Option Block 252: The Dangers of Covered Straddles

Trading Block: Market rallies ahead of the Fed, but lost steam in the late session. Gold selloff ahead of the Fed.

Odd Block: Puts trade in PVR Partners, LP (PVR), calls trade in Insmed Incorp. (INSM), and puts trade in UltraShort Real Estate Proshares (SRS)

Xpress Block: Netflix moves over $15, but otherwise, not a very exciting trading day

Listener Mail: The floor belongs to the listeners.

Question from Dalton Hicks - I’ve just discovered this show and I think it's fantastic. Thanks for all of your great material. I've learned quite a bit. I wanted to write in today to ask about the new strategy I've stumbled upon in my trading. I used to be a covered call seller in individual equity options. But I've recently started thinking about kicking this up a notch by turning into a "covered straddle seller." This strategy has many benefits over a traditional covered call. I’ve never heard this approach discussed on this program (at least in the recent episodes that I've heard), so I'd like the host's take on this exciting new strategy.

Around the Block: Waiting for Bernanke.