83/43), April IWM (82/46), May SPY (78/41), May EEM (70/37), June FUTURES: /CL (97/65) /GC (84/25) /SI (70/30) /NG (65/48) /ZS (30/19) /ZC (21/22) /ZW (13/27) VIX/VIX DERIVATIVES: VIX finished the week at 41.94, so it has been a rough ride for shorters who were in plays before this volatility expansion (points to self). The basic watch word is "patience"; volatility will abate at some point in time ... .
NASDAQ:ADBE
by NaughtyPines
THE WEEK AHEAD: TGT EARNINGS; XLE, XOP, EEM PREMIUM SELLINGEARNINGS: TGT (93/52) and COST (91/44) announce earnings next week, with a directionally neutral TGT short strangle shown here paying 3.87 at the mid price, delta/theta 1.01/9.64. EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS ORDERED BY RANK AND SHOWING THE FIRST EXPIRY IN WHICH THE AT-THE-MONEY SHORT STRADDLE PAYS GREATER THAN 10% OF THE STOCK PRICE: XLE (99/55), April XOP (97/79), April XMH (95/54), April FXI (95/40), May GDXJ (95/50), April EWW (95/43), April USO (91/48), April EWZ (90/48), April GDX (89/46), April XLU (88/26), June BROAD MARKET ORDERED BY RANK AND SHOWING THE FIRST EXPIRY IN WHICH THE AT-THE-MONEY SHORT STRADDLE PAYS GREATER THAN 10% OF THE STOCK PRICE: EFA (100/38), June EEM (95/44), April IWM (88/42), April QQQ (83/47), April SPY (80/42), May FUTURES ORDERED BY RANK: /GC (100/20) /ES (113/40) /CL (100/51) /ZC (68/18) /SI (68/28) /NG (67/49) /ZW (11/28) VIX/VIX DERIVATES: VIX finished the week at a whopping 40.11 with the /VX term structure in backwardation, so it's an opportunity to add short call verticals or long put verticals in VXX and UVXY if you haven't already done so. For existing spreads (I've got a few), I'll be looking to play the elevator up/down game, rolling the long call aspect of my VXX credit spreads up to lock in profit on that side of the trade and improve my break even. In all likelihood, these will eventually require rolling out for duration come April opex due to the location of the short leg, but I'm fine with that. Pops can happen while you have these on, and you just need to be patient and make the best of them ... . GENERAL MUSINGS: For people who are into selling premium and who had large amounts of cash sitting on the sidelines, this is your "kid in a candy store" moment. Non-single name premium selling has finally become productive in that 45 day wheel house, even in broad market, where we were looking at going grotesquely long in duration last week to get paid. For those who had longer-dated premium selling setups on before this volatility expansion (points at self), well, I feel your pain. Be patient and mechanical, and some of that pain will inevitably give way to a volatility contraction going forward.
NYSE:TGT
by NaughtyPines
1
XLE - Short - pain continuationHi everyone, today I am reviewing. the energy index XLE on the weekly time frame. XLE seems to be following a 44 week cycle. XLE made a triple top formation from beginning of 2018 till about 2018 November ever since then it has got into a declining phase, consistently making lower highs and even lower lows. Price has recently breached the previous lows made in the end of Dec 2019, its probably confirmed my projections for a sustained downtrend. We can see that the downward trend line that we have drawn is now acting as a resistance of a barrier for price to breach. We can see the nuances of principles of summation as descibed by the legendary JM Hursts works in play. This we can be by price action, given the phases in which each of the short term, intermediate and long term cycle (indicated by green, orange and yellow colours). I maintain my short position on this ETF any upside a chance to go short. Look out for important resistance zones on daily charts to find an entry to go short. If you like what you see, please share thumbs up.
AMEX:XLEShort
by LoveForCharts
AAPL: Puts might pay off...I'm posting this one as an update to my broad stock positions outlook. For now I've moved to cash in all positions, and bought some energy, gold/mining/oil and added to my #Bitcoin holdings with proceeds. I also have some bearish bets in #AAPL, might be a good idea to reduce risk. My bullish posts for stocks might end up resulting in a failed signal, or maybe they endure a large drop before going back up over time. Be safe out there! Cheers, Ivan Labrie.
NASDAQ:AAPLShort
by IvanLabrie
XLE Ascending Triangle to be formed While the horizontal line continues to be drawn along the swing highs, and a rising trendline to be drawn along the swing lows, XLE is forming the ascending triangle pattern as a bullish information. The target could be taken at the horizontal line which also considered a resistance and a stop loss could typically be placed just outside the pattern on the lower band which is at roughly 58-59 levels. On the fundamental side, here comes the news as Supply threats push oil prices higher. Crude futures surged as much as 1.7% overnight amid threats to supply, but have now pared some gains, up 0.5% to $58.86/bbl. Forces loyal to Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar blocked exports at ports under his control, causing the National Oil Corp. to declare force majeure, which can allow Libya to legally suspend delivery contracts. Iraq also temporarily stopped work on an oil field on Sunday and supply from a second production site is at risk amid widespread protests. Besides , during 1/2 through 1/13 sessions, there were some bullish bets detected on the options chain that total valued around 1.32 million long calls strike from 61.21 to 65.21 expiring in Feb, March and Jun.
AMEX:XLELong
by Hunt-orbe-Hunted
1
THE END of the FOSSIL FUEL AGE?[MULTI-FACTOR Simple Crude Guide]Brief analysis on crude in 3 bullet points(chart will be updated continuously) ; Series on Commodities - 21st of November I do realize most people trade oil on daily frames. Oil prices heavily impact global growth, and this is the primary purpose of this chart. It's a necessity and it's essential to know the macro trend, even in trading. Before I get into the chart technicals, these are the few fundamental bullet points analysing demand and price action for the next 10 years: 1. Crude is expected to have an average drop of approximately 10% annually in demand going forward to 2025 (by multiple sources). This is nothing unexpected. Demand from emerging economies is still growing (India), however, more and more economies that are currently heavily dependant on crude are looking for alternatives (China). Overall, this should have quite a negative effect on crude . This can easily be seen by the performance of the whole energy sector(XLE): 2. Currently we are in the late cycle (Ref #1, Fed rates analysis) , and since the demand for oil is heavily cyclical, I am expecting that based on these current economic conditions- the global economy should linger until the 2020 elections, before something major occurs(arrows guidance on the chart). This is my investing tree for oil for the next 5 years for oil : ibb.co Geopolitical risks are included in the chart. 3. In terms of the supply, OPEC is certainly weakening. This implies that these countries have an incentive to push supply even further, i.e 2014. Moreover, crude production in the US has doubled. On the other hand, the rise of renewables as one of the outcomes of the last recession has been exponential. Nevertheless, we'll get to a point when lithium will certainly become too expensive . That's just how cycles work. My hope is that as the outcome of the next cyclical downturn, we will start focusing on nuclear energy, and develop safe and cost effective models (referencing small modular reactors here-SMR's) . Additionally, further enhancing the efficiency and use of other biofuels should be a must. To wrap up this oil investing guidance, it should be quite simply, since oil's correlation to the cycle historically is extremely high(depending on the cycle ~70%). There's evidence this has somewhat changed recently, perhaps because of the rise of renewables. The ESG trend should continue to grow exponentially . Nevertheless, oil consumption will never completely phase-out. The technical side of the chart is well labelled, it should follow the pitchfork, this is one of the better ones I've drawn so far. We are currently in a rising wedge, the outcome of the 2020 election should give a clue of the direction we're going. Currently it's neutral, leaning bullish. For the past 120 years, oil prices have behaved in ~29 year cycles, which would give us the bottom of the cycle at around ~2025. -Step_ahead_ofthemarket- ________________________________________________________________________________________ >>I do not share my ideas for the likes or the views. This channel is only dedicated to well informed research and other noteworthy and interesting market stories.>> However, if you'd like to support me and get informed in the greatest of details, every thumbs up and follow is greatly appreciated ! References and Disclosure 1. FED rates Supercycle : Disclosure : This is just an opinion, you decide what to do with your own money. For any further references or use of my content for private or corporate purposes- contact me through any of my social media channels.
FX:USOILShort
by step_ahead_ofthemarket
5