Robert Lang

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Bob Lang has been a private trader in equity and option markets for several years and manages separate accounts via Aztec Capital LLC. He has managed a $300 million pension and 401(k) plan for a Southern California cooperative.Expand

In early 2000, Lang started a hedge fund for private and institutional clients. This fund, Aztec Partners, was a top-performing fund that year relative to its peer group. In 2002, Lang worked with floor traders in the active bond-trading group of Countrywide Capital Markets. In May 2011, Lang launched an options trading service called Explosive Options.Collapse

By

Robert Lang

 | May 16, 2012 | 2:47 PM EDT

Roger did a great job talking about the minutes. What is fascinating is the

comments about 'ready to do something if the recovery falters' is something that

has been present for at least 2 1/2 years. Regardless of the swaying Fed

opinions to 'do or not to do' the consensus has not changed in that period of

time. Frankly, it won't change much unless/until the economy is out of harm's

way. I don't know when/where that might be but clearly we're not there yet.

The Fed minutes from the June meeting will be much more interesting to read

(just after July 4 I believe). as the discussion will likely be more than just

monetary policy.

By

Robert Lang

 | May 16, 2012 | 11:30 AM EDT

When momentum is strong, this play can be very rewarding for traders who are bold and nimble.

By

Robert Lang

 | May 16, 2012 | 7:55 AM EDT

Appears CITIC Securities in China (largest investment bank by market cap) has purchased the algorithmic platform of Progress Software. I'm not sure if the Chinese are new entrants into the world of HFT but as we can plainly see this technique is not going away. While the laws in the U.S. may change don't expect that to have much effect on how others outside our borders trade and what platform is used.

Here is the link to the story.

By

Robert Lang

 | May 16, 2012 | 7:39 AM EDT

As I was reading Doug K's diary Tuesday I ran across some of the best comments

about this current market and the saga we are in, bears repeating. Some day

it'll change but for now, play it to give yourself a chance.

Unnatural

May 15, 2012 | 3:51 PM EDT

* Tough game.

The market acts so badly that it is probably a buy now, but as I see it, a

limitation of natural players (who are now increasingly worn out) leaves the

casino in the hands of the algorithms and high-frequency traders.

So, in essence, short trading becomes a guess on the direction of those

programs.

Tough game.

By

Robert Lang

 | May 15, 2012 | 1:42 PM EDT

It seems every tick down for the last two weeks in oil means a drop from

stocks. The correlation is getting much stronger now, nearly joined at the

hip. Other commodities have gotten pasted here (gold, silver, copper) which is

probably reacting to a stronger dollar. Multinationsls will also suffer from a

strong buck from a trade/exchange standpoint. The market has been jerked around

recently by some alleged innocuous news but that has proved incorrect. The

recent news has been rather damaging. What troubles me is the inconsistency of

the market patterns, whether going up or down --- it doesn't matter to me. The

messiness of the markets still have me on hold until some patterns develop that

I can recognize as reliable.

By

Robert Lang

 | May 14, 2012 | 2:19 PM EDT

As I wrote in my earlier article today the time to be brave and bold is not

now. Oil continues lower (off the lows barely) and is still driving the

action. Greece - who knows? The VIX still portrays some fear as it is near

the key 21 area but make no mistake, I am not diving into this market. I don't

have to stick my hand on the previous hot stove to test if it is still hot,

especially if there is heat coming off. I don't believe fear is warranted and

with the extreme oversold nature of the markets we are looking at a very

powerful rally coming. The rubber band is stretched and will snap soon. I am

contrarian by nature but am not into catching knives, preferring to wait and see

if the bottom develops along with a nice base. So far most stocks are

exhibiting heavy distribution, another key signal to stay out of the way.

By

Robert Lang

 | May 13, 2012 | 5:30 PM EDT

With bombshells coming from every corner of the sky, do be cautious and very selective here.

By

Robert Lang

 | May 11, 2012 | 3:58 PM EDT

Margin....so be ready to post margin on a short put play.

By

Robert Lang

 | May 11, 2012 | 3:54 PM EDT

Step back and consider the overall market environment.

By

Robert Lang

 | May 11, 2012 | 3:41 PM EDT

Yes, there is a chance of it out there. Follow me closely here if you would

like to pick it up here cheaper. The Sept 35 put currently trades around 2.30.

Let's say you wanted to own 500 shares of stock but were worried it could come

in more. You could sell 5 of these puts and take in the premium (2.30 x 500)

and sit there until Sept arrives. If the stock stays above 35 by that expiration

then you keep the premium, a very nice 26% annualized return (6% for the four

months). Let's say the stock goes to 34 by expiration. You are put the stock

at 35, but since your pocketed 2.3 of premium to help pay for it your cost is

actually 32.70. You could also do this again with a lower strike afterward - or

possible sell some calls against the stock (35 calls?) to take in more premium.

So, what is the risk here? Not much until you are below your cost of 32.70. As

reference, Stephanie Link tells me the tangible book is 34.17 currently, and we

more than likely won't fall below that marker. I am not a fan of just jumping

in and buying at some arbitrary number, but the reward/risk here seems rather

compelling. Volume is heavy today, selling very strong.

ECB Sinks Stocks Again

By

David Peltier

 | May 16, 2012 | 4:04 PM EDT

U.S. stocks again gave up early gains and finished Wednesday lower. And Europe was the culprit, as the European Central Bank (ECB) is reportedly...

Credit markets ugly

By

Tom Graff

 | May 16, 2012 | 2:58 PM EDT

Stocks are hovering around flat, but the credit market is trading very poorly. Bid-wanteds in cash are rolling in, especially in the go-go...

Afternoon Update

By

Scott Redler

 | May 16, 2012 | 2:50 PM EDT

Markets filled the opening upside gap but can't get any momentum below yesterday's Low of 133.13—low of the day is 132.95---  I still say the...

Something We Already Knew

By

Robert Lang

 | May 16, 2012 | 2:47 PM EDT

Roger did a great job talking about the minutes. What is fascinating is the

comments about 'ready to do something if the recovery falters...

10 Year US Treasury Yield...

By

Roger Arnold

 | May 16, 2012 | 2:45 PM EDT

...now at 1.75%...8 basis points above the record low

Fed Minutes...

By

Roger Arnold

 | May 16, 2012 | 2:26 PM EDT

The minutes are 25 pages long versus 9 for March and 31 for January. The

FOMC meets every 6 weeks, so some months have no meeting.

...

The Smartest Guys In The ROOM ...

By

Alan Farley

 | May 16, 2012 | 2:22 PM EDT

. have turned out to be the retail investors/traders, deciding the market

was crooked beyond repair, refusing to fund their IRA with...

Fed Minutes Out...

By

Roger Arnold

 | May 16, 2012 | 2:07 PM EDT

......

Darden

By

Brian Sozzi

 | May 16, 2012 | 12:16 PM EDT

Adding it to my watch list yesterday, was feeling the action compared

to the down market. Getting some big follow through today. Looking...

Railroad Name Sets Up Nicely

By

Ken Shreve

 | May 16, 2012 | 11:59 AM EDT

Some decent movement in the railroad group today. One of the best-looking charts, in my view, belongs to Union Pacific (UNP). Good...

Midday Update

By

Scott Redler

 | May 16, 2012 | 11:08 AM EDT

Markets are bouncing today as headlines about wanting to keep Greece in the eurozone are floating around.

I think that won't happen,...

With Dougie gone today

By

Helene Meisler

 | May 16, 2012 | 10:23 AM EDT

I will take the liberty of putting the gun to my head and saying I think today the pattern changes.

why? oils and materials trying to play...

A Look at the Market

By

Ken Shreve

 | May 16, 2012 | 10:00 AM EDT

After a crummy session for stocks Tuesday, major averages are still in search of Day 1 of a rally attempt. It sure would be nice to see gains hold...

GE Capital resumes dividend

By

Bret Jensen

 | May 16, 2012 | 9:56 AM EDT

Good to see GE Capital resume its dividend to its parent. This should

provide the ammunition for GE to boost its dividend to at least 4%...

Another LNG export facility in the making

By

Glenn Williams

 | May 16, 2012 | 9:43 AM EDT

Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A), Korea Gas, Mitsubishi and PetroChina (PTR) are

planning a large LNG export facility on the West Coast of Canada...

Home Builders are Up BIG...

By

Roger Arnold

 | May 16, 2012 | 9:25 AM EDT

... in the premarket following the April construction report indicating

starts are up above expectations... TOL, LEN and HOV, are up 1, 2,...

Oil Prices Down...

By

Roger Arnold

 | May 16, 2012 | 8:42 AM EDT

... Oil company shares up... I don't understand what's driving that

dynamic... All major oil companies worldwide are up with Norway's...

JCP is Down...

May 16, 2012 | 8:32 AM EDT

... another 15% in the premarket even as TGT is up 2%... although the

markets are indicating a belief that JCP's woes are unique to them I...

European Banks Rally...

By

Roger Arnold

 | May 16, 2012 | 8:04 AM EDT

...1-3% on average on relief that decisions about Greece have been kicked

for a month... hopefully anyway... it is still possible that...

It was All Aligned for Abercrombie, to Do Poorly

By

Brian Sozzi

 | May 16, 2012 | 8:04 AM EDT

I was not a fan of the stock pre-earnings, and am still not a fan

having sliced and diced the numbers pre-earnings call. We have a

...

QE-Wheeeeee

By

Alan Farley

 | May 16, 2012 | 7:59 AM EDT

The 2pm FOMC minutes will be the day's focal point, with bulls hoping that

Big Ben will back up the helicopter and save the stock market....

As If the HFT in the U.S. and Europe Were Not Enough...

By

Robert Lang

 | May 16, 2012 | 7:55 AM EDT

Appears CITIC Securities in China (largest investment bank by market cap) has purchased the algorithmic platform of Progress Software. I'm not...

Greek 10 Year Yields...

By

Roger Arnold

 | May 16, 2012 | 7:45 AM EDT

...back over 30% today. The financial media have focused on the Greek government turmoil. However, I will reiterate that the new French...

How Greece Might Play Out

By

Bret Jensen

 | May 16, 2012 | 7:40 AM EDT

Excellent article on the numerous impacts to Greece and Europe if the

country has to leave the European Union in Bloomberg this morning....

Worth Mentioning Again

By

Robert Lang

 | May 16, 2012 | 7:39 AM EDT

As I was reading Doug K's diary Tuesday I ran across some of the best comments

about this current market and the saga we are in, bears...

Trade by Your Rules

By

Scott Redler

 | May 16, 2012 | 7:17 AM EDT

Overseas Headlines continue to control this market as seems the foot that keeps kicking this can down the road is getting a bit...

Quick Morning Notes

By

Brian Sozzi

 | May 16, 2012 | 6:33 AM EDT

It seems as if only a couple of days ago we were toying with 1340 on

the S&P 500.=A0 Now, the S&P 500 has closed below prior 1340...

No surprise on JCP if you followed me on Real Money Pro in January

By

Paul Price

 | May 15, 2012 | 6:43 PM EDT

You could have profited from the JCP debacle if you read my Jan. 27, 2012

article...

_Not Buying JC Penney's Optimism_

...

Heart of Down Wave

By

Avi Gilburt

 | May 15, 2012 | 6:08 PM EDT

By Avi Gilburt

These are the types of trade set ups we like to see. Today, we were able to narrow down a short trade set up to within one...

JC Penneys Earnings Disaster

By

Alan Farley

 | May 15, 2012 | 4:27 PM EDT

20% year over year revenue decline. Golden boy CEO Johnson could be gone in

a year at this rate. Trading at 29.40, down 4 from the close...

JCP is Getting Crushed...

By

Roger Arnold

 | May 15, 2012 | 4:22 PM EDT

...in the after market on a bad earnings report

Greece's Long Shadow

By

David Peltier

 | May 15, 2012 | 4:07 PM EDT

It was a volatile day for U.S. stocks, which ended Tuesday lower. The debt crisis in Greece overshadowed strong economic headlines at home and in...

Late-Day Update

By

Scott Redler

 | May 15, 2012 | 3:40 PM EDT

Markets just took out the low of the day, $133.84 on the SPY as well as the premarket low of $133.61.

The next level we've been talking...

Oil Still Driving the Bus

By

Robert Lang

 | May 15, 2012 | 1:42 PM EDT

It seems every tick down for the last two weeks in oil means a drop from

stocks. The correlation is getting much stronger now, nearly...

Big Move by Tecumseh

By

Jonathan Heller

 | May 15, 2012 | 12:13 PM EDT

TECUA, TECUB up more than 60% today; 13D filed by Roumell Asset Management,

which now owns 21.6% of Class A shares, 12.9% of Class B shares...

That down-draft

By

Helene Meisler

 | May 15, 2012 | 11:37 AM EDT

This surprised me since it crushed the commodity stocks which are already so down and out. By a fraction, there were fewer new lows today than...

Martin Luther and the Eurzone

By

Kamal Khan

 | May 15, 2012 | 11:30 AM EDT

Great post about religious doctrine predicting currency union. Tip of the hat to @theartofthexpat for pointing out.

...

Headline-Driven Action

By

Scott Redler

 | May 15, 2012 | 10:36 AM EDT

Very sloppy trading, as we are driven by every headline out of Greece!

Some longs are working, and some short. Very mixed.

The...

Cerner Is Acting Well

By

Ken Shreve

 | May 15, 2012 | 10:20 AM EDT

One of my favorite health care names continues to be Cerner (CERN). The health care information technology firm caters to...

A Senator's take on EPA regulations

By

Glenn Williams

 | May 15, 2012 | 9:18 AM EDT

Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee discussed new and pending EPA rules at

a breakfast conference with Politico this morning. He believes...

Resmed [RMD] - Now #1 ranked by Zacks

By

Paul Price

 | May 15, 2012 | 9:05 AM EDT

Sleep apnea treatment company Resmed [RMD] was featured in my Dec. 13, 2011

Real Money Pro article when the shares were trading for $25....

Retail Sales

By

Gene Balas

 | May 15, 2012 | 9:05 AM EDT

Retail sales came in a bit soft this morning, with an increase of 0.1%, both with and without autos, following a 0.7% gain that was previously...

Europeans Loving Their Bargains

By

Brian Sozzi

 | May 15, 2012 | 9:04 AM EDT

The European division for TJ Maxx (TJX) led the company in terms of

same-store sales at 13% growth. Easy year earlier comparison or not...

Can the Market Hold Early-Morning Gains?

By

Scott Redler

 | May 15, 2012 | 8:08 AM EDT

Markets don't to want to give the "easy set up"  Most traders were hoping for a Gap down to buy, and some for a gap down to...

Banks...

By

Roger Arnold

 | May 15, 2012 | 8:07 AM EDT

US banks are up across the board in pre-market activity by about 1%.

Italian, French and UK banks are down in London and the European...

Positive survey results from corporate market could bode well for overall market

May 15, 2012 | 8:02 AM EDT

A new Amex survey out shows corporations are migrating from a cash hoarding

stance to a more agressive strategy of using funds for...

China...

By

Roger Arnold

 | May 15, 2012 | 7:58 AM EDT

Foreign Direct Investment in China has decreased for a 6 month in a row,

through April. The net decline is attributable however almost...

Dick's Sporting Goods Goes on the Shopping List

By

Brian Sozzi

 | May 15, 2012 | 7:47 AM EDT

Dick's Sporting Goods (DKS) is a best of best in breed stock to be put

(or traced over) on a list of names to return to once the market...

Sovereigns Yields Higher...

By

Roger Arnold

 | May 15, 2012 | 7:34 AM EDT

... almost everywhere... very interesting... 10 year yields:

First Tier Countries:

US, Germany and Japan - up by 3,3, and 1 basis...

Where I See the Letdown in Home Depot Numbers

By

Brian Sozzi

 | May 15, 2012 | 7:11 AM EDT

Score another one for Mr. Market who bid down Home Depot (HD) shares

ahead of the quarter. Despite the pullback, there are pockets of...

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