First, if you’ve been following along, then you’ve probably heard all about the XSP/SPX trades we’ve been taking at 10 a.m. ET each morning. It’s a simple spread that we let expire each day.
Through February and March, we hit on 28 of 29 trades — and we’re off to HOT start in April as well…
Even amid all the market chaos. And when things get chaotic, that’s an even better time to lean on strategies like this because it’s not affected by things like tariff bombs and volatility nearly as much as traditional options.
I’ve shared plenty of screenshots people have sent me… Some have made hundreds of dollars, and some tens of thousands.
And that begs the question: Would you like me to teach you this daily strategy targeting $250 to $350 based on a $1k starting stake?
Go Here for More Info and Let Me Know!
If you’re trying to fine-tune your spread entries, stop guessing — start watching the VIX.
One of the simplest and most effective intraday signals I use is the 15-minute VIX candle. It’s a quick read — and when you know how to use it, it can give you a serious edge when setting up credit spreads.
Here’s how it works: At 9:45 a.m. ET, check where the VIX closed on that second 15-minute candle. Then compare it to the close of the first candle at 9:30. If the 9:45 candle closes lower, that’s your cue to sell bull put spreads. If it closes higher, you look to sell bear call spreads.
It’s that simple. No fancy indicators — just a clean read of intraday volatility.
Simple Spreads, Strong Results
Bull put and bear call spreads are both simple, vertical credit spreads — meaning you collect premium up front and want time decay to work in your favor. A bull put spread is a neutral-to-bullish trade where you sell a put and buy a lower strike put. You’re betting the stock stays above your short strike.
A bear call spread is the opposite — you sell a call and buy a higher strike call, looking for the stock to stay below your short strike.
Both let you define risk, control capital, and target high-probability setups — if you’re patient and disciplined with entries.
Why It Works
Think about what the VIX really measures — near-term volatility expectations in the S&P 500. If it drops in that early morning window, it usually means the market is calming down and the floor’s firming up.
That’s a green light to lean bullish with bull puts. If it ticks up, it suggests stress is entering the system and bear calls are the smarter risk.
And this isn’t some once-in-a-while setup — you can check this signal every single day. It’s especially helpful when the market is flat or choppy. You don’t need the S&P 500 to rip 50 handles.
You just need the VIX to tip its hand early and give you a directional bias.
Keep It Tight
That said, this isn’t a license to go crazy. You still want tight bid-ask spreads and good liquidity. I’m not putting on a trade if the spread is 50 cents wide. I want penny-wide — or as close as I can get. And I’m not swinging for home runs. This is about stacking consistent base hits.
This kind of tactical setup is perfect for neutral-to-bullish premium sellers when the market is drifting sideways and the VIX is sliding. The key is not just timing the trend — it’s timing the volatility.
Watch the VIX at 9:45. Let it tell you where the pressure is. Then act accordingly. And stay tuned…
Because I have a juicy new spread strategy that I’ll share next week!
Order Flow:
*This is for informational and educational purposes only. These are not official alerts issued by Lance, but rather some interesting orders picked by the team at Lance Ippolito Trading.
There is inherent risk in trading. Trade at your own risk.
Note: If no date is listed after the month, it’s the monthly expiration (third Friday).
The team at Lance Ippolito Trading
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*This is for informational and educational purposes only. There is inherent risk in trading, so trade at your own risk.
While everyone watches Apple’s 12% surge after tariff exemptions, Lance’s Platform X scanner has identified EIGHT other stocks showing identical buy signals.
