'dorr9352' pid='16677' datel Wrote:Hi Option, Although I can understand your reason of concern, I believe your overthinking what may happen with PPS. Best off to relax a little bit, use the KISS method, and enjoy a gradual rise in PPS through to end of month and a greater PPS increase after that point. Granted there may be a slight pullback during week of expiration to a level depending on where Max pain is, but from now until then and thereafter I fully expect a positive increase in PPS. Will most likely go up to 66 -70 for next week to week and a half, then retreat to 62 area for week of expiration and then rise to 70 - 75 by end of month. The way I see it, all is good, and while I do not expect it to go straight up (barring unexpected news) I think its extremely favorable to increase positively through to end of month. We will probably start to see greater price swings each day this month than we have recently though. Sit tight and be happy. Just my opinion, for what its worth. Best to ya.

75 is my target too by the end of February, with a pop to 100 sometime in March.  Of course, I've been overly optimistic in the past and that might be why I may be overthinking the shorts strategy.  I can't think of a time in the past where I have been as confident as I am today, However, it seems everytime I get too optimistic those darn shorts pull a rabbit out of the hat.  Of course, this could be the time where they don't.  Geeze, after 7 years with IOC, it's got to happen sooner than later. I've talked about IOC to my wife for so long, she is now getting me coffee cups and baseball hats for Christmas and Birthdays that have letters IOC on them.  I've even thought about getting a personalized tag that says IOC@150

'Optionray' pid='16676' datel Wrote:

What a Dilemma!  Over the next 5 weeks, you / I might expect the PPS to increase, but what if it starts to get driven down?  Is that a buying opportunity because the shorts are trying to artifically drive down the price so that they may cover (similiar to last weeks action).  Or, is it because they are aware of something that we longs aren't aware of yet?

You could/might also think that they (shorts) may let the PPS rise, so that they have an opportunity to short again at a higher level, but wouldn't that be kinda risky, especially if there is a short squeeze or a buy out, ultimately triggering margin calls?.

 Just strategizing  if I should hold tight with my current position, or start loading when/if the shorts try to drive the price down in a last ditch effort.  - What are you going to do?

Looks like I'm buying!

'Optionray' pid='16941' datel Wrote:

'Optionray' pid='16676' datel Wrote:

What a Dilemma!  Over the next 5 weeks, you / I might expect the PPS to increase, but what if it starts to get driven down?  Is that a buying opportunity because the shorts are trying to artifically drive down the price so that they may cover (similiar to last weeks action).  Or, is it because they are aware of something that we longs aren't aware of yet?

You could/might also think that they (shorts) may let the PPS rise, so that they have an opportunity to short again at a higher level, but wouldn't that be kinda risky, especially if there is a short squeeze or a buy out, ultimately triggering margin calls?.

 Just strategizing  if I should hold tight with my current position, or start loading when/if the shorts try to drive the price down in a last ditch effort.  - What are you going to do?

Looks like I'm buying!

Folks,

I am not an options expert so I have a question.  Are th shorts getting hurt by a short squeeze?  My thoughts are that if the shorts are hedged in cheap out of the money calls, isn't it in the shorts best interest for the stock to go down in price or for the stock to skyrocket in price?  It seems they can make money if the stock goes down, or if the stock goes up dramatically.  It seems a stagnant stock price is the worst for the shorts.  Just my simple thoughts; I'm I wrong?

Good luck longs.