Barrick Wins… So Do We

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The LEAPS Option Trader
105 W. Monument Street
Baltimore, MD 21201

Thursday, December 22, 2005

Alert - #293

** Barrick Wins… So Do We

Barrick Gold (NYSE: ABX) and Placer Dome (NYSE: PDG) agreed to a merger today, valuing Placer’s shares at $22.50. Unless another bidder comes in, our bull spread on Placer will be profitable. The $17.50 calls that we own will be worth $5, and our $25 calls that we sold against the position will be worthless, theoretically.

Both options should soon reflect the agreement, and I will follow the developments closely and issue instructions on what to do.

Regards,

Karim Rahemtulla

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Current Portfolio:

Company / Symbol: Tiffany (NYSE: TIF)
Option / Symbol: Jan. 08 $35 put (WTF-MG)
Date Purchased: 12/19/05
Current Price:  $3.80
Comment:  Hold.

Company / Symbol: Target (NYSE: TGT)
Option / Symbol: Jan. 08 $50 put (WDH-MJ)
Date Purchased: 10/20/05
Current Price:  $5.00
Comment:  Hold.

Company / Symbol: Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT)
Option / Symbol: Jan. 08 $30 call (WMF-AF)
Date Purchased: 8/8/05Current Price:  $1.90
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:  $0.45
Comment:  Hold.

Company / Symbol: S&P 500 MITT (AMEX: MCP)
Date Purchased:  7/18/03
Current Price:  $11.22
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:  $5.00
Comment:  Hold

Company / Symbol: Placer Dome (NYSE: PDG)
Option / Symbol: Sell Jan. 08 $25 call (YDI-AE)
Date Purchased: 9/19/05
Current Price:  $1.80
Comment:  Hold. 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:  $5.60
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:  $1.80
Comment:  Hold. 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:  $2.65
Comment:  Hold

Company / Symbol: Lexar (Nasdaq: LEXR)
Option / Symbol: Sell Jan. 07 $12.50 call (VRF-AV)
Date Sold: 10/7/05Current Price:  $0.90
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:  $0.85
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:  $0.75
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:  $21.70
Comment:  Hold.

Company / Symbol:  Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK)
Option / Symbol:  Sold Jan. 06 $15 call (CHK-AC)
Date Sold:  11/6/03
Current Price:  $18.20
Comment:  Hold. Sold call against Jan. 06 $12.50 position.

end WP import block

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