The LEAPS Option Trader
105 W. Monument Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Friday, December 9, 2005
#291
** Ending 2005 With a Bang
Our portfolio of LEAPS is doing spectacularly, after a slow start in 2005. Going into the New Year, we are positioned for profits in most of our current holdings. These holdings cover most of the major sectors in the markets that have been outperforming, including upcoming profits in Chesapeake Energy, profits in Interactive Corp., Lexar, Microsoft and, of course, our continued gains on our Placer Dome position.
On the short side, we are sitting on 30% gains in Target Corp, a position that should be volatile in the weeks ahead as Christmas sales are released. The shares are looking tired, however, and with Wal-Mart on the warpath, we should see further gains in the position.
In a week or so, Barrick Gold will make some noise on the Placer acquisition proposal. It will either up its offer, bail out, or be outbid. Fortunately, the market is valuing Placer at levels higher than the original bid, leaving me with the distinct impression that regardless of Barrick’s next move, Placer’s value is being recognized by the market, especially with gold prices in the $500 range.
I am looking at a couple of sectors right now, and should have a new pick soon.
Regards,
Karim Rahemtulla
Current Portfolio:
Company / Symbol: Target (NYSE: TGT)
Option / Symbol: Jan. 08 $50 put (WDH-MJ)
Date Purchased: 10/20/05
Current Price: $5.40
Comment: Hold.
Company / Symbol: Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT)
Option / Symbol: Jan. 08 $30 call (WMF-AF)
Date Purchased: 8/8/05
Current Price: $2.55
Comment: Hold.
Company / Symbol: Sun Microsystems (Nasdaq: SUNW)
Option / Symbol: Jan. 08 $5 call (WSU-AA)
Date Purchased: 7/27/05
Current Price: $0.95
Comment: Hold.
Company / Symbol: Doral Financial (NYSE: DRL)
Option / Symbol: Jan. 07 $20 call (OVL-AD)
Date Purchased: 5/6/05
Current Price: $0.40
Comment: Hold.
Company / Symbol: S&P 500 MITT (AMEX: MCP)
Date Purchased: 7/18/03
Current Price: $11.15
Comment: Hold.
Bull & Bear Spreads
Company / Symbol: Placer Dome (NYSE: PDG)
Option / Symbol: Buy Jan. 08 $17.50 call (YDI-AW)
Date Purchased: 9/19/05
Current Price: $6.10
Comment: Hold
Company / Symbol: Placer Dome (NYSE: PDG)
Option / Symbol: Sell Jan. 08 $25 call (YDI-AE)
Date Purchased: 9/19/05
Current Price: $2.50
Comment: Sold call against Jan. 08 $17.50 position.
Company / Symbol: International Game Technology (NYSE: IGT)
Option / Symbol: Buy Jan. 08 $30 call (WGG-AF)
Date Purchased: 9/6/05
Current Price: $5.40
Comment: Hold
Company / Symbol: International Game Technology (NYSE: IGT)
Option / Symbol: Sell Jan. 08 $40 call (WGG-AH)
Date Purchased: 9/6/05
Current Price: $1.95
Comment: Sold call against Jan. 08 $30 position.
Company / Symbol: Lexar (Nasdaq: LEXR)
Option / Symbol: Jan. 07 $7.50 call (VRF-AU)
Date Purchased: 10/7/05
Current Price: $2.55
Comment: Hold
Company / Symbol: Lexar (Nasdaq: LEXR)
Option / Symbol: Sell Jan. 07 $12.50 call (VRF-AV)
Date Sold: 10/7/05
Current Price: $0.95
Comment: Hold. Sold call against Jan. 07 $7.50 position.
Company / Symbol: Energy Select SPDR (AMEX: XLE)
Option / Symbol: Jan. 07 $39 put (ORJ-MM)
Date Purchased: 3/1/05
Current Price: $0.80
Comment: Hold.
Company / Symbol: Energy Select SPDR (AMEX: XLE)
Option / Symbol: Sell Jan. 07 $37 put (ORJ-MK)
Date Sold: 3/30/05
Current Price: $0.65
Comment: Hold. Sold put against Jan. 07 $39 position.
Company / Symbol: Interactive Corp. (Nasdaq: IACI)
Option / Symbol: Jan. 07 $25 call (VSW-AE)
Date Purchased: 9/14/04
Current Price: $5.40
Comment: Hold.
Company / Symbol: Interactive Corp. (Nasdaq: IACI)
Option / Symbol: Sell Jan. 07 $30 call (VSW-AF)
Date Sold: 12/10/04
Current Price: $2.65
Comment: Hold. Sold call against Jan 07 $25 position.
Company / Symbol: Nokia (NYSE: NOK)
Option / Symbol: Jan. 06 $22.50 call (NAY-AX)
Date Purchased: 8/29/03
Current Price: $0.05
Comment: Hold.
Company / Symbol: Nokia (NYSE: NOK)
Option / Symbol: Sell Jan. 06 $30 call (NAY-AF)
Date Sold: 2/9/04
Current Price: $0.05
Comment: Hold. Sold call against Jan. 06 $22.50 position.
Company / Symbol: Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK)
Option / Symbol: Jan. 06 $12.50 call (CHK-AV)
Date Purchased: 7/28/03
Current Price: $18.50
Comment: Hold.
Company / Symbol: Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK)
Option / Symbol: Sold Jan. 06 $15 call (CHK-AC)
Date Sold: 11/6/03
Current Price: $16.50
Comment: Hold. Sold call against Jan. 06 $12.50 position.
Bio:
Karim Rahemtulla is the former Investment Director of The Oxford Club. The editor of The Smart Options E-Report, The Income Trader – A Covered Call Strategy and The LEAPS Option Trader, Karim is also a regular contributor to The Oxford Club Communiqué. His highly successful trading systems use covered calls and LEAPS to boost returns on blue chip stocks, and during the bear markets of 2000 and 2001, his picks outperformed the major market averages. Educated in England, Canada and the U.S. and fluent in several languages, Karim travels the world to find the best investment opportunities for our members.
Copyright – 2005 Mt Vernon Options Club. Mt Vernon Options Club does not act as an investment advisor or advocate the purchase or sale of any security or investment. Mt Vernon Options Club expressly forbids its writers from having a financial interest in any security recommended to its readers. All of our employees and agents must wait 24 hours after an Internet publication prior to following an initial recommendation. And for hard-copy-only publications, 72 hours after the publication is mailed. Investments recommended in this letter should be made only after consulting with your investment advisor and only after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company. Mt Vernon Options Club provides its members with unique opportunities to build and protect wealth, globally, under all market conditions. The executive staff, research department and editors who contribute to recommendations are proud of the reputation Mt Vernon Options Club has built since its inception in 1984. We believe the advice presented to its members in our published resources and at our meetings and seminars is the best and most useful available to global investors today. The recommendations and analysis presented to members is for the exclusive use of members. Copying or disseminating any information published by Mt Vernon Options Club, electronic or otherwise is strictly prohibited. Members should be aware that investment markets have inherent risks and there can be no guarantee of future profits. Likewise, past performance does not assure future results. Recommendations are subject to change at any time.
