Market dATA
DJ Index 100 points
Prices
Call 100 $1,000
Put 100 $600

Strategy name:

Long “Bear Call Spread” (Declining Market Spread).

 

Recommended use of strategy

Expectation of moderate decrease in the index, with a limited loss if we are mistaken and the index goes up.

 

Strategy components

Writing a call option of a certain strike price.

Buying a call option of a higher strike price.

For example, writing a Call 100 option for $1,000 and buying a Call 110 option for $600.

 

Expenses / Income from building the strategy

Income of $400.

 

Strategy graph:

1

 


Auxiliary table for building the profit line

 

DJ Index

(Horizontal axis)

(Fixed expense) / fixed income

Variable expenses

(Call 100)

Variable income (Call 110)

Total profit / (loss)

(Vertical axis)

2+3+4

Œ



Ž





50

$400

$400

60

$400

$400

70

$400

$400

80

$400

$400

90

$400

$400

100

$400

$400

110

$400

($1,000)

($600)

120

$400

($2,000)

$1,000

($600)

130

$400

($3,000)

$2,000

($600)

140

$400

($4,000)

$3,000

($600)

150

$400

($5,000)

$4,000

($600)

 

Strategy analysis:

Source of Loss

When the index goes up we lose on the Call 100 option which we wrote. But when the index goes over 110, the additional loss is offset by the Call 110 we bought.

                       

Source of profit        

The Profit derives from building the strategy, on which we profited $400, and does not increase.

 

Break-even point

When the loss on the Call 100 option equals the profit from the strategy – $400.

This occurs when the index is at 104 points.