Stocks rise after ugly month

Oil drops on U.S. crude stock increase, weak demand

Sector Snap: Analyst says steel prices yet to peak

A terrible June finally ends

RTP 495.00 +37.31 +8.15%

BIDU:
SLD to Open 1 BDU SZ BDU Jul $300 PUT Executed $11.50
BOT to Open 1 BDU SY BDU Jul $290 PUT Executed $9.50

ISRG:
SLD to Close 1 AXV SU AXV Jul $270 PUT Executed $9.60

ISRG:
BOT to Close 1 AXVSX AXV Jul $260 PUT Executed $4.80

CPO:
SLD to Close 3 CPOGJ CPO Jul $50 CALL Executed $1.50

Stocks plunge on GM, tech, financials

Citigroup may write down $9 billion in Q2: Goldman Sachs

Fed's Kohn: central banks must beware inflation

Rite Aid shares fall on 1st-quarter loss

Dow off 358 as crude tops $140

RIMM 123.46 -18.88 -13.26%
ISRG 270.78 -8.07 -2.89%
GOOG 528.82 -22.18 -4.03%
AGU 103.92 -3.14 -2.93%
BIDU 314.76 -17.33 -5.22%
MA 275.73 -14.06 -4.85%
AAPL 168.26 -9.13 -5.15%
FSLR 273.27 -16.86 -5.81%
GS 176.26 -7.39 -4.02%
SKF 147.10 +10.20 +7.45%
APA 134.40 +1.74 +1.31%

Fed leaves key rates unchanged

Stocks rise as the central banks signals that fixing a slowing economy is Job 1. Crude oil falls on a surprising supply boost. New home sales are down from April and off 40% from a year ago. Research In Motion earnings are due after the close.

AAPL 177.53 +4.28 +2.47%
BIDU 332.00 +25.28 +8.24%
GOOG 550.40 +8.10 +1.49%
MA 288.59 +8.22 +2.93%

BNI:
BOT to Open 7 BNISR BNI Jul $90 PUT Executed $0.65

ISRG:
SLD to Open 1 AXVSX AXV Jul $260 PUT Executed $4.80

Oil takes toll across the economy

UPS delivers a grim forecast, United will lay off 950 pilots, and Dow Chemical announces another price increase, all because of soaring fuel costs. A report on consumer confidence hits a record low.

Consumer confidence tumbles in June

UPS shares at 4 1/2-year low after profit warning

Home prices extend record slide in April: S&P

EU warns of inflation challenge in rich nations

Profits seen off more than 10 percent: report

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. corporate profit outlook is deteriorating rapidly, with S&P 500 earnings for the second quarter now seen falling at a double-digit pace from a year earlier, according to Thomson Reuters Proprietary Research released on Tuesday.

BIDU 306.44 -12.42 -3.90%
ISRG 275.07 -4.86 -1.74%
APA 137.32 -6.61 -4.59%
AGU 106.26 -6.19 -5.50%
RIMM 139.51 -3.55 -2.48%

Stocks slip as oil rallies above $136

OIH 224.21 +10.33 +4.83%
POT 236.25 +6.16 +2.68%
CPO 50.75 +7.85 +18.30%
ISRG 279.93 -2.58 -0.91%
APA 143.93 +7.00 +5.11%
FSLR 288.00 +19.78 +7.37%

ISRG:
BOT to Open 1 AXVSU AXV Jul $270 PUT Executed $7.00

PTR:
SLD to Close 3 PTRGI PTR Jul $145 CALL Executed $2.20

CPO:
BOT to Open 3 CPOGJ CPO Jul $50 CALL Executed $2.20

why did nt I take profits?

I have been wondering as for what happened to me the last two consecutive trades? why did nt I take profits that I have been waiting for and wishing for?

I saw a big jump (gain) in my account, the type of jump I would love, and would let me stop trading for a while, if only I was able to pull the trigger and take the gains....

It has been a consistent pattern for me of being unable to act in this situation?

Last couple of trades turned out really good for me (for a day before they turned around) but I was unable to sell on time ... even though my inner feelings tell me its time to sell.. its time to act... I still don't?

It started like this; first I wish/dream and hope to have (lets say) 50% gain on a trade... then I wait and wait (painfully) and once I do get the gains I am unable to take profits? .. as if at that moment my dreams changed!

There has been at least two consecutive trades recently when this happened .... the day before I am wishing for the outcome (desperately), the next day I do get my wish (it does happen!) ... and I change my mind? ...I just simply don't act! ... the gain goes away... the stock moves back... I regret ... get unhappy and angry at myself...

I believe these are the reasons for this to happen:

1. My priorities (thinking, wishes) change from the day before to the next day. Once I do see the gains (or the outcome) I have been wishing for ... my thinking and wishes change to something else. If yesterday I was hoping for a 30% GAIN now I see a 40% GAIN and I think I can do a 100% GAIN and hence do not accept the 30%.
2. Once a big event (a jump in a stocks price) happen, I start believing in even a bigger events (bigger jumps in a price) to follow. My emotions get disrupted and I no longer feel the same way as I felt the day before (or before the price move).
3. As if my brain starts spinning, along with the stocks movement, and is unable to stop spinning (or may be start spinning in the opposite direction) once the stock stops its movement or starts movement in reverses direction.

RTP:
SLD to Open 3 PTRFI PTR Jun $145 CALL Executed $1.15
BOT to Open 3 PTRGI PTR Jul $145 CALL Executed $6.50

GOOG:
SLD to Close 1 GOORP GOO Jun $580 PUT Executed $22.00

Two former Bear Stearns managers arrested: report

Paulson to push for oversight reforms: reports

Crude falls under $132, lifts bulls

China to raise gasoline, diesel prices 18 percent: sources

PTR 140.49 +5.96 +4.43%
GOOG 560.20 -2.18 -0.39%
AGU 108.42 -1.58 -1.44%
POT 233.01 -4.73 -1.99%

GOOG:
BOT to Open 1 GOORP GOO Jun $580 PUT Executed $19.00

AGU:
SLD to Close 1 AGUFT AGU Jun $100 CALL Executed $10.00

Dow off 109 as financial stocks slump

Goldman Sachs' decent earnings report fails to excite investors. Regional banks sag on fear they' need to raise billions in new capital. Housing starts fall again. Crude oil falls slightly to $134. Retail stocks fall despite Best Buy's solid report.

Goldman profit falls as markets slump

Producer prices rose 1.4 pct in May, core slows

Optimism about tech spending lifts Nasdaq

Energy prices fuel US-China strains

AGU 110.99 +5.22 +4.94%
AAPL 181.43 +4.59 +2.60%

GOOG:
SLD to Close 2 GOPFQ GOP Jun $570 CALL Executed $7.00
BOT to Close 2 GOPFZ GOP Jun $560 CALL Executed $14.00

AGU:
SLD to Close 1 AGUFT AGU Jun $100 CALL Executed $10.50
BOT to Close 1 AGUFR AGU Jun $90 CALL Executed $20.70
BOT to Close 1 AGUFR AGU Jun $90 CALL Executed $21.00

FSLR:
SLD to Close 1 HJQRW HJQ Jun $240 PUT Executed $0.40

GOOG: (Bear Spread)
SLD to Open 2 GOPFZ GOP Jun $560 CALL Executed $16.70
BOT to Open 2 GOPFQ GOP Jun $570 CALL Executed $12.00

MER:
SLD to Close 2 MERMF MER Jan $30 PUT Executed $2.50

SDS:
SLD to Close 1 SDSIF SDS Sep $58 CALL Executed $5.50

RIMM 141.18 +8.22 +6.18%
ENER 77.48 +10.49 +15.66%
ISRG 280.13 -0.87 -0.31%
AAPL 176.82 +4.45 +2.58%
BIDU 334.85 +8.01 +2.45%
POT 231.21 +5.08 +2.25%


Research In Motion Ltd. shares rose Monday as some analysts predicted the Blackberry maker will report a strong first fiscal quarter next week, with one analyst boosting his share price target above $200.

Stocks try to rally as crude falls back

Policymakers declare inflation top threat

Lehman posts first loss as a public company

FSLR:
BOT to Close 1 HJQRX HJQ Jun $250 PUT Executed $5.70

AGU:
SLD to Open 2 AGUFR AGU Jun $90 CALL Executed $10.40
BOT to Open 1 AGUFT AGU Jun $100 CALL Executed $3.40
BOT to Close 1 AGUFS AGU Jun $95 CALL Executed $6.10

AAPL:
SLD to Close 10 APVFR APV Jun $190 CALL Executed $0.65
BOT to Close 10 APVFS APV Jun $195 CALL Executed $0.30

MA:
SLD to Close 1 MALFE MAL Jun $320 CALL Executed $0.40

AGU:
SLD to Open 1 AGUFS AGU Jun $95 CALL Executed $6.10
BOT to Open 1 AGUFT AGU Jun $100 CALL Executed $3.30

FSLR:
SLD to Close 1 HJQRW HJQ Jun $240 PUT Executed $4.50
SLD to Open 1 HJQRX HJQ Jun $250 PUT Executed $9.20

AAPL:
SLD to Open 10 APVFS APV Jun $195 CALL Executed $1.02

Fed Beige Book: some higher costs passed on

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. businesses were able to raise prices for consumers in some areas even as the economy weakened, the Federal Reserve said in a report on Wednesday showing higher energy and commodity prices are causing inflation pressures.

Market ends mostly lower on rate-hike concern; Dow up

Fed's Kohn says risks of inflation psychology higher

Home price drop means $4 trillion in lost capital 6/11/2008 2:43 PM

Crude jumps to $136; stocks dive

FSLR 279.21 -6.84 -2.39%
BIDU 318.98 -7.36 -2.26%
AAPL 180.81 -4.83 -2.60%
MA 279.21 -6.84 -2.39%
GOOG 545.20 -8.97 -1.62%
SKF 131.90 +7.37 +5.92%
RIMM 131.79 -3.16 -2.34%

FSLR:
SLD to Close 6 HJQRW HJQ Jun $240 PUT Executed $10.50
BOT to Close 2 HJQRF HJQ Jun $230 PUT Executed $7.30
BOT to Close 1 HJQRF HJQ Jun $230 PUT Executed $8.00
BOT to Close 3 HJQRF HJQ Jun $230 PUT Executed $8.10

BOT to Open 2 HJQRW HJQ Jun $240 PUT Executed $11.50

AAPL:
BOT to Close 10 APVFS APV Jun $195 CALL Executed $1.78

ISRG:
SLD to Close 1 AXVRV AXV Jun $280 PUT Executed $19.00

Fed: No recession for now

U.S. slowdown to be long, but no recession: survey

Gasoline to peak at $4.15/gallon in August

Trade gaps widens in April as oil prices surge

Stocks break even, and that's a win

The markets withstand rising interest rates and a higher dollar and selling in Europe and Asia. A big drop in crude oil to $131 hits energy stocks. Coca-Cola rises on an upgrade. Corn prices jump after the government says the 2008 crop could fall 10%

FSLR 245.15 +0.39 +0.16%
AAPL 185.64 +4.03 +2.22%
MA 286.05 -5.35 -1.84%
RTP 443.80 -21.56 -4.63%

the feeling of regret and frustration...

usually I will wait a long time for a trade to mature and go my way and when it does... I fail to execute... some strange feelings overcomes me at that moment ...

the opportunity arrives... I get the gains (as I did today) ... something I had (almost) dream about of happening... a gain like this....

After wishing/waiting and working on the trade... I did get my results..

I simply did not take profits? missing on the opportunity that may take a long time to come by again.

I felt really excited (happy) at that moment ... I kept looking at the account... increasing,,, and then as I watched in dispare the account moving back down... the gains disappearing?

Only if I could have listened to my inner deeper feelings and act immediately... I would succeed.

Later I feel regret and even anger at myself for not (selling my calls/puts and) taking profits when the target was hit.... I feel frustrated and anxious as I let go of my gains...

It really felt good at that moment, as I saw the account moving higher... but that was all (I took from it) a happy feeling for 10 minutes of the day...

now i regret not executing and acting ....

there seems to be a pattern I follow... feel delighted and happy when the trade is doing well... expect it to keep moving high and high ... waiting and enjoying the moment ... not taking profit...

Then suddenly the trade reverses... I see my gains disappear... I feel regret and frustration... almost angry at myself for not taking profits.. at the right moment...

FSLR:
SLD to Open 6 HJQRF HJQ Jun $230 PUT Executed $6.30

AAPL:
SLD to Open 10 APVFS APV Jun $195 CALL Executed $0.90
BOT to Open 10 APVFR APV Jun $190 CALL Executed $3.00
SLD to Close 5 APVFR APV Jun $190 CALL Executed $2.80
BOT to Close 5 APVFQ APV Jun $185 CALL Executed $5.00

Lehman says it lost $2.8 billion

Oil seen hitting $150 this summer: Goldman analyst

April pending home sales rise as prices slide

Lehman loss, Apple offset falling oil

Tech shares and the S&P 500 fall back after Lehman Bros. says it expects a $2.8 second-quarter loss and will raise $6 billion in new capital. Crude falls as the gasoline nationally tops $4 a gallon. Apple falls on fears its new iPhone faces delays.

Apple introduces "zippy" iPhone, slashes price

FSLR 244.92 -6.77 -2.69%
ISRG 274.85 -6.06 -2.16%
AAPL 180.76 -4.88 -2.63%
GOOG 557.49 -9.51 -1.68%
BIDU 331.33 -13.71 -3.97%
CWEI 108.53 +4.19 +4.02%
RIMM 134.08 +2.67 +2.03%

ISRG
BOT to Open 1 AXVRV AXV Jun $280 PUT Executed $9.00

AAPL:
SLD to Open 5 APVFQ APV Jun $185 CALL Executed $8.20

FSLR:
BOT to Open 3 HJQRW HJQ Jun $240 PUT Executed $6.30
BOT to Close 3 HJQRF HJQ Jun $230 PUT Executed $4.00

Jobless rate leaps to 3-1/2 year high in May

Oil jumps over $6 as dollar weakens

Fed's Bullard: Fed must tackle inflation this year

Dow plunges as crude nears $137

Crude hits new highs as the dollar declines, battering almost all stocks. The Labor Department says the economy lost 49,000 jobs in May; unemployment spikes to 5.5%. The Fed approves Bank of America's deal to buy Countrywide.

Oil rises jump more than $10 to new record high

GOOG 567.00 -19.30 -3.29%
FSLR 251.69 -4.31 -1.68%

ISRG 280.91 -10.50 -3.60%

BIDU 345.04 -16.77 -4.64%

MA 295.73 -10.43 -3.41%

AAPL 185.64 -3.79 -2.00%

RIMM 131.41 -4.18 -3.08%

V 83.65 -3.59 -4.12%

When a stock is moving up (erratically):

Buy a call of a lower strike price (e.g., 24) and sell a call of a higher strike price (e.g., 28) of the same expiration date.

Explanation: if the stock moves higher from 24 - 30 the 28 call will not appreciate as much as
the 24 call. If the stock moves lower, the call you are long will not loose value as much as the call you are short thus you can cover the short call at a lower price.

When a stock is moving lower (erratically):

Buy a put of a higher strike price (e.g., 28) and sell a put of a lower strike price (e.g., 24) of the same expiration date.

Explanation: if the stock moves lower from 30 - 24 the 24 put will not appreciate as much as
the 28 put. If the stock moves higher, the put you are long will not loose value as much as the put you are long, thus you can cover the short put at a lower price.

Case in point (FSLR): I believe the stcok will move down (erratically)

BOT to Open 3 Jun $240 put Executed $10.00
SLD to Open 3 Jun $230 put Executed $8.10

Current price of FSLR = $256

Lets say if it moves to $245 the $240 put will be worth $4 and the $230 put be worth $0. So the profit = $2

FSLR:
SLD to Open 3 HJQRF HJQ Jun $230 PUT Executed $8.10

AAPL:
BOT to Open 5 APVFR APV Jun $190 CALL Executed $5.70

MA:
BOT to Close 1 MAL FC MAL Jun $310 CALL Market Executed $7.30

Wal-Mart sales give Wall St. a boost

Oil jumps $4 as dollar slides

Retailers report May results above expectations

FSLR 256.00 +13.12 +5.40%
AAPL 189.43 +4.24 +2.29%
POT 218.85 +10.47 +5.02%
GOOG 586.30 +14.08 +2.46%
GS 176.60 +4.50 +2.61%
BIDU 361.81 +17.29 +5.02%
RTP 475.17 +13.42 +2.91%
MA 306.16 +8.76 +2.95%

POT 208.38 -3.11 -1.47%
MA 297.40 -10.00 -3.25%
FSLR 242.88 -14.44 -5.61%
RTP 461.75 -15.25 -3.20%
ISRG 286.07 +2.32 +0.82%
GOOG 572.22 +4.92 +0.87%

Oil falls to $122; markets break even

Bernanke says U.S. inflation too high

FSLR Jun 2008 240 put
HJQ RW BOT to Open 3 Limit $10.00 Executed $10.00



MA Jun 2008 320 call
MAL FE SLD to Close 3 Limit $2.95 Executed $2.95
MAL FE BOT to Open 1 Limit $3.40 Executed $3.40

MA Jun 2008 310 call
MAL FC SLD to Open 1 Limit $5.40 Executed $5.40

buying calls when the stock is down

These days, I am trying somewhat of a contrarian strategy, i.e., buy calls/puts when they become cheaper, regardless of the movement of the (underlying) stock.

few days ago, I bought FSLR puts when the stock was (up almost $20 that day).

Since I have been observating FSLR's movements, moving up and down very erratically each day and I had tried to stay on the short side of this stock for a long time. Always, just buying puts and keep loosing, as the stock will move down one day and more down the next day but then suddenly it would jump higher the next day. As if someone is deliberately trying to shakeout the put holders. That up day would make me so scared of loosing it all that I would immediately sell. But the day I tried the inverse strategy, it really worked well, it made a turning point for my trading as well.

Today I am testing the same strategy with MA (master card). I bought calls while the stock was down -$10. Though it may be wrong to apply something that worked for FSLR to another stock.

There was also another factor in buying calls on MA today; early morning MA was down $10 but when I checked the options, strangely, they were all high, contrary to what happens in most other stocks. I thought may be someone knows something. The stock may be coming back up.
With this rationale, I bought the 3 calls.

The stock has not come up, has moved down and ending -$13 for the day. But since I am holding the position until next day, it will be interesting to see how the stock moves tomorrow.

ISRG Jun $290 PUT
SLD to Close 4 AXVRZ Limit $14.00 Executed $14.00

MA Jun $320 CALL
BOT to Open 3 MALFE Limit $6.40 Executed $6.40

Anxiety after a winning trade

winning trades, for me, are accompanied immediate uneasy feelings?!

I am waiting for a trade to go my way; hoping and wishing and once it does happen, I start feeling uneasy almost sad...

Today I was wishing, hoping, praying that my puts go up to $12, that would be so nice I thought... after that did happen and I sold the puts... I felt somewhat uneasy and may be sad even?!

I felt like being stuck in very slow moving traffic... thinking; this is a very slow process.. it will take me forever before I can make some considerable progress... I kept calculating in my brain how long it will take me at this rate to make such and such amount ...

after the trade was over I felt as if the excitement is over ... and I have nothing exciting to look forward to?

So to get that feeling of excitement back (I guess) I started looking for another trade and even taking higher risk... which can bring me more excitement...

I don't really, know if I care about the money I make from these trades?

I feel like I am missing out..

Recently I have made a few successful trades which turned around my account from -ve to +ve .... this after I had a loosing streak for few weeks .... after taking a break, has turned into a winning streak.

I don't know how did it happen?

A few weeks ago every trade I made seems to have lost money... until I lost all of the amount I had for trading. But once the money was gone, I wired some more money (which took about 15 days) hence gave me a break (or forced me to take a break)... since I was unable to stop until the money was all finished!

during the break... I felt desperate... I wanted to trade...

I called the brokerage twice asking them if I could start trading early .... I felt like I was missing out on something, I thought, I could really make some money back ....

Those few successful trades turned around the loosing streak I was in...

So i did nt trade from 5/02 - 5/20, afterwards, my trades became profitable? Either I had more capital and could trade more or the mkt just changed (became more trending?) ...

FSLR:
HJQ RX SLD to Close 3 Limit $12.00 Executed $12.00

MA:
MAL RA SLD to Close 1 Limit $6.50 Executed $6.50


Put Intuitive Surgical $290 Exp 06/21/08
AXV RZ BOT to Open 4 Limit $11.00 Executed $11.00

Wachovia ousts CEO Thompson after losses mount

Wachovia Corp ousted its chief executive, sending the bank's shares lower on speculation that loan losses tied to the purchase of a big mortgage lender could widen. 6/2/2008 3:43 PM

Bank downgrades, Wachovia ouster rocks markets

Credit concerns flare up, sending stocks lower

ISRG 288.58 -5.01 -1.71%
FSLR 255.96 -11.58 -4.33%
GOOG 575.00 -10.80 -1.84%
BIDU 337.75 -7.31 -2.12%