TRADING WEEK AUG14-18

The middle of the week had some action as the intraday trading ranges for the SPY were 2.88, 5.43, 4.24, 7.00 and 3.35. The hi-lo for the week was 7.35. That makes the SPY18Aug23 446 straddle a reasonable buy at 6.30. The PLTR time spread did not approach the 2 1/2 times differential between the two expiration cycles' implied volatility so I took a pass. As it turned out it would have been a small winner. The earnings reports this week start on the 15th with HD before the opening. On the 16th TGT releases before the opening while CSCO reports after the close. WMT releases before the opening on the 17th. If you find the differential in implied volatility with expiration cycles three weeks apart then pounce on it. The economic numbers start with Retail Sales on Tuesday at 8:30am ET, followed twenty four hours later by Housing Starts. Industrial Production follows forty-five minutes later. On the 17th Leading Economic Indicators come out at 10:00am ET.