Past Trades - Mouse over the header of each column for detailed explanations.

December

Open DateDate we would have opened this trade.	UnderlyingUnderlying security	Trade TypeTrading strategy	StrikesStrike prices	Option TypeCall or Put	ExpirationExpiration date	CreditAmount we would open trade.	DebitAmount we would close trade.	ResultPercentage this trade would have earned.	Trade NotesSpecial notes regarding this trade.
Dec 2	RUT	Vertical	1110/1115	Put	Dec 19, 2014	0.55	0	12.36%	expired for profit

Oil reached critically low price levels causing panic in the markets during this cycle. Although low oil translates to lower gasoline for consumers, it created fear of defaulting loans for certain companies. As the cost of getting oil with new methods increases, the lower price for a barrel of oil means that those companies would not make the profits as first forecast. This would mean possible loan defaults and banks taking a hit again. The oil slide did stabilize for now and markets recovered from the losses during the quick selloff.

November

Open DateDate we would have opened this trade.	UnderlyingUnderlying security	Trade TypeTrading strategy	StrikesStrike prices	Option TypeCall or Put	ExpirationExpiration date	CreditAmount we would open trade.	DebitAmount we would close trade.	ResultPercentage this trade would have earned.	Trade NotesSpecial notes regarding this trade.
Oct 21	RUT	Condor	1040/1045	Put	Nov 21, 2014	0.85	0	34.94%	expired for profit

As the US economy continues to show strength, other economies show weakness. Some have fallen back into recession. During this cycle, Japan boosted its stimulus program with more buying and China decided to cut rates. Both moves intend to help the slowdown in their economies. In reaction to their actions, the US markets continue to push higher, setting new records almost on a weekly, if not daily, basis.

October

Open DateDate we would have opened this trade.	UnderlyingUnderlying security	Trade TypeTrading strategy	StrikesStrike prices	Option TypeCall or Put	ExpirationExpiration date	CreditAmount we would open trade.	DebitAmount we would close trade.	ResultPercentage this trade would have earned.	Trade NotesSpecial notes regarding this trade.
Oct 8	RUT	Vertical	1035/1040	Put	Oct 17, 2014	0.90	0	21.95%	expired for profit
Sep 24	RUT	Vertical	1070/1075	Put	Oct 17, 2014	0.75	1.00	-5.88%	closed 1070/1075 for 0.25 net debit.

It was a bloodbath on Wall Street during the last couple of weeks of this cycle. The tech-laden NASDAQ, hit correction territory, along with the small-cap Russell 2000. The S&P got very close but didn't quite reach that level. Until that happens, traders may not feel as if a bottom has been set.

September

Open DateDate we would have opened this trade.	UnderlyingUnderlying security	Trade TypeTrading strategy	StrikesStrike prices	Option TypeCall or Put	ExpirationExpiration date	CreditAmount we would open trade.	DebitAmount we would close trade.	ResultPercentage this trade would have earned.	Trade NotesSpecial notes regarding this trade.
Sep 5	RUT	IronCondor	1125/1130/1200/1205	Both	Sep 19, 2014	0.90	0	19.78%	expired for profit

The trend for new record highs continued this month when the S&P 500 traded as high as 2019.26 with a closing record high of 2011.36 The Dow Jones Industrial Average also hit new highs of 17,350.64 intraday, with a closing record of 17,279.74. It does not look like September will be that bad of a month, if at all. Although the September options cycle is over, there are still 7 trading days left in the month.

August

Open DateDate we would have opened this trade.	UnderlyingUnderlying security	Trade TypeTrading strategy	StrikesStrike prices	Option TypeCall or Put	ExpirationExpiration date	CreditAmount we would open trade.	DebitAmount we would close trade.	ResultPercentage this trade would have earned.	Trade NotesSpecial notes regarding this trade.
Aug 1	RUT	Vertical	1080/1085	Put	Aug 15, 2014	0.97	0.00	24.07%	expired for profit
Jul 29	RUT	Vertical	1105/1110	Put	Aug 15, 2014	0.95	0.00	23.46%	expired for profit

The July selloff carried over into August. The Dow lost all of its 2014 gains but was able to get back into positive territory near the end of the options cycle. The political unrest in Ukraine/Russia, Israel/Gaza and Iraq kept fear in the forefront of traders' minds. There were signs of a bounce to the late pullback but uncertainty has quelled that sentiment. September is historically an under performing month. We'll see if that holds true in the weeks to come.

July

Open DateDate we would have opened this trade.	UnderlyingUnderlying security	Trade TypeTrading strategy	StrikesStrike prices	Option TypeCall or Put	ExpirationExpiration date	CreditAmount we would open trade.	DebitAmount we would close trade.	ResultPercentage this trade would have earned.	Trade NotesSpecial notes regarding this trade.
Jul 16	RUT	Vertical	1130/1135	Put	Jul 18, 2014	0.55	4.30	-84.27%	Expired in the money 1130/1135 for 3.75 net debit.

As traders began to get used to record highs just about every week, geopolitical headlines stole the show. A Malaysian passenger plane was shot down over Ukraine. Israel began an ground offensive into Gaza. This unrest triggered a selloff just prior to the end of the July cycle. As this news passes, Wall Street will probably continue to set new highs.

June

Open DateDate we would have opened this trade.	UnderlyingUnderlying security	Trade TypeTrading strategy	StrikesStrike prices	Option TypeCall or Put	ExpirationExpiration date	CreditAmount we would open trade.	DebitAmount we would close trade.	ResultPercentage this trade would have earned.	Trade NotesSpecial notes regarding this trade.
May 13	RUT	Vertical Vertical	1170/1175 1125/1130	Call Put	Jun 20, 2014	0.96 0.45	4.04 0.00	-45.05%	1170 Expired $5 ITM. 1125/1130 expired for profit. Average return for both is displayed.

As expected, the Federal Reserve continued with their slow and orderly phasing out of their latest QE program. By promising low rates at least until 2015, Wall Street continued to push equities into record territory. Analysts have been forecasting a correction for a long time now but continue to be wrong. Only time will tell how much longer this market will continue higher.

May

Open DateDate we would have opened this trade.	UnderlyingUnderlying security	Trade TypeTrading strategy	StrikesStrike prices	Option TypeCall or Put	ExpirationExpiration date	CreditAmount we would open trade.	DebitAmount we would close trade.	ResultPercentage this trade would have earned.	Trade NotesSpecial notes regarding this trade.
Apr 29	RUT	Vertical	1085/1090	Put	May 16, 2014	1.00	0.25	18.75%	Held for only 13 DAYS. closed down for a net credit of $.75

Ukraine tensions persisted with a bit of back-and-forth weighing the markets down a bit despite positive employment numbers, earnings reports and economic data. A sharply positive opening accommodated a quick exit before the market had a chance to drag us through the mud as we waited for early expiration and settlement Friday Morning.

April

Open DateDate we would have opened this trade.	UnderlyingUnderlying security	Trade TypeTrading strategy	StrikesStrike prices	Option TypeCall or Put	ExpirationExpiration date	CreditAmount we would open trade.	DebitAmount we would close trade.	ResultPercentage this trade would have earned.	Trade NotesSpecial notes regarding this trade.
Mar 28	RUT	Vertical	1125/1130	Put	Apr 18, 2014	1.05	0.16	22.53%	Opened for $1.05 and settled at 1129.84

The markets stumbled, bullying our position near the end of the cycle in light of mixed economic data and missed earnings reports. After coughing up about 50-points, the RUT support levels held near our short strike and we were able to capture another positive return for the month.

March

Open DateDate we would have opened this trade.	UnderlyingUnderlying security	Trade TypeTrading strategy	StrikesStrike prices	Option TypeCall or Put	ExpirationExpiration date	CreditAmount we would open trade.	DebitAmount we would close trade.	ResultPercentage this trade would have earned.	Trade NotesSpecial notes regarding this trade.
Feb 27	RUT	Vertical	1210/1215	Call	Mar 21, 2014	1.20	0.00	31.58%	expired for profit

The markets went through extreme highs and lows as economic data were mixed with the Federal Reserve cutting-back asset purchases to $55B each month. We didn't have the opportunity to close it down sooner as it never hit our target return, but we rode it to full-expiration which works just as well.

February

Open DateDate we would have opened this trade.	UnderlyingUnderlying security	Trade TypeTrading strategy	StrikesStrike prices	Option TypeCall or Put	ExpirationExpiration date	CreditAmount we would open trade.	DebitAmount we would close trade.	ResultPercentage this trade would have earned.	Trade NotesSpecial notes regarding this trade.
Jan 30	RUT	Vertical	1090/1095	Put	Feb 21, 2014	0.90	0.00	21.95%	expired for profit

Although unemployment ticked down to 6.6% from 6.7% in January, weak manufacturing data and the Federal Reserve stimulus-taper weighed heavily on the markets at the beginning of the month. Our position this month expired safely after the RUT recovered back to levels slightly better than where it started the new year.

January

Open DateDate we would have opened this trade.	UnderlyingUnderlying security	Trade TypeTrading strategy	StrikesStrike prices	Option TypeCall or Put	ExpirationExpiration date	CreditAmount we would open trade.	DebitAmount we would close trade.	ResultPercentage this trade would have earned.	Trade NotesSpecial notes regarding this trade.
Dec 30	RUT	Vertical	1190/1195	Call	Jan 17, 2014	0.90	0.00	21.95%	expired for profit

The US unemployment rate dropped down to 6.7% in December, the lowest level since 2008. As the economy strengthens, the markets seem to have leveled off at these lofty levels. Since the last trading day in 2013, the Dow has not closed above that level. The markets may be setting up for either a nice pullback or simply consolidating, prepping for the next jump higher.