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Options Strategy for Volatile market.

26 February 2010 950 views 8 Comments

Over the last two years, NIFTY has shown high degree of volatility. Nifty fell very sharply in 2009 touching as low as 2539 and then rebound back to 5310 level. This continued setting of uncertainty is posing discomfort for every style of investor. Being right is already difficult enough, but the cost of being wrong can be so much higher with high degree of volatility in the market.

Trading in options has become difficult for retail traders and small investors who are ignorant of option strategies  in high volatile market.  For instance, NIFTY 5100, 5200, 5300 long call in March series have fallen today even when NIFTY is up 1.29% and all NIFTY put options have fallen very sharply. The option trading call that was recommended by many analysts and brokers yesterday was to buy 4600 put and 5200 call with assumption that one can gain on volatile move on either side. Yesterday’s closing price for NIFTY 4600 put was 63.05 and NIFTY 5200 call was Rs.31.  Net investment of Rs.4700. Current value of combined NIFTY 4600 put and NIFTY 5200 call is Rs. 2650, loss of Rs.2050 in one day. Here is a modified option strategy which works best in volatile market.

The best method to trade in this kind of volatile market is short straddle with hedging.

Option Feb 25, 2010 Feb 26, 2010 Price change.
Short 4900 call 130.40 140 -9.6
Short 4900 put 168.90 105.0 63.9
Long 5200 call 31 24.90 -6.1
Long 4600 put 63.05 28.10 -34.95

Total profit Rs.660

Many might wonder that the profit was too less, but one should appreciate the gain this trade has made even in volatile market.  Buying only call or put is just a speculation and speculation seldom works in stock-market. Calculated risk management is the key factor in trading options. A smart option trader never buys just calls or put. He takes calculated risk and is prepared for any move which market makes.  Calculate your risk before trading options. For instance, long call or put has premium risk, which means whole premium can be wiped if the market moves in opposite direction from the expected direction.

Narendar Rathod, Options Strategist, www.AssuredGain.com

Options Disclaimer: Options trading involves high risk and you can lose a lot of money. Investing in options involves high risk and may not be suitable for everyone. No statement in this blog should be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell a security or to provide investment advice.

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8 Comments »

  • Sandew said:

    how about short itm 4700 Ce, short itm 5100 Pe AND hedge with otm 5200 Ce and otm 4600 Pe. Yr comments, please

  • Narendar (author) said:

    Hi Sandew, short 4700 CE and 5100 pe is good strategy, one could have made Rs.290 as profit.

  • Rajandran R said:

    Naren Sir,
    Nifty had currently stucked between 4811-4991 on weekly basis. And the current trend is biased little upwards with a range bound scenario between 4800-5050. A short strangle could be a best strategy in such a volatile market

  • Narendar (author) said:

    Well said Rajendran! Short strangle of 4800 PE @70.40 and and 5100 CE @49.60 and hedging with long 5300 CE @Rs.12 and long 4500 PE @Rs.18, can give Rs.3980 if nifty is struck between 4800 and 5100.

  • Sandew said:

    I wish to revise my earlier comment,as on second look is not a very nice strategy – and neither is the one suggested in the forum too attractive either. Shorting ATM 4900 Ce and Pe and hedging with otm 5200 Ce and 4600 Pe has a risk reward ratio which is not healthy. Break even are at 4710 and at 5090, with max profit at 4920 of Rs 172. Loss of Rs 108 beyond teh two breakeven points. are we expecting expiry between 4710 and 5090, will then only this strategy makes sense, and we block 2 nifty margins too. Response from writer please ASAP, RSVP.

  • Narendar (author) said:

    Sandew,this is partly-positional trade, one should not wait till expiry, can book profit in the interim, wise way to trade options is to book profit within a week or so and exit and initiate another trade. I am still holding this position and expect to book profit next week. Experience in trading options can help one in choosing right strike price, entry rate and exit rate.

  • nanavati said:

    sir can u pls. guide me on my comments in charts window/menu

  • Narendar (author) said:

    Update on Short strangle of 4800 PE @70.40 and and 5100 CE @49.60 and hedging with long 5300 CE @Rs.12 and long 4500 PE @Rs.18. EOD rates as of 02/03/10 are 4800 pe 30.90, 5100 CE 67.05, 5300 CE 14.95 4500 PE 7.4. Profit of Rs.720 in just one trading day.

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