MON Analysis

Monsanto Co. (MON)

MON publishes earnings on Wednesday before the opening bell.

I shall use options that trade for the last time 10 days hence, on Oct. 13.

Implied volatility stands at 11th%, which is 1.1 times the VIX, a measure of the volatility of the S&P 500 index.

MON’s IV stands in the 30th percentile of its annual range and the 58th percentile of its most recent broad movement.

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Live: Tuesday, October 3, 2017

10/3 – 3:00 p.m. New York time

I entered one new position today, PEP, and exited it one for a roll, TLT. I also analyzed MON but declined the trade.

I have updated PEP’s analysis with the trade chart.

10/3 – 9:45 a.m. New York time

I have exited my TLT position for a profit and shall roll it forward, probably on Wednesday. I won’t calculate full results until the roll series is complete.

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Live: Monday, October 2, 2017

10/2 – 2:40 p.m. New York time

I’m breaking off a bit early today to head to the Apple stores to get my iPhone repaired. The small-form charing port, present in the iPhone 5 and later, has once again gotten a clogged, no doubt by the dusty residue of expired options. I take the device in to the Apple Store for unclogging about one a year. No idea what they do with the expired options dust.

I had no trades at all today, although TLT is getting within reach of my goal of 50% of maximum potential profit.

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The Week Ahead: Jobs, manufacturing, trade

The number of employed Americans has risen compared to one year earlier every September since 2010. With the publication of the latest employment situation report on Friday at 8:30 a.m. New York time, we’ll learn how the numbers compared to the Sept. 2016 number of employed, which was 151,926, seasonally adjusted.

The jobs report gets a sneak preview with the release of the private-sector ADP employment report on Wednesday at 8:15 a.m.

Additional major reports out during the week: The Institute of Supply Management manufacturing survey on Monday at 10 a.m. international trade on Thursday at 8:30 a.m. and factory orders on Thursday at 10 a.m.

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TLT Analysis

iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT)

Update 12/6/2017: I have exited TLT at a $1.14 loss, with the intent of rolling forward to a new position in the series.

Update 10/24/2017: Another roll forward for TLT with the strikes $1 lower, and the long-term government debt downtrend continues. I also moved the expiration date out a month, to Dec. 15, which is 50 days away from entry.

I exited my position of 10/4 for a $0.24 debit, or 50% of maximum potential profit, having entered for a $0.48 credit.

As I enter the 10/24 position, TLT’s IV stands in the 18th percentile of its annual range and at the peak of its most recent broad movement, although within a very narrow range that has held sway since July.

Premium: $0.50 Expire OTM
TLT-vertical Strike Odds Delta
Calls
Long 127.00 82.0% 16
Break-even 125.50
Short 125.00 66.0% 32

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JBL Analysis

Jabil Inc. (JBL)

JBL publishes earnings on Wednesday after the closing bell.

I shall use options that trade for the last time nine days hence, on Oct. 6.

Implied volatility stands at 36%, which is 3.7 times the VIX, a measure of the volatility of the S&P 500 index.

JBL’s IV stands in the 79th percentile of its annual range and the 88th percentile of its most recent broad movement.

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ACN Analysis

Accenture plc (ACN)

ACN publishes earnings on Thursday before the opening bell.

I shall use options that trade for the last time nine days hence, on Oct. 6.

Implied volatility stands at 25%, which is 2.5 times the VIX, a measure of the volatility of the S&P 500 index.

ACN’s IV stands in the 58th percentile of its annual range and at the peak of its most recent broad movement.

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