Files
ai/gateway/knowledge/trading/strategies/options/ratio-call-spread.md
Tim Olson 47471b7700 Expand model tag support: add GLM-5.1, simplify Anthropic IDs, scan tags anywhere in message
- Flink update_bars debouncing
- update_bars subscription idempotency bugfix
- Price decimal correction bugfix of previous commit
- Add GLM-5.1 model tag alongside renamed GLM-5
- Use short Anthropic model IDs (sonnet/haiku/opus) instead of full version strings
- Allow @tags anywhere in message content, not just at start
- Return hasOtherContent flag instead of trimmed rest string
- Only trigger greeting stream when tag has no other content
- Update workspace knowledge base references to platform/workspace and platform/shapes
- Hierarchical knowledge base catalog
- 151 Trading Strategies knowledge base articles
- Shapes knowledge base article
- MutateShapes tool instead of workspace patch
2026-04-28 15:05:15 -04:00

1.6 KiB
Raw Blame History

description, tags
description tags
A neutral-to-bearish income strategy selling more near-ATM calls at K1 than ITM calls bought at K2 < K1, collecting premium with unlimited upside risk above the upper breakeven.
options
income
neutral
ratio-spread

Ratio Call Spread

Section: 2.38 | Asset Class: Options | Type: Income

Overview

The ratio call spread consists of a short position in N_S close to ATM call options with strike K1, and a long position in N_L ITM call options with strike K2 (K2 < K1), where N_L < N_S. Typically N_L = 1, N_S = 2 or N_L = 2, N_S = 3. This is an income strategy if structured as a net credit trade. The trader's outlook is neutral to bearish.

Construction

  • Sell N_S call options at strike K1 (near ATM)
  • Buy N_L call options at strike K2 (ITM, K2 < K1, N_L < N_S), same expiry

Net debit or credit H

Payoff Profile

f_T = N_L × (S_T - K2)+ - N_S × (S_T - K1)+ - H

  • Lower breakeven (if H > 0): S*_down = K2 + H/N_L
  • Upper breakeven: S*_up = (N_S × K1 - N_L × K2 - H) / (N_S - N_L)
  • Max profit: P_max = N_L × (K1 - K2) - H (in zone [K2, K1] range)
  • Max loss: L_max = unlimited (above the upper breakeven; net short calls)

Key Conditions / Signals

  • Neutral to mildly bearish; expects stock to remain below K1
  • Structured as a net credit when possible (income strategy)
  • High implied volatility makes the collected premium from extra short calls larger

Notes

Unlike the call ratio backspread (where N_L > N_S), here N_L < N_S, so there is net short call exposure above K1 creating unlimited upside risk. The maximum profit is achieved if the stock stays in the [K2, K1] zone at expiry.