Next Free Coaching...

Bear Call Credit Spreads...

This bear call spreads strategy is to realize a profit by making cash that is a net credit formed by the difference in a SOLD CALL price and a BOUGHT CALL price. While the stock goes down, the investor keeps the net credit (difference in premiums).

	Sell an At or Out of the Money call and buy a higher strike call for protection. Since the sold call is closer to the stock price, a credit is achieved.
	This bear call spreads strategy is a bearish strategy as you expect the stock to remain below the short (sold) strike price.
	An investor wants both options to expire worthless so they will retain the entire net credit.
	The maximum risk in a bear call spread is the difference between the strike prices minus the credit received.
	SELL a CALL at or out of the money (lower strike price).
	BUY a CALL one or more strikes above #1 CALL in the same month, this provides the upside safety.
	The margin requirement is the difference between the strike prices, usually 5 points/dollars.
	The maximum risk is the difference between the strike prices, less the net credit (difference in premiums).
	The maximum profit is the net credit (difference in premiums).
	The break even point is the lower strike price (#1) plus the net credit.
	Profit is realized when the stock price falls below this number.
	Maximum profit is made when the stock price falls below the lower strike price (#1 CALL).
	A profit is realized at any stock price between the break even point and the net credit.

The return calculations for the Bear-Call Credit Spread are:

% Return =	(Premium on SOLD CALL - Premium on BOUGHT CALL) ÷ (Margin - Net Credit)
% Return =	(Net Credit) ÷ (Margin - Net Credit)
Where...
Margin =	SOLD CALL strike price - BOUGHT CALL strike price
Net Credit =	Premium on SOLD CALL - Premium on BOUGHT CALL

Example:	Stock XYZ at $90 per share.
	Write (Sell) the SEP 100 CALL for $3.00
	Buy the SEP 105 CALL for $1.85
% Return =	(Premium on SOLD CALL - Premium on BOUGHT CALL) / (Margin - Net Credit)
% Return =	(3.00 - 1.85) ÷ ((105 - 100) - (3.00 - 1.85)) = 30% if stock is < $100
Max. Risk =	Margin - Net Credit = $5 - $1.15 = $3.85, if stock is > $105
Max. Profit =	Net Credit = $1.15, if stock is < $100
Break Even =	Lower Strike + Net Credit = $100 + $1.15 = $101.15

Advantages of this strategy:

	This bear call spreads strategy is a BEARISH strategy, the profit can only be realized when the stock price falls from current price to a number between the break even point and net credit.
	If the stock goes very low gains are limited to the net credit.
	Losses are limited to the difference in strike prices, usually about 5 points minus the net credit.
	Risk can be controlled by how far out of the money the sold option is positioned. Further OTM spreads will yield less profit, but are safer and have a higher break even point.
	In the face of a rise the investor can buy back the SOLD CALL and have unlimited profit from BOUGHT CALL.
	Highly leveraged because of the low margin requirement on the spread.
	This is an option only strategy, no shares of stock are actually owned. (uncovered position).

Cautions with this strategy:

	Anytime the underling stock/index price is above the short call strike price, there is a chance that you may have to deliver shares of stock to meet the short call obligation. You may be required to buy shares of stock at the market price and then sell them at the short call strike price for a loss. If the stock is trading above both strike prices, you may realize the maximum loss on the position.
	The credit you receive for the trade is generally much smaller than the max risk of the trade, therefore it is prudent to close the short option before the position is at max loss. Many traders do this when the short option is near-the-money.
	If you have closed the short option half of the trade you may want to consider holding the long option to possibly profit from continued directional momentum in the underlying. However, the danger of a bear call spread is that the underlying will correct and whipsaw in the other direction.

Research Tips:

	If you like the risk/reward of the Option Credit Spreads strategy but are bullish: Bull-Put Credit Spread
	If you are Bearish on the stock but prefer Debit spreads: Bear-Put Debit Spreads.
	For more information on the Parity Strategy to Bear-Call Credit spreads: Parity Trading - Option Spreads and Parity Option Trades Revisited