Steve,
Don't get me wrong. I did NOT suggest the options as they were a joke. I flat out didnt suggest them.
Options can be a terrific way to hedge a position, to bring in income but as a means of playing a stock, it is a deteriorating assets, one that faces attrition from time.
I;m no prude. I trade in the money calls all the time, love selling covered calls when stock loks overextended, try to buy them back cheaper to have short term gains, and am not happy if the stock rockets higher as they can either have the stock (and i;ll take the appreciate price and the premium) or Ill roll them out.
But we are talking to a kid, here , looking for some guidance..options...They are like lottery tickets. You rip them up after the fact. Sure, we all have bought those out of the money calls at 1/4 to see them pop to 2.....thats a great trade. Statistically, 73% of all options go against you. Also the 1/4 dollar options are usually the ones far out of the money so it doesnt work.
What about selectively trading on the last few days of the quarter where the options usually trade on parity with the stock.....look for $5.40 cent stocks that you can buy the $5 calls for 40 cents.
I would agree with you that It could be the most leveraged play, but with only 500 bucks and when the 500 bucks is the only 500 bucks the kid has, I say he shouldn't be playing. He should be working, raising capital. The capital markets arent going anywhere. They have been around for 100? years, they'll be here for 100 more. You try to buy a porche with $5000 bucks, you usually get a lemon.
Regards,
Steve@yamner.com
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