The Black Box

[ljk]

Options, and Wahz

When I used to trade a huge amount of options, it was during the last bull market, when early and after hours trading wasn't generally available and I wasn't trading it. What I'm finding now is that I regret the Apple options I'm holding instead of the stock. If I wanted to trade them off after the earnings announcement tonight or in the morning tomorrow, I couldn't. Options don't trade in extended hours trading, at least not at the brokerage firms I'm using. Does anyone have a firm where they do?

For this reason, I've resolved to not initiate any more options positions. I feel like it's too confining. I have a long leap position in a few stocks but I won't add any more.

I am not so concerned with the liquidity, because I feel mine are sufficiently liquid, but the limitations on the trading hours, when so much of the news is played out in extended hours trading, is really grating on me today.

On another matter, I've been watching your picks and reading your posts for some months now and I wanted to tell you that I think you're something of a genius in your ability to assess the marketplace and which stocks and which sectors are going to be taking off. I know you're not perfect, but I've been so strongly impressed with the quality of your assessments, that I finally decided I shouldn't keep my conclusion to myself. It's an honor to have "met" you.

Linda