How to Use Velocity Indicators

Given the recent jump in volatility for interest rates, equity and energy markets, I figured it would be appropriate to introduce a few of my preferred velocity indicators.

IV Rises as Earnings Approach

As a trader and teacher, my tangible tool is a chart. Math is required to calculate my preferred market indicators, and the graphs I favor illustrate psychological and sociological behavior. As for the spiritual part, it is the euphoric feeling a trader gets when all the hard work and analysis pays off as a lucrative trade that involves minimal risk.

Big News!

🎯 Wrapping up the first week of 2025, and the markets are off to an intriguing start. While this week saw some ups and downs, today’s 1.2% bump in the S&P 500 closed things on a positive note.

Next week promises to bring even more action, with:

Fed speakers and FOMC minutes
JOLTS job data
ADP employment changes
Non-farm payrolls and unemployment reports
In other exciting news, my daily market insights are moving to Substack! Join me at wealthbuildingwithoptions.substack.com for exclusive content starting next week.

Stay informed, stay strategic, and trade smart!

#MarketInsights #OptionsTrading #WealthBuilding #FinancialFreedom

PLTR broken wing butterfly

🎉 Welcome to 2025! Start the new trading year with a fresh strategy. In this video, I share insights from a coaching session where we turned a put credit spread on Palantir into a broken wing butterfly trade. Why? Lower risk, better potential outcomes, and smart risk management.

You’ll learn:
✔️ Why it’s crucial to explore multiple ways to trade
✔️ How to stay disciplined with alerts and logging trades
✔️ Tips for refining your strategies throughout the year

Let’s make 2025 your best trading year yet.

#TradeSmart #OptionsTrading #WealthBuilding #2025Goals

Tools of a Trader

As a trader and teacher, my tangible tool is a chart. Math is required to calculate my preferred market indicators, and the graphs I favor illustrate psychological and sociological behavior. As for the spiritual part, it is the euphoric feeling a trader gets when all the hard work and analysis pays off as a lucrative trade that involves minimal risk.

It’s on my calendar

Happy New Year’s Eve! The market has been wild this year, dipping below the 50-day MA. Might we see a sideways trend? 🧐 Celebrate by checking your account’s growth and strategy performance. Also, don’t forget to calendar FOMC meetings for next year! #NewYearsEve #MarketWatch #TradingTips #StrategyAnalysis

RCL Put Roll

Rolling cash-secured puts? It’s not just about assignment—it’s about strategy! 💡

I recently rolled $RCL puts, lowering my strike and snagging extra premium. Small moves, big impact. 📈

Full write-up: wealthbuildingwithoptions.substack.com.

#OptionsTrading #InvestSmart #CashSecuredPuts #WealthBuilding

New Year’s Day or Groundhog Day?

🎉 Make 2025 your year for trading and investing! Take a moment to set meaningful goals this weekend. Write them down, plan for success, and break free from the Groundhog Day rut.

Here’s to a smarter trading year ahead! 📝💡

#NewYearGoals #TradingTips #InvestSmart #FinancialGrowth

Look! It’s Santa Claus (Rally)

🎅📈 The Santa Claus Rally: Stocks have historically risen during the last 5 trading days of the year & the first 2 of the new year (~2/3 of the time).

Not guaranteed, but leaning long might give you an edge. Trade smart this season!

#SantaClausRally #MarketTrends #OptionsTrading #TradeSmart

Best beginner option strategy

New to options trading? Start simple: buying calls. 🚀 It’s beginner-friendly, easy to manage, and sets the stage for more advanced strategies like puts & spreads.

💡 Start small, practice, and trade smart!

#OptionsTrading #Investing101 #TradeSmart #FinancialGrowth

Ratio call writing

Ratio Call Writing Simplified

Own 100 shares.
Sell 2+ calls for higher premiums.
Beware: Naked calls = risk of losses if the stock soars.
Use only with high implied volatility + strong resistance!

Don’t Let Your Emotions Get in the Way

Trading isn’t just about entering positions—it’s about managing them effectively. As I often say: “Know what you will do no matter what happens before you enter a trade.”

For a bull call spread, consider profit targets, stop losses, and multiple exits to adapt to market moves. A solid plan minimizes emotional decision-making and sets you up for success. Preparation is key.

How option prices work

💡 How Are Option Prices Determined?

It’s a mix of math and market mechanics:
1️⃣ Models (like Black-Scholes) calculate value.
2️⃣ Market makers set bid/ask prices, buying below & selling above value for profit.
3️⃣ Buyers & sellers push prices with real trades.

Trade smart with this insight!

#Options #TradingTips #MarketMechanics

Inflation vs Gold

📊 Gold: A Reliable Inflation Hedge? Not Quite.

Over the last 50 years:

Inflation: Steady rise ($100 in 1975 = $590 today).
Gold: Up from $176/oz to $2,685/oz but with wild volatility.
Gold can surge during inflationary spikes but isn’t a consistent hedge—think volatile store of value, not “insurance.”

#GoldHedge #InvestSmart #Inflation

The moment of truth

🚨 Fed Decision Tomorrow: Here’s What’s at Stake

🔹 95% chance of a 25 bp rate cut.
🔹 5% chance they hold steady.

📊 The real mover? Jerome Powell’s comments:

🛑 Signals no more cuts = possible market sell-off.
📊 Stays data-focused? Eyes on Thurs unemployment & Fri’s PCE inflation data.
This week = HUGE for future market guidance.

#FedWatch #InterestRates #StockMarket #EconomicTrends

What is a Short Squeeze?

💥 Short Squeeze 101

📉 Short sellers bet on falling prices.
📈 If the stock rises, they rush to buy back shares—sending the price even higher!

🔥 High short interest (>15% float) = prime for a squeeze.

💡 Example: RXRX surged recently as buyers and market forces amplified the pressure.

#ShortSqueeze #MarketTrends #TradingInsights #InvestSmart

Key market patterns

🎅 Santa Claus Rally Ahead?

📉 S&P 500: Slight dip this week, forming strong resistance.
✨ Year-End Trends:
✔️ Window Dressing: Fund managers tidy portfolios.
✔️ Tax Planning: Selling losses, holding gains.

🎄 Last 5 trading days + 1st 2 of the year → Historically 2/3 chance of gains!

#SantaClausRally #MarketTrends #YearEnd

AMZN, AAPL & RCL Wheel Trades

wheel

It was an interesting Monday this week for my wheel trades. AMZN and AAPL have just been on fire lately, and I’ve had covered calls on them for a while now. Lots of rolls,

NVDA down tomorrow?!

🔍 Bearish Signals for NVIDIA?

✔️ Aggressive call credit spreads sold early.
✔️ Closed below the 50-day MA, flipping support to resistance.
✔️ Doji pattern + 6-month low volume = possible downside tomorrow.

📉 Watch for trading opportunities if weakness persists.

💡 Learn short squeeze strategies this week—sign up at markettaker.com/reg.

#NVIDIA #OptionsTrading #StockMarket #ShortSqueeze

Certainty in the market

✔️ CPI: 2.7% YoY (as expected).
✔️ Core CPI: 0.3% (same as prior).

✅ Fed rate cut? Market says 94.9% likely for 25 bps next week (CME Fed Funds).

⚠️ PPI tomorrow is worth watching but tends to align with CPI.

#CPI #FedRateCut #MarketUpdate #Inflation

I’m watching this and AMZN

📉 Market Watch: CPI Tomorrow & Amazon’s Pivotal Point

Big week for traders! 🚨
🗓️ CPI (Wed), PPI (Thu)—leading to next week’s Fed decision (85% chance of a 25 bps cut, CME data).

Amazon is also at a key moment: RSI dropping below 70 suggests potential downside. Tomorrow will be crucial!

✨ Learn how short squeezes can boost your portfolio—join our online training this week: markettaker.com/reg

#OptionsTrading #CPI #AmazonStock #ShortSqueeze