Basic Training: Short Puts Revisited

• Want a complete overview of selling puts? Check out Options Boot Camp episode 4 from May 7, 2012.
• New study: "An Analysis of Index Option Writing with Monthly and Weekly Rollover," written by Oleg Bondarenko, professor of finance at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and sponsored by CBOE. It is.the first comprehensive study to examine strategy benchmark with traditional stock, bond indexes incorporating weeklys options.
• CBOE Russell study "Analyzing Russell 2000 Index Options-Based Benchmark Indexes Designed to Provide Enhanced Yields and Risk-Adjusted Returns." CBOE announced the release of a new study that examines six benchmark indexes that invest in Russell 2000 Index (RUT) options and compares their performances with those of traditional benchmark stock and bond indexes. This is the first comprehensive study that examines the performance of multiple options-strategy benchmark indexes that incorporate Russell 2000 Index options. Written by Mark Shore, an adjunct professor at DePaul University's Kellstadt Graduate School of Business, and sponsored by CBOE.

Mail Call: Listener questions and comments

• Question from QKT - If i sold a $1 strike put with a current trading price of $.50 and then the stock goes to $5-what happens and what is my risk? How do I look at expiration? Can my puts be exercised against me?
• Question from Nick S. -I am thinking of a cool new strategy that I haven't seen listed online before. It effectively involves buying an iron butterfly (one of Marks favorite strategies) and then selling an extra put on the downside leg. You would select your strike at a price where you are comfortable buying the stock should it drop. This has the obvious benefit of reducing your initial outlay for the position. However, unlike a naked short, put you have the added cushion of the long straddle to help protect you on the downside and lower your effective break-even on the downside.
• Question from AJ M. - I have a question for the drill instructors. I hope you guys can calm my frayed nerves over this DOL thing. What exactly is going on? Am I not going to be able to sell calls in my IRA anymore? Since the vast majority of my assets are in retirement accounts this would be a HUGE hit to my savings. Please tell me this is not the case. Is there anything I as a retail stock and options trader can do to help prevent this? What if I open an international trading account? Would that do the trick? Help - I need the drill instructors to talk me off the ledge.