Author: Jay Soloff

Trade of the Week: Zoom

Trade of the Week: Zoom

It probably comes as no surprise, but there has been heavy options activity in Zoom Video Communications (ZM). The popular video communication platform has seen its usage skyrocket as people are forced to work from home. Everyone from school teachers to business executives are using ZM extensively for online meetings, lectures, and discussions. Traders seem […]

Is This Volatility Trade Crazy Or Brilliant?

Is This Volatility Trade Crazy Or Brilliant?

As the reality of COVID-19 sets in, many nations around the globe are digging in for a prolonged battle against the virus. Of course, this isn’t a traditional fight: it involves quarantines, social distancing, and significant disruptions to our usual way of life. Even as many companies and schools temporarily close, it’s been business as […]

Trade of the Week: Crude Oil

Trade of the Week: Crude Oil

One of the secondary reasons for the market crash (after COVID-19) has been the extreme selloff in the price of oil. Crude oil has dropped to around $20 a barrel for the first time since 2002 due to a price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia. One popular method for trading crude oil is United […]

Is It Finally Time For Gold To Shine?

Is It Finally Time For Gold To Shine?

Investors are on the hunt for bargain stocks with Congress reaching a deal on a $2 trillion stimulus package to fight the economic damage done by COVID-19. For instance, on the day the stimulus package seemed likely to pass, the S&P 500 index shot up over 9%. That same day, gold futures soared, up nearly […]

One Way To Trade Ultra-High Volatility

One Way To Trade Ultra-High Volatility

It’s not hyperbole to say that this is as crazy as the financial markets ever get. There may have been more shocking news items in 2008 (Lehman going bankrupt), but the huge daily swings we have seen in stocks and other asset classes are unprecedented. A market that has frequent, huge swings in prices is […]

Trade of the Week: Financial Sector Stocks

Trade of the Week: Financial Sector Stocks

With stocks in a bear market and potentially more selling ahead, the Fed has cut interest rates to 0% and started a new $700 billion quantitative easing program. This could cause a substantial amount of volatility in the market, but especially in rate sensitive sectors like financials. In fact, a trader just bought a large […]

Are Skyrocketing Treasury Bonds Still A Buy?

Are Skyrocketing Treasury Bonds Still A Buy?

On Monday, the major stock indices in the US were all down at least 7% for the day. It was the largest one-day drop since 2008, the year the Great Financial Crisis started. This time around it’s not subprime loans causing the meltdown, but a highly contagious virus and an oil price war. While stocks […]

Trade of the Week: High Yield Bonds

Trade of the Week: High Yield Bonds

The market continues to be ultra-volatile due to serious concerns over the global economy in the wake of the coronavirus. High yield bonds (aka junk bonds) tend to sell off during times of high stress as investors move to the safety of government bonds instead. This past week, someone bought a one-week put spread in […]