Options Symbols, Including Mini: Generic, Schwab, Fidelity

In 2010 options symbols transitioned to a new terminology.   Unfortunately Fidelity and Schwab decided they didn’t want to use the standard, generic format, so they invented their own “better” version of the new symbols.   Here are the new formats: Generic, industry standard format: “SPY 10417C00114000”     (<symbol> <YYMMDD>  <C or P><5 digit whole dollar strike><3 digit decimal>). Schwab’s systems: “SPY 04/17/2010 114.00 …

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Free option charts

I have only found one site that offers completely free option charts for stocks, Exchange Traded Products, and indexes:  BigCharts.  I provide more information about it below. Recently Schwab (StreetSmart Pro)  and Fidelity (Active Trader Pro and standard web site) have started offering option charts to customers, but they require you to at least setup an account with them.  Neither of these use the “standard” …

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Where have all the sellers gone? Is fear in cash?

This bull run has been going on since the 8th of February.  A very long time without a correction in these uncertain times.   In watching the market action I have been surprised at the down days.   In-spite of the late January scary correction and market shocks that I would expect to send the S&P 500 down a percent or two, the market has shown remarkable …

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CVOL spreadsheet analysis

The spreadsheets (XLS or XLSX format) that can be purchased below backtest CVOL from Jan 2009 to December 2010. Approximately one and half months of real CVOL date was available when this spreadsheet was created, and the match to the backtesting was good.

Dividend History

  Links to a few selected pre-generated reports are shown below: DIA dividend history DVY dividend history IWM dividend history JNK dividend history LQD dividend history SPY dividend history TIP dividend history XLP dividend history XLU dividend history If you need dividend history on a non iShare / SPDR fund or stock then I recommend the DividendInvestor site.