Weekly: Impeachment

Just when I thought the market rally was going to continue, impeachment news sinks the market.

I lose a bit more than 1% for the week. As I have been saying, I am relatively cautious.

Monthly: lowering risk, grade A

I am on the road and forgot to bring exact figures. I believe I am up 4 to 5 percent for this option cycle, my self grade is A. Now up about 35 percent for 2019. That’s good.

A few etfs ytd, not counting dividends

QQQ +25.6 US tech stocks Nasdaq 100
SPY +21.6 US large cap S&P 500

TLT +18.1 US 20 year Treasury bonds
IWM +16.9 US small cap Russell 2000

GLD +16.8 gold
SLV +14.4 silver
EEM +6.9 emerging market equities

Again, my account up about 35 percent. Yippee. I lowered my risk by moving more money into BSV Vanguard short term bond etf. I took a loss on some ROKU options. The chart formation looks like a parabola, now into the waterfall decline stage.

AMZN and TSLA continue to be my most profitable tickers this year. BA continues to be the worst. DIS has been disappointing. Some small plays in SHAK SHW produce small profits.

Because I am on the road, because last year turned nasty, because I will have less time for the markets, I am reducing risk. I’m still in, but playing smaller.

Weekly: Hot Apple

Apple was all over the place this week, lower then higher, then lower. Overall, AAPL ran too hot and I covered layers of calls for minor losses. Overall, the market continued to climb higher. My account is near all time highs, with a modest gain. Bonds and gold had a sharp correction.

I continue to be cautious. I move more money into BSV Vanguard’s short term bond etf. Last year’s experience, where a decent gain for 2018, turned into a loss, is influence. Of course, more than a few people may feel the same, so an up market is more likely. I’ll be traveling for a bit, so updates may be even shorter, even more spotty.

I am likely going to change to monthly updates, because blog readership is down. It’s not as if I have a lot of exciting to say. Many people are looking for trade ideas, and most of my trades are not appropriate for beginners. My track record isn’t anything to brag about, even if 2019 has been a very good year for me.

Weekly: bears scurry for cover

A Tuesday dip is followed by a decent rally. Bearish traders take cover. I rolled down on the Tuesday decline and bought some QQQ and SPY calls to rebalance to slightly bullish as the market rallies. It is half a loaf to be sure, but I still finish the week with over a 2% gain. This despite a neutral then bearish stance on many underlyings. 

I reinitiate a small position on LULU post earnings. I roll up on AMZN and many others. I am close to all time highs as is the market.