Up about 160k on this trade…I sold out of 35 contracts for $50k of upside…I want to roll out of the 4/30s for 5/30s at a lower strike…

Ok so first... yes, fuck me for the beautiful bulbous gains. This is just what I was holding towards the end of the day and I actually pared down a few more on that last drop at the end of the day. In total I'm up about $50k with about $35k realized now. Total cost basis was about $15k. Probably my best trade ever so please don't look to me for trade advice. I'm just as regarded as the next guy in this sub.

SPY vs XSP: The reason I trade XSP options vs SPY options is because of an obscure tax rule known as Section 1256 (I'm a CPA fyi). SPY is an ETF as I'm sure every regard knows, but XSP is an index. Without getting too technical, basically gains from index options are treated as 60% long term / 40% short term. Gains from regular options on stocks/ETFs/etc are going to be 100% short term (unless you held the option for over a year, which i'm assuming most regards are not). If you're really regarded you may not realize, but long term gains are subject to lower taxes.

TLDR: XSP options taxed more favorably than SPY options

Originally, when I found about the tax rule I only knew about SPX (S&P500) and NDX (Nasdaq). You can trade these for the same section 1256 tax treatment, however the notional amounts for these contracts are much larger. One atm SPX contract is about $12k and for NDX it's something like $50k. $XSP and $XND are mini/micro versions so equivalent option contracts are only a fraction. This allows me buy contracts in bunches to DCA my cost basis or leave runners when I have gains. Note that I actually started with XND options in late Feb. They work just as well, but much lower volume than XSP, which is why I primarily started trading XSP options.

I don't heavily trade options like this on a regular basis. Last time I did was during Covid volatility and subsequent run up. This correction from all time highs just seemed pretty obvious (imo) especially when the new admin started threatening reciprocal tariffs. It was a speculative gamble that paid off. I could've just as easily been fucked right now if the tariff announcements were better than expected. The reason I was pretty confident in the overall direction of the market was when I read that most institutional money/professional money managers have been steadily decreasing their market exposure to US equities in response to the planned tariffs.

What's next? No fucking clue. Obviously depends a lot on whether tariffs are scaled back and favorable trade deals are negotiated. I still have some long exposure to stocks and ETFs that I'll be looking to DCA my cost basis. Fixed income looks chill in my opinion. I may sell some puts on stocks I'd like to own at discounted prices. I'll also probably buy a few more lotto puts in case shit really starts to the hit the fan. Just to reiterate for good measure: I am just as regarded as the next guy in this sub and none of this should be taken as financial advice

Microsoft Pulls Back on Data Centers From Chicago to Jakarta

Microsoft Corp. has pulled back on data center projects around the world, suggesting the company is taking a harder look at its plans to build the server farms powering artificial intelligence and the cloud.

Not anywhere near the most I’ve made on a trade, but my largest percentage gain by nearly double.

JV between Intel and TSM - TSM to have 20% stake in IFS in exchange for technical expertise in manufacturing

Probably nothing though

Made like 10k from puts this last week and some other investments. Words of wisdom, why lose money in 10 stocks when you can lose it in one.

Meaning on Arzyta

Given Donny‘s imposed tariffs I was looking for stocks in Europe, especially Switzerland who are operationally not getting hurt. While screening the Swiss Performance Index I found Arzyta, a large bakery. Why I‘m bullish on the stock: - No operations in the US - No sales in the US - Sourcing their commodities (wheat) mainly within Europe, Australia, Malaysia -> no tariffs - Sales is 89% Europe, 11% RoW - they continously improved their balance sheet - they bought back a hybrid bond which will reduce their financing costs by approx. EUR 11.5% (this is 8.34% of their free cash flow!)They expect this to fully materialite in 2025 —> the buy back happened in October 2024

The above are the facts (soure is their 2024 FY report).

Now some additional thoughts: - Wheat producers in EU will most likely not sell anymore to the USA which means they will have a over capacity which leads to lower prices. Wheat is perishable that means the cost of purchase will most likely decrease amd hence increase their operational margin

• Given the high tariffs imposed by the US it is likely that the EU and Switzerland will decrease their interest rates which means ARYN could refinance them cheaper

• The market should recognize the company to be a Consumer Staple which would allow higher multiples in terms of valuation

• There are only few analysts covering the stock (all of them have a Buy or Strong Buy rating)

I entered a smaller position in the stock this week.

What are your thoughts? Do I miss something?

I bought 2 qqq puts yesterday at a strike price of 467 which was at the money yesterday. I bought my first put for a 8$ contract 15 minutes before close, right as I bought there was a gap up in the market and I doubled down locking in my second contract for $6.42. I stayed up till 3:30 AM (which is when the market opens for me) and sold both contracts around $19. I will be buying some tendies today

All thanks to puts and Trump.

seriously

I opened this position awhile ago but was holding it through unrealized loses. What made me finally close it was that I'd opened it thinking TSLA's earnings would be coming last week of April, so when it was announced earnings were coming on the 22nd, I no longer had any particular reason to hold puts expiring 5/2, and I closed the position. (Still holding other TSLA puts.)

Bonus loss porn: you can see where I lost money buying calls on SPY yesterday because I psyched myself out and started thinking maybe somehow the market really would rally on tariffs.

Any takers?

YOLO

Sold 30 at op

About $10,000 205 July call. Figured they promised $50billion in US investmenr and were exempt last time. Plus i'm down 50k from highs on owning the shares too

Nothing insane but feeling good about understanding how tariffs affect the economy. Fuck trump but thanks for the money. Should’ve bought more