π― SELL SPY NOV 21 675/680 CALL SPREAD
I recommend a bear call spread because the current term structure shows elevated implied volatility (IV Rank 100%) indicating overpriced premium, favoring premium selling strategies. SPY is trading slightly below its 20-day moving average ($671.47 vs 677.52), with technical resistance near 675-676, suggesting limited near-term upside. The put/call volume ratio is extremely bullish (0.00), indicating heavy call buying but also potential for a short-term pullback or range-bound trading. Selling the 675/680 call spread captures premium while limiting risk if SPY fails to break above resistance in the next 4 trading days until November 21 expiration.
Sell SPY Nov 21 675/680 Call Spread
Stock Price: $671.47 | Entry: Sell 675 Call bid $3.00, Buy 680 Call ask $1.40 β Net Credit β $1.60
π Trade Metrics
β’ Max Profit: $160 per spread (net credit) if SPY β€ $675 at expiry
β’ Max Loss: $340 per spread if SPY β₯ $680 at expiry
β’ Breakeven: $676.60 at expiry
β’ Days to Expiration: 4 (Nov 17 to Nov 21)
β’ Win Probability: Moderate to High given resistance and short time frame
π Term Structure & Volatility Analysis
β’ Baseline 90-day Vol: 11.4%
β’ Current IV Rank: 100% (IV ~25%, well above baseline) β favors selling premium
β’ Near-term IV (Nov 21) is elevated and overpriced β sell premium
β’ Expected daily move Β±$10.59 (1.58%), so a move above 680 in 4 days (~1.3% move) is possible but not highly probable
β’ Put/Call Volume Ratio: 0.00 (heavy call buying, but market price below resistance)
β’ Technical resistance near 675-676 (20-day MA and recent intraday highs)
π Greeks & Volatility
β’ Delta of 675 call ~0.40 (short leg)
β’ Delta of 680 call ~0.20 (long leg)
β’ Net delta slightly bearish to neutral, benefiting from time decay (theta positive for seller)
β’ Theta decay accelerated given short expiration (4 days)
π― Why This Trade
The term structure reveals a strong selling opportunity with near-term IV at 25%, more than double the baseline historical volatility of 11.4%, signaling options are overpriced. SPY currently trades at $671.47, below the 20-day MA at $677.52, and technical analysis shows resistance around 675-676, making the 675/680 call spread an ideal range-bound bearish strategy. Market intelligence notes volatility in tech and cautious Fed outlook, supporting range-bound or slightly bearish near-term sentiment. Given the very short time to expiry, theta decay works strongly in favor of selling premium. The expected move of Β±$10.59 aligns well with the spread width and breakeven, providing a reasonable risk/reward.
π Pro Analysis
β’ IV Rank 100% strongly favors selling premium
β’ Expected daily move Β±$10.59 supports defined risk spread width
β’ Put/Call volume ratio 0.00 indicates strong call interest but also potential for short squeeze riskβhence limiting risk with a spread is prudent
β’ Technical resistance near 675-676 supports bearish call spread thesis
β’ No major economic events until December (Fed Dec 10, NFP Dec 5), reducing event risk in next 4 days
π Market Overview
SPY is in a cautious environment with implied volatility elevated due to recent tech sector volatility and Fed uncertainty. The price is below the 20-day moving average (677.52), with resistance at 675-676 confirmed by intraday price action and technical analysis. The market shows a slight bearish bias intraday despite futures gains, consistent with a short-term range or mild pullback. The dividend yield is modest at 1.08%, not a major factor here. Sector rotation and earnings from mega-caps like Nvidia are influencing sentiment but not causing a clear breakout. Selling a call spread near resistance is aligned with this cautious technical and fundamental backdrop.
β οΈ Risk Assessment
β’ Max loss limited to $340 per spread, defined risk
β’ Breakeven at 676.60, just above resistance, so price would need a strong breakout to cause loss
β’ Short time frame reduces exposure to unexpected events
β’ Heavy call buying could cause short squeeze risk, but limited by spread structure
β’ Monitor price action closely; consider closing if SPY breaks above 680
π‘ Trade Management
β’ Enter limit order to sell 675 call and buy 680 call for net credit around $1.60
β’ Target profit: 50-70% of credit ($0.80-$1.10) within 2-3 days if price stays below 675
β’ Stop loss: Close if SPY moves decisively above 680 or technical support breaks below 668
β’ Time stop: Close 1 day before expiration to avoid gamma risk
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This trade balances the high IV environment, technical resistance, and short-term expected move for a high-confidence, defined-risk premium selling strategy on SPY at $671.47.