August Account Activity

August was an unpredictable month. I placed a total of 23 trades; five of them were closing positions. I often close my in-the-money calls to avoid early assignment. This month, I closed several puts prior to expiration to create additional margin room. Each time I close a position, I mitigate my losses by opening a new position with higher premiums.

Recently, I was questioned on Twitter about currency reporting. I trade on Canadian and US exchanges, using Canadian currency for my TSX stocks and options, and US currency for my US stocks and options. Although exchange rates vary, I do not report my income using a single currency. I will disclose this information at the end of each blog post.

Listed below is my account activity for the month of August:

DIVIDEND INCOME

Company Name         Amount of Dividend

Baytex Energy                         $264.00
Colgate-Palmolive                  $204.00
Crescent Point Energy            $117.30
General Mills                          $304.00
Keyera Corp                          $108.36
Pembina Pipelines                  $151.47
RioCan REIT                         $169.08
                        
    Total Dividends            $1,318.21


OPTION PREMIUMS

The following is a list of my August option trades.The premiums listed are the amounts of cash I received after commissions.

Date        Position                 Premiums

08/01  3P XOM Sept $87.50    $166.25
08/13  2P   TD    Oct   $80         $77.51
08/13  25P  PG   Oct    $65      $208.75
08/13  25P  PEP Oct   $67.50   $308.75
08/13  25P XOM Oct   $75       $183.75
08/14  10P  MCD Oct   $80        $87.50
08/14   -4P  EMA Aug  $32     -$174.99
08/14    4P  EMA Sept  $32      $265.01
08/15   -3P  CNR Aug  $100    -$148.74
08/19    2P  CNR Oct     $98     $277.51
08/19    20P JNJ  Oct     $70     $165.00
08/19     25P  CL  Oct     $50    $208.75
08/19     20P  GIS  Oct    $41    $165.00
08/19     3P  KEY Oct     $53    $136.26
08/21      5C  TD  Oct     $90     $273.76
08/21   -3P XOM Sept  $87.50 -$544.74
08/21     3P  XOM Nov  $85      $592.24
08/28   -2P  CNR Sept  $100    -$592.49
08/28     1P  CNR Jan/14 $96  $1,138.76
08/29    -8C  JNJ Jan/14  $95     -$533.53
08/29     8C   JNJ  Oct     $90      $591.44
08/30    -5C   TD  Oct      $90    -$841.24
08/30     5C   TD  Jan/14  $92     $933.76

         Total Option Premiums    $2,944.27


Total August Income                    $4,262.48


Ticker Symbols

* TSX listed stocks and options are listed in Canadian currency and the remainder are listed in US currency (exchange rates may vary)

CL - Colgate-Palmolive
CNR - CN Rail (TSX)
EMA - Emara Inc (TSX)
GIS - General Mills
JNJ - Johnson & Johnson
KEY - Keyera Corp (TSX)
MCD - McDonald's Corp
PEP - Pepsico
PG - Proctor & Gamble
TD - TD Bank (TSX)
XOM - Exxon Mobil Corp