"I emphasize transparency and communication with my clients. My ability to adjust to their preferences not only instills a higher comfort level for both of us, it also creates a more powerful dynamic for approaching the markets."
– Tom Dosdall
Futures & Options Broker
12. Short Butterfly
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Scenario:
This trader currently has a #19 Call Ratio Backspread, but now feels that the underlying futures will not explode on the upside. Instead, the trader feels that the market has an equal chance of going up or down, and thus converts the position into a short butterfly.
Specifics:
| Underlying Futures Contract: | June Swiss Franc | |
| Futures Price Level: | 0.7000 | |
| Days to Futures Expiration: | 30 | |
| Days to Options Expiration: | 20 | |
| Option Implied Volatility: | 12.2% | |
| Option Position: | Short 1 Jun 0.6900 Call | + 0.0129 ($1612.50) |
| Long 2 Jun 0.7000 Calls | - 0.0068 ($ 850.00) x 2 | |
| Short 1 Jun 0.7100 Call | + 0.0031 ($ 387.50) | |
| + 0.0024 ($ 300.00) |
At Expiration:
| Breakeven: | Downside: 0.6924 (0.6900 strike + 0.0024 credit). Upside: 0.7076 (0.7100 strike - 0.0024 credit). |
|
| Loss Risk: | Losses bottom at 0.7000 strike. Maximum loss of 0.0076 ($950). | |
| Potential Gain: | Gains top out at original net credit of 0.0024 ($300). This occurs when futures rise above 0.7100 strike, or fall below 0.6900 strike. | |
Things to Watch:
There is not much risk in this position. Volatility has little effect. You should avoid follow-up strategies unless you are quite certain of a particular move. Nearly every follow-up to this strategy requires more than one trade - possibly incurring large transaction costs.
Follow-up Trading Strategies
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