Most market indices moved higher for this option cycle. SPY up over 5%, QQQ up nearly 8%. My account up a lagging 2%, grade C-. A gain is a gain, but when the market is moving solidly higher it feels better to participate. My overall caution is what cost me this month.
Here are the year to date numbers:
SLV 39.8%
silver
QQQ 35.7% Nasdaq100 mostly tech
GLD 24.8%
gold
TLT 19.1% US 20 year Treasury
SPY 7.9% US
S&P500 Large cap
EEM 1.5% emerging markets
IWM -2.2%
Russell 2000 US small cap
The surprise might be the huge gains in silver and the Nasdaq. Again, I am still in the -40% range for the year, because of the margin call in March.
It
feels like a lifetime ago, when the markets were down 30% for the
year. I feel some post-traumatic-stress from the events. Anytime the
markets take a tiny dip, part of me wonders if this is another big
one. Now, I have gotten back in, and am making trades, but have more
cash than I used to.
This makes sense, after a severe drawdown and margin call, no one wants to repeat that experience.
