Matt's Positions as of October 31

I've kinda given up on logging each transaction, it is a lot of work. Here's the current positions:

AAPL:
Short 2 NOV08 75/85 Vertical Call Spread
Short 2/1 NOV08 120/125 Backratio Spread
Long 1 NOV08/JAN11 125/100 Diagonal Spread

AEMD:
Long 7000 shares

SPY:
Long 2 NOV08 82/84/123/125 Iron Condor
Long 2 NOV08 86/88/114/115 Iron Condor
Short 2 NOV08 105/107 Vertical Call Spread
Short 2 NOV08 106/108 Vertical Call Spread
Short 2 NOV08 110/111 Vertical Call Spread
Short 2 DEC08 97/99 Vertical Call Spread
Short 2 DEC08 106/108 Vertical Call Spread

UA:
Long 1 NOV08/APR09 25 Calendar Spread

This month profit (loss): (5.1%)
Year-to-date profit (loss): (32.7%)


Those numbers don't look very good, but they really don't tell the whole picture. A couple of weeks ago, the this-month loss was at around 13%. This have been turning around the latter half of the month, and we are starting to come back.

To put it another way, I think last month's strategy was sound and paying off. Record highs in the VIX allowed me to leg in, a vertical spread at a time, into some very wide iron condors on SPY, and I have managed to turn my delta around to a better number.

Next month will be telling, so we'll have to watch carefully and see.

Matt's Positions as of October 3

DISASTER! Who can figure out what securities are going to do when the US government selectively bails out, or doesn't bail out, companies at their own discretion and whim? Arrgh.

I've fallen a bit behind on recent transactions, so I'll just do the monthly position update, and forward strategy.

AAPL:
Short 2 NOV08 75/85 Vertical Call Spread
Short 2/1 NOV08 120/125 Backratio Spread

AEMD:
Long 6000 shares

FSLR:
Long 4/4/2/2 OCT08 185/190/230/260 Iron Condor

GLD:
Long 1 JAN10 85 put

RIG:
Short 2 OCT08 100/110 Vertical Put Spread
Short 5 OCT08 115/120 Vertical Put Spread
Short 2 NOV08 95/100 Vertical Put Spread

SPY:
Long 2/2/4/4 OCT08 110/112/130/132 Iron Condor
Short 2 OCT08 116/123 Vertical Put Spread
Short 2 OCT08 119/125 Vertical Put Spread
Short 2 NOV08 123/125 Vertical Call Spread

UA:
Short 2 NOV08 35/40 Vertical Call Spread
Long 1 APR09 25 Call

This month profit (loss): (24.73%)
Year-to-date profit (loss): (29.08%)


This month's strategy:

1. Keep last month's #1 - Greater focus in fewer positions. I forgot this a bit, still need to try to focus more.
2. Buy in on strong upward indicators for Rule #1 stocks. Sell diagonals against the call options to fund the transaction over the long term.
3. Adjust SPY strategy so delta is in better harmony with sentiment (bearish).
4. Don't force any positions. Cash is king. Great opportunities are going to come soon, and I want to be prepared to take advantage.