unkybill

Interested in subscribing, perhaps. I do calendar spreads. Can you send a sample chart of a calendar spread's performance prior to earnings date?

Jim, I had the same experience and posted the details of a written chat with OH about a week ago. In essence, the paper trading function they have is worthless.

Hi, everybody! Thanx for all your very constructive help in bringing me back to reality!!! I chatted with OH this AM and learned a lot! Here's the transcript: Becky W: Thank you for chatting, how can I help you today? William : I've run a couple of trades in my "paper" account lately and it appears that there were some errors. First trade ended with a small profit on a SPY butterfly, but the account says that all options expired worthless--not true. Second (most recent) trade seems to have used the wrong values when I opened the trade, showing a credit on a butterfly spread that should have been a debit. Please advise. There would be no sense in using this account if it is not accurate. Becky W: there can be limitations to the paper trading platform especially with advanced order tickets, it is just a practice paltform. Becky W: the market will not reflect exactly as the real market place William: So, in essence, what you're saying is that if I want to experiment with some ideas, don't use the paper account; use excel? Becky W: I am saying paper may have limitations and if you are looking for an exact mock of the mkt please take that into consideration Lesson well learned! Bill

Thanx for straightening this out. For a few minutes there, I thought I'd be a zillionaire. OH had screwed up another paper trade I'd done before joining SO. I will be in touch with them. Looking at their option tables tonight, it appears that there really isn't that much trading volume with these puts. I'm wondering whether or not there would be a problem filling a butterfly sell order like this one. Thanx again, Edboc!

I forgot to account for the call. The net would have been reduced to $10,350.

09/22/15 09:33:48 Trade Bought 5 SPX Nov-06-15 2150 call (SPXWK0615B215000) @ $.40 09/22/15 09:33:48 Trade Bought 5 SPX Oct-23-15 2000 put (SPXWV2315B200000) @ $54.10 09/22/15 09:33:48 Trade Sold 10 SPX Oct-23-15 1950 put (SPXWV2315B195000) @ $49.70 09/22/15 09:33:48 Trade Bought 5 SPX Oct-23-15 1900 put (SPXWV2315B190000) @ $20.60 Thanx, Mr. Edboc, for your interest. This is a partial copy (I left out the fees and commissions) as presented by OptionsHouse in their paper trading account. I ran this through my calculator, and I get a a $12,350.00 credit. Any thoughts?

OMG!!! I joined yesterday (yup, a real newbie) and took the SPX butterfly put trade, but on PAPER (RATS!!!!), as recommended. I didn't get the fill yesterday, so I made it a GTC order, which went off at 9:33 this AM. The "first-hour crazies" were all over the puts, so instead of paying $7.50 for the spread, as recommended, my account was CREDITED for $24.70 per share!!! My problem now is, despite placing asking prices throughout the day from $8.00 to $9.00 (as recommended) to sell the spread, and seeing the spread priced at levels at and around my asking prices all day long, I can't get anybody to buy it. I thought SPX was really liquid. Anybody have any comments that would help?