The tiresome oscillations of the last two weeks have lacked the kind of targeted thrusts that might have made shorting this vehicle a piece of cake. Assuming no such easy opportunity materializes on Friday, the final trading day of 2017, I’d still prefer to take a few puts home over the long weekend — just for the heck of it. Yes, stocks could open with an insane leap higher in the first few days of the new year, as they often have. But my gut feeling is that a downbeat start is at least somewhat more likely. That said, I just don’t have it in me to simply pay up for some puts, come-what-may. But I will, however, recommend bidding 0.35 for four Jan 6 198 puts, day order. The bid is based on the 0.29 Hidden Pivot target for this option shown in the chart (see inset). Consider it a lottery ticket if the order fills.
