Short Box (Arbitrage) Vs Covered Strangle Options Trading Strategy Comparison

Being risks free arbitrage strategy, this strategy can earn better return than earnings in interest from fixed deposits for any investor. The earning from this strategy varies with the strike price chosen by the trader. i.e. Earning from strike price '10400, 10700' will be different from strike price combination of '9800,11000'.

The short box strategy should be used when the component spreads are overpriced in relation to their expiration values. In most cases, the trader has to hold the position till expiry to gain the benefits of the price difference.

Note: If the spreads are underpriced, another strategy named Long Box (or Box Spread) can be used for a profit.

This strategy should be used by advanced traders as the gains are minimal. The brokerage payable when implementing this strategy can take away all the profits. This strategy should only be implemented when the fees paid are lower than the expected profit.

A covered strangle strategy can be used when you are bullish on the market but also want to cover any downside risk. You are prepared to sell the shares on profit but are also willing to buy more shares in case the prices fall.

The market view for this strategy is neutral. The movement in underlying security doesn't affect the outcome (profit/loss). This arbitrage strategy is to earn small profits irrespective of the market movements in any direction.

The Strategy is perfect to apply when you're bullish on the market and expecting less volatility in the market.

• Buy Call Option 2
• Sell Call Option 1
• Buy Put Option 2
• Sell Put Option 1 (2>1)

Say for XYZ stock, the component spread is relatively overpriced than its underlying. You can execute execute Short Box strategy by selling 1 ITM Call and 1 ITM Put while buying 1 OTM Call and 1 OTM Put. There is no risk of loss while the profit potential would be the difference between two strike prices minus net premium.

The covered strangle options strategy can be executed by buying 100 shares of a stock while simultaneously selling an OTM Put and Call of the same the stock and similar expiration date.

There are 2 break-even points in the covered strangle strategy. One is the Upper break even point which is the sum of strike price of the Call option and premium received while the other is the lower break-even point which is the difference strike price of short Put and premium received.

The Short Box Spread Options Strategy is a relatively risk-free strategy. There is no risk in the overall position because the losses in one spread will be neutralized by the gains in the other spread.

The trades are also risk-free as they are executed on an exchange and therefore cleared and guaranteed by the exchange.

The small risks of this strategy include:

1. The cost of trading - Some brokers charges high brokerage/fees, which along with the taxes could make the overall loss-making trade.
2. The box spread can be liquidated by an offsetting transaction easily and transparently on an exchange with minimal loss/profit.

The risk on this strategy is only on the downside when the price moves below the strike price of the Put option.

The reward in this strategy is the difference between the total cost of the box spread and its expiration value. Being an arbitrage strategy, the profits are very small.

It's an extremely low-risk options trading strategy.

The maximum profit on this strategy happens when the stock price is above the call price on expiry. The profit is the total of the gain from buying/selling stocks and net premium received on selling options.

You will earn the maximum profit when the price of the stock is above the Call option strike price on expiry. You will be assigned on the Call option, would be able to sell holding shares on profit while retaining the premiums received while selling the options.

The maximum loss would be when the stock price falls drastically and turns worthless. The premiums received while selling the options will compensate for some of the loss.

1. In short box, you are taking money in, so there's no capital tied up.
2. This is an Arbitrage strategy. This strategy is to earn small profits with very little or zero risks.

• As the strategy involves buying shares when prices fall, there is long-term gain even if their short-term loss.
• There is no upside risk due to the long position in stocks.
• Allows you to earn income in a moderately bullish market.

1. It's a professional strategy and not for retail investors. The opportunities are closely monitored by High-Frequency algorithms. These arbitrage opportunities are usually for the high-frequency algorithms and need large pools of money to make it worth it and usually with better brokerage commission schemes.
2. This strategy has high margin maintenance requirements and in many cases, the trader won't have the margin available to do that.
3. For retail investors, the brokerage commissions don't make this a viable strategy. Only low-fee traders can take advantage of this.
4. In theory, this strategy sounds good but in reality, it may not as profits are small.
5. Locking the box - Trader has to wait until to expiry by keeping the money stuck in the box.

• The substantial risk when the price moves downwards.
• Risk of assignments.

• Box Spread or Long Box