Short SPYders or the SP 500 futures?

billpritjr · Post by **billpritjr** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 9:32 am

Which to short? Why?

SPYders or the mini SP 500 futures contract?

(assuming we are seeing the beginning of a new bear market)

$50,000 cash account.

blueberrycake · Post by **blueberrycake** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 1:35 pm

If you pay US taxes, the tax treatment of futures is considerably more favorable, unless you plan to hold long enough to qualify for long term capital gains.

-bbc

Kiwi · Post by **Kiwi** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 7:55 am

The only reason I could think of to use SPY rather than ES would be if your account was too small to do what you wanted. 50k might be a bit light if this is EOD with big stops. ES is liquid, has good tax treatment and good leverage. SPY is little and can be traded in a stocks only account.

You could use a mix of both also to achieve perfect position sizing.

BARLI · Post by **BARLI** » Mon May 22, 2006 12:31 am

billpritjr, I am wondering if you're still holding your short position?

billpritjr · Post by **billpritjr** » Wed May 24, 2006 1:01 am

I never went short. The market did not (at that time, 2005) look like it was tanking.

It does now however and might short E-Mini Nasdaqs.