==Barron's : Goldman Sachs is regaining its touch

"How Goldman Sachs Is Regaining Its Touch" — Barron's cover story by Jack Hough:

• "As with other big corporations, Goldman could benefit from the Trump administration’s lighter regulatory touch. It will definitely gain from a deep cut to corporate taxes and full access to overseas cash, even if the firm must mark down some tax assets and pay a one-time repatriation tax."
• "More significantly, when trading conditions improve, FICC [fixed income, currency, and commodities] could bounce back quickly."
• Why it matters: "No one else is as poised as Goldman to profit."
• "With trading humbled, the firm is more diversified than it was before the financial crisis. And it is becoming more prosperous, as it expands in mergers, lending, and money management; buys back stock; and invests in technology."
• "Whether improvements come from external conditions, organic growth, or a mix of the two, the conversation could quickly shift from Goldman’s fall from past trading glory to its relative value."

CNBC reco: Jon Najarian Sees Unusual Activity in KSS & LULU

• source investitute.com; April 19, 2017
• charts several months later: options trades did NOT work out

KSS

Traders are buying a few thousand May 42.50 calls, selling puts against them to create a bullish spread. Jon thinks the stock trades higher into earnings, will be in it for 2-3 weeks.

LULU

Jon saw some unusual activity in LULU a few weeks ago and has been holding the name in light of some private equity speculators coming into the name. Jon sold some puts in LULU a few weeks ago, and is holding May call options until expiration.

CNBC reco: ADI calls (Jon Najarian)

• Sept 6:  Najarian buys October $87  calls  (stock at $82)

• Oct. 20: expiration day

• 6 months later

Options trade : UNH (Dec 2013)

from http://theoptionspecialist.com/2013/12/18/puts-unitedhealth/

Short Puts (from http://www.optionmonster.com/education/short_puts.php)

Short puts are a bullish to neutral strategy.

Selling puts are often seen as a way to make money in a neutral market. Having chosen the strike and expiration date of an options contract, your sale is a credit and adds cash to your account. If the short put is "cash secured," which is often prudent, it means you to have enough cash in your account to purchase the stock at the designated strike. For instance, if you sold a 30 put for $1, you would have $3,000 cash in your account, in order to buy 100 shares of stock for $30 if assigned. (Note: Your broker may require short puts to be cash secured, or may have different margin requirements.)

• They can generate extra income in your account.
• The risk is the same as owning the stock, minus the credit for selling the put.
• They can be a good way to acquire stock.
• They are equivalent to covered calls, but may offer some advantages.
• The maximum gain is capped, while the risk is the same as owning the stock.