Calendar Spreads

Trading Calendar Spreads: Learn the Strategy, Roll Decision, and Risks February 14, 2023 10:16 AM   |  

The calendar spread strategy can be effective during sideways markets and periods of low volatility. Learn how to set up and roll a calendar as well as the benefits and risks of this options strategy.

5 min read  |  Advanced Options Strategies
Rolling: The Art and Science of Extending a Trade's Duration January 11, 2023 11:03 AM   |  

Explore rolling options “losers” to extend duration for covered calls, naked calls or puts, one side of a short strangle, and select other trades.

3 min read  |  Advanced Options Strategies
Trying to Become a Full-Time Trader? December 15, 2022 10:58 AM   |  

Are you considering becoming a full-time trader? Here are a few things you should know before switching your career path.

5 min read  |  thinkMoney Magazine
Spread Trading Strategies: Different Strokes for Different Folks March 29, 2022 12:30 PM   |  

What is a spread trade? It depends on the products you trade. For a stock trader, it could be a pairs trade, and for an option trader, there are plenty of ways to put on a spread trade.

5 min read  |  Advanced Options Strategies
Risk Management: The Un-Fun, Must-Know Part of Trading January 10, 2022 10:15 AM   |  

Your risk-management strategy could decide whether you survive the next market turn. If you don’t have a trading plan in place, here are some ideas to help you get started.

5 min read  |  thinkMoney Magazine
Twin Tops: How and When to Set Up a Double Calendar January 10, 2022 10:15 AM   |  

Looking to get long volatility with a theta kicker using options? Consider a calendar spread. But if you also want to spread your risk across the price range of a stock, you might scale the twin peaks of a double calendar.

5 min read  |  thinkMoney Magazine
Portfolio Diversification Redux: Think Like a Trader September 27, 2021 10:15 AM   |  

Diversification isn’t just about stocks, bonds, and cash. When hedging risk for an options portfolio, think price, time, and volatility.

5 min read  |  thinkMoney Magazine
Ask the Coach: What Are the Odds? September 27, 2021 10:15 AM   |  

When trading options, it can be helpful to assess the probabilities before making a decision to enter a trade.

5 min read  |  thinkMoney Magazine
Options Exit Strategies: Get Out or Roll On? February 2, 2021 11:30 AM   |  

Three options strategies on how to exit a winning or losing trade: long options, vertical spreads, and calendar spreads.

5 min read  |  Advanced Options Strategies
thinkTank: Trading with thinkorswim Web September 28, 2020 10:30 AM   |  

thinkorswimWeb is a browser based trading platform that offers traders a streamlined experience for trading stocks, futures, forex, and options.

5 min read  |  thinkMoney Magazine
When Calendar Met Vertical: A Diagonal Spread Tale September 2, 2020 11:52 AM   |  

Compared to covered calls and other basic options strategies, diagonal spreads don’t get a lot of love. But not only are they relatively straightforward, they’re also flexible and versatile. Here’s the story.

7 min read  |  Advanced Options Strategies
Vol Whisperer: Do Vol and Price Tango? September 30, 2019 10:15 AM   |  

Volatility affects options prices to some extent but avoid focusing on it to map your strategies.

3 min read  |  thinkMoney Magazine
Vega: It's Not the Number You're Thinking June 30, 2019 11:45 AM   |  

Vega can show you how much the dollar value of an option changes for every one percentage point change in volatility. But traders often confuse vega with volatility. Knowing the right way to use vega can help you come up with an options trading strategy.

6 min read  |  thinkMoney Magazine
Looking for a Potential Edge? Options Stats, Pre-Sliced and Diced on thinkorswim May 29, 2019 4:00 AM   |  

Explore options statistics on thinkorswim—implied & historical vol and percentiles, the Sizzle Index, and the put/call ratio. Learn how options stats can help traders and investors make more informed decisions.

5 min read  |  Options Trading Basics
Trading Earnings? Get Earnings Analysis on thinkorswim in a Single Snapshot May 9, 2019 4:00 AM   |  

thinkorswim has developed an interface dedicated to researching the effects that earnings announcements have on the prices of stocks and options.

4 min read  |  thinkorswim Platform
Singing the Low-Volatility Blues? Try Calendar Spreads April 15, 2019 4:00 AM   |  

Learn how a long calendar spread can be effective in a low-volatility trading environment.

4 min read  |  Advanced Options Strategies
Calendar vs. Butterfly: The Ultimate Premium Smackdown January 7, 2019 3:00 AM   |  

Calendars and butterfly strategies may look similar but they have their differences. Why would you choose one over the other?

6 min read  |  thinkMoney Magazine
Trading Earnings Season? Brush Up on Your Option Greeks July 3, 2018 4:00 AM   |  

The sensitivity of option prices to changes in time, volatility, and the price of the underlying are commonly referred to as “Greeks.” As you prepare for earnings season, here's an overview.

5 min read  |  Options Trading Basics
Dollar vs. World: Turn Down the Noise, Hear the Market Whisper January 7, 2018 11:00 PM   |  

Are you worried about the Dollar? Discover ways to leverage volatility, inter-market correlations, and overall bias to help you make smarter decisions.

7 min read  |  Futures
Earnings Calendar Tool to Help Investors Navigate Earnings Season October 30, 2017 12:00 AM   |  

With the earnings calendar tools available on the TD Ameritrade thinkorswim Platform, you can be in the know when it comes to the earnings season.

4 min read  |  Web Platform
What’s Going on in The Markets? A New Calendar to Help Keep Track October 2, 2017 12:00 AM   |  

TD Ameritrade’s updated markets calendar can help you stay on top what’s going on in the markets including earnings, dividends, IPOs, economic events, & more

4 min read  |  Web Platform
Neutral Spreads Get Tasty: Diagonals and Iron Condors October 1, 2017 11:00 PM   |  

Are you getting the most out of your iron condor stock trades? Double diagonals could help you do just that. Learn more about options trading.

9 min read  |  Advanced Options Strategies
Are You Missing the Forest for the Trades? July 24, 2017 12:00 AM   |  

Instead of hyper-focusing on one position at a time, look at your entire portfolio and try to figure out a better hedge—here's some tools and tweaks to help.

8 min read  |  Advanced Options Strategies
Group Chat: The Ins and Outs of Corporate Earnings Calls July 17, 2017 12:01 AM   |  

Learn about earnings calls—what they are, how to join, and why they’re important.

3 min read  |  Fundamental Analysis
Calendar Spreads: Options Strategy for the Dog Days of Summer July 13, 2017 12:00 AM   |  

Looking for opportunities amid a low volatility trading environment? Learn about calendar spreads.

4 min read  |  Advanced Options Strategies
Swim Lessons: Brush Up On Your Greeks This Earnings Season April 20, 2017 4:00 AM   |  

The sensitivity of option prices to changes in time, volatility, and the price of the underlying are commonly referred to as “Greeks.” Here is an overview of

5 min read  |  Options Trading Basics
Calendar Spreads: Options Strategies for Quiet Markets March 16, 2017 12:00 AM   |  

Calendar spreads, an options trading strategy, could be the answer if you are looking for high probability opportunities amid a low volatility trading environment. Learn more about option opportunities in a quiet market.

4 min read  |  Advanced Options Strategies
Weekly Options: Stretch Them Out September 28, 2016 12:00 AM   |  

Learn how to increase the flexibility of your existing options strategies with weeklys: options that move quickly and live for about a week.

7 min read  |  Advanced Options Strategies
Options in IRAs: The Final Word On What You Can Do September 28, 2016 12:00 AM   |  

The DOL has decided to allow trading options in IRAs—learn more about strategies that can be used to manage risk and potentially generate income.

2 min read  |  IRA & 401k Plans
Industry Spotlight: Wednesday Expirations Anyone? July 5, 2016 12:00 AM   |  

Weeklys on SPX: Now options traders have even more toys to play with... and more to chew on. Find out about them before changing your trading strategy.

2 min read  |  Advanced Options Strategies
Trading Options by the Calendar: Time Can Be a Trader’s Friend June 27, 2016 12:00 AM   |  

The calendar trade is a strategy that belongs in every trader’s arsenal, partly because calendars are easily adjusted, and also handy for weekly options.

2 min read  |  Advanced Options Strategies
Volatility and the Risk of Options Skew in Calendar Spreads June 22, 2016 12:00 AM   |  

Zero skew, or even negative skew, can be favorable. Once skew starts rising, options traders might want to think twice before entering a calendar spread.

2 min read  |  Advanced Options Strategies
Is Market Volatility Really All That Bad? January 27, 2016 6:00 AM   |  

For most traders, fear and uncertainty are primary factors that drive volatility in markets higher and lower.

4 min read  |  Trading Basics
Consider Calendar Spreads to Help Navigate Earnings Season January 6, 2016 7:01 PM   |  

Long calendar spreads allow traders to hedge for volatility risk, especially to navigate earnings season or other corporate news events.

5 min read  |  Advanced Options Strategies
Option Strategy Throw Down: Selling Strangles vs Iron Condors October 7, 2015 8:01 PM   |  

Volatility’s tendency to level out after a spike can present strategy opportunities, especially selling strategies found with strangles and iron condors.

5 min read  |  Advanced Options Strategies
The Art of Exiting a Trade: How to Hold 'Em, How to Fold 'Em October 1, 2015 6:37 PM   |  

Three of the most popular options strategies on how to exit a winning or losing trade: long options, vertical spreads, and calendar spreads.

7 min read  |  Advanced Options Strategies
Trading Tips for Your Non-Trading Millennial Friends September 30, 2015 8:04 PM   |  

Turn conventional investing wisdom on its head and don't do what countless others have tried before you. Good habits and knowing what not to do are a must.

5 min read  |  Options Trading Basics
Sophisticated Traders: Consider Futures Spreads to Manage Risk September 23, 2015 8:01 PM   |  

Look to futures market calendar spreads and intermarket spreads to potentially lower the risk of fast-moving, directional markets.

4 min read  |  Futures
Fine-Tuning: Option Adjustments for Losing Trades September 16, 2015 8:01 PM   |  

Choose adjustments for losing trades that are true to your market outlook, risk tolerance, and trading style.

3 min read  |  Options Trading Basics
Option Strategy: Slay Volatility with Weekly Double Calendars September 8, 2015 8:01 PM   |  

Expand option market learning to weekly double calendars. They can increase in profitability if implied volatility rises.

3 min read  |  Advanced Options Strategies
How To Slay Your Trading Monsters October 14, 2014 8:00 PM   |  

Our chief market strategist breaks down the day's top business stories and offers insight on how they might impact your trading and investing.

5 min read  |  Options Trading Basics
Sizing Up (and Breaking Down) a Futures Calendar Spread October 1, 2013 5:45 PM   |  

The nuts and bolts of futures calendar spreads are a bit different than their equity-option cousins.

2 min read  |  Futures
Spread Trading Part 4: Connecting the Dots October 1, 2013 5:26 PM   |  

Once you've learned the foundational option spreads—verticals and calendars—and what makes them tick, the next step is knowing when to use them.

11 min read  |  Advanced Options Strategies
Special Focus: Spread Trading // Building a Better Mousetrap July 1, 2013 5:27 PM   |  

Vertical spreads and calendar spreads are designed to profit from a trend or the passage of time. Combining them can open up a whole new world for traders.

7 min read  |  Advanced Options Strategies
Trading Tip for the 99%: Do what the 1% Does March 31, 2012 8:00 PM   |  

You may have heard that trading is a giant conspiracy by the "1%" who make all the money. In truth, the market doesn't care. Here are some practical rules.

10 min read  |  Options Trading Basics
Stickin' It to the Nerds: Building a High-Frequency Trading System October 1, 2011 10:14 AM   |  

If the quants are making all the money these days with high-frequency trading, what’s it gonna take to compete? Beat them at their own game.

7 min read  |  Options Trading Basics
Markets Move. Get Over It. An Options Volatility Primer July 1, 2011 4:50 PM   |  

Without stock and options volatility, there are no trading opportunities. So to revere it rather than fear it–you need just need to “get it.”

13 min read  |  Advanced Options Strategies
You Missed the Rally. So What? Getting Over Your Trading Fears July 1, 2011 10:24 AM   |  

At some point in your trading career, you’re going to lose—lose on a trade, on a string of trades, or miss out on a rally. Here are a few tricks for success.

6 min read  |  Trading Psychology
Not Your Daddy's Diversification: Hedging Risk Like a Trader January 1, 2011 6:34 AM   |  

Diversification approaches for active traders to hedge non-systematic risk across spreads, including directional risk and time and vol.

7 min read  |  Advanced Options Strategies

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