Pretty Doggone Close

We are looking pretty doggone
close
to unchanged this morning in what
will
be thin pre-holiday trade. The Argentine debt default and the
terrorist
(or is he just a nut?) attack over the weekend seems to have
had
limited impact.

The trading will be very subdued in this abbreviated
session. One thing
to watch will
be the SOX index
(
$SOX.X |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
, which took on some serious technical

water last week. The SOX stabilized Friday,
bouncing off of its 50-day
moving
average. Should it slip below this level (509.58 this morning), it

could trigger further selling.

The DJI looks as though it may be coiling up to test the
upside this
week. Its 61.8%
retracement level of the May to September sell-off
comes
in at 10,094.10, and its 200-day moving average comes in at
10,104.2.
These levels should be tested this week.

Obviously, this week is going to be very slow, and the
“window dressers”
will
be out in force to beautify their portfolios. As volatilities drop

and prices get stretched, we will be looking
to scoop up some straddles.

Updates:

Current Recommendations:

Continue Gamma scalping the
(
GENZ |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
straddle.

Rolls/Adjustments:

None

Recap of open trades:

Long-term

Airline calendar spreads


(
AMR |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
Jan./Oct. 25 call calendar @ .75 — Oct.’s went
out worthless,
holding the Jan.
25 calls.


(
UAL |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
Jan./Oct. 25 call calendar @ .70 — Oct.’s went
out worthless,
holding Jan. 25
calls, looking like rip-ups.

Reverse Collars


(
AWE |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
Jan. 12/15 reverse collar (long the Jan. 15
calls, short the
Jan. 12.5 puts)
@ .05 average. Stop below.


(
TLAB |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
March 17.5/15 reverse collar (long the March
17.5 calls, short
the March 15
puts) @ 1.50 credit average.

Buy-writes

*
(
AMZN |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
Jan. ’03 10 buy-write @ 5.15 (2 units) —
hold.

*
(
JDSU |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
Jan. 12.5 buy-write @ 9.60 — hold.

Proxy buy-writes


(
BA |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
Jan. ’03 35/Jan. ’02 40 call calendar @ 5.00 —
hold.

BA Jan. ’03 40/November ‘ 01 40 call calendar @ 3.00 —
hold.

Complex Strategies


(
JDSU |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
— Long 1 unit of the Jan. 10 calls and short
2 units of the
Jan 7.5 puts @
$1.00 credit.


(
GENZ |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
— Long the Jan. 60 straddle at $6.50, (50%)
— hold.

Short-term

Call Positions


(
WCOM |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
Jan. 12.5 calls @ 2.40 — hold. Stop below.

Put Positions


(
TGT |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
— Long the Jan. 35 puts @ 1.15 (100%) — hold.


(
WMT |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
— Long the Jan. 55 puts @ 2.35 (50%) — hold.

Put Spread Positions


(
BAC |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
— Long the Dec. 55/60 1:2 ratio put spread at
.30 — hold.


(
AZO |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
— Long the March 55/65 put spread @ 2.125
(100%) — hold.


(
BBY |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
— Long the Jan. 60/70 put spread @ 3.00 (50%)
— hold.

STOPS


(
AWE |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
: Stop @ 12.25 close only.


(
WCOM |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
: Stop @ 13.95 close only.


(
TLAB |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
: Stop @ 11.95 close only.


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*Options trading involves substantial risk
and is not suitable
for all investors.
Also note that spread strategies involve multiple
commissions
and are not risk-free. Most spreads must be done in a margin
account.

*Because of the importance of tax
considerations to all options
transactions, the
investor considering options should consult with a tax
advisor
as to how taxes may affect the outcome of contemplated options
transactions.

*Supporting documentation for claims,
comparisons,
recommendations, statistics or other
technical data will be furnished
upon request. One or
more of the contributors to these commentaries may
have
a position in one or more of the securities mentioned.
It
is important to note that the options strategies discussed herein are
not
suitable to all investors. Options are complex investment tools and
involve
substantial risk. Moreover spreading strategies do not eliminate
risk
and involve multiple commissions.

Note: All individuals must have read the
ODD carefully before trading
options. To obtain the
document, click on the OCC link:
https://www.theocc.com/publications/risks/riskchap1.jsp

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