can u spell overtrading? my IB portfolio window on friday was so crowded with (over) trading, i did not see the 2 positions i have on in MS both calls & puts for next weeks xpiration. i have nearly identical amounts of money in each - the 17 calls and the 20 puts. WTH do i do now? i guess, duh, just sell the loser come monday morning. i am not a very sophisticated options trader - all i do really is substitute a call or put for the stock and daytrade it. i don't even remember how i ended up holding both calls and puts at the same time - that is not my usual way - it must have been a fat finger mistake. any tips much appreciated.

lol hope you got enough funds in your account.
Hope for the best,it might go in your favor.

yeah if it weren't dratted expiration week it would be better. maybe the market will be indecisive at the open (unlikely) and i can get out with just a bit of time decay loss. luckily i did not trade big...ty for the good wishes

Hi

Definition of 'Strangle'

An options strategy where the investor holds a position in both a call and put with different strike prices but with the same maturity and underlying asset.

This option strategy is profitable only if there are large movements in the price of the underlying asset. This is a good strategy if you think there will be a large price movement in the near future but are unsure of which way that price movement will be. (*)

Only thing you lose is time decay over the weekend if market volatility not falls. Other wise you also will make some losses with vega. As you are long call and puts, you have break evens on both sides. Do you know where your break evens are ?

Just one idea: Depending on your market outlook you can sell the options from the direction market not moves and hope that you will get back the loss with the option market direction moves.

Good luck
Delta_Panther

(*) Source: Strangle Definition | Investopedia

thank you very much i wouldn't know a strangle from a mangle, honestly. gotta read up on those now and make a plan for monday morning. i don't completely understand the bit about doubling the ones i sell though but perhaps that will become clear as i look into these strangles.

Maisie 

yeah if it weren't dratted expiration week it would be better. maybe the market will be indecisive at the open (unlikely) and i can get out with just a bit of time decay loss. luckily i did not trade big...ty for the good wishes

If the market has not moved against you much, try limit orders inside the bid/ask near the open. The spread will be wider in the first hour.

ty. i love the math quote!