samstrong

Yes you are right of course - thanks again for coming back, appreciated!

Thanks to you both - it seems the costs are very close then although I take your point about better execution. Whilst paper trading I was rather overlooking the impact of commissions - it means that in the case of BABA for example the spread has to move at least 7% odd to break even.

Thanks for your reply - I appreciate it. Just to be sure - when you say I have opened 42 spreads is that: May 16 77.5 Put 42 (number of contracts) May wk1 77.5 Put 42 May 16 80 Call 42 May wk1 80 CALL 42 .....If so your commissions are are significantly cheaper than Optionsxpress and I need to change my broker!

Thanks for your reply - I appreciate it. May 16 77.5 put 36 May wk1 77.5 put 36 May 16 80 Call 36 May wk1 80 36

As a new member I have been paper trading but today decided to enter the BABA trade with 36 contracts only to discover my commission was $215. So I can compare, would someone be able to tell me what their commission would be for doing that size on the whole trade - ie 144 contracts