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Weekly Stock Market Commentary 4/4/14

By Lawrence G. McMillan

The broad stock market, as measured by the Standard & Poors 500 Index ($SPX) made new all-time intraday and closing highs on consecutive days this week.  That, coupled with some new buy signals from breadth makes our intermediate-term outlook bullish.

Countering the bullish case is the fact that the equity-only put- call ratios have stubbornly remained on sell signals, but this might be protective hedging activity.

The Option Strategist Newsletter Volume 23, No. 06 Preview

By Lawrence G. McMillan

This issue was published one day early, on Wednesday, March 26th. This is because of the AAPTA Conference in Austin (see page 10), to which I will be traveling on Thursday, March 27th (the usual publishing day).

Weekly Stock Market Commentary 3/27/14

By Lawrence G. McMillan

The Standard & Poors 500 Index ($SPX) has been bouncing around within a trading range for nearly a month now. There is resistance at 1880+ (the all-time highs) and there is support at 1840 (most recently tested a couple of weeks ago). There is validity to the theory that it is being wound up like a coiled spring, and could therefore explode with some force once the range's limits are broken.

Conflicting Signals: $VIX Spike Peak & Modified Bollinger Band

By Lawrence G. McMillan

Two weeks ago, as the market turned downward, a strong sell signal was generated by the “modified Bollinger Band” system.  Last week, when there was a strong reflex rally, we received a $VIX “spike peak” buy signal.  That system, too, is a powerful system usually.  So which one is right?  This article will explore the answer to that question.

The Construct of $VIX Futures

By Lawrence G. McMillan

We continue to get questions regarding why the $VIX futures are priced as they are, and how one should interpret that information.  This is a subject that we have discussed many times in the past, but it is probably worthwhile to review it again.

There are two significant pieces of data that one should always be aware of, when evaluating $VIX futures: 1) the relationship of the futures to $VIX itself,

Weekly Stock Market Commentary 3/21/14

By Lawrence G. McMillan

The market action in the last 10 days has been a complete whipsaw. Now, the chart of the Standard & Poors 500 Index ($SPX) shows the index to be in a trading range -- bounded by resistance at 1880+ (the all-time highs) and support at 1840 (last Friday's lows).

Equity-only put-call ratios remain on sell signals, even though the market has bounced back this week.

The Option Strategist Newsletter Volume 23, No. 05 Preview

By Lawrence G. McMillan

There will be a very slight alteration of our publishing schedule.  The second issue in March will be published one day early, on Wednesday, March 26th.  This is because of the AAPTA Conference in Austin, to which I will be traveling on Thursday, March 27th (the usual publishing day).

Introduction to Option Workbench 3.0 (Video)

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Weekly Stock Market Commentary 3/14/14

By Lawrence G. McMillan

This stock market has been able to ward off even a modest correction since the fall of 2012. However, we are now seeing a chart breakdown accompanied by sell signals from some of our most trusted indicators. If the bears can't make some hay with this environment, I would be surprised.

Equity-only put-call ratios have rolled over to sell signals.

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