Gianluca Longinotti is an experienced trader, advisor, and financial analyst with over a decade of professional experience in the banking sector, trading, and investment services. Known for his rigorous approach and deep understanding of market dynamics, Gianluca specializes in derivatives and cyclical analysis, with a strong emphasis on options trading strategies and macroeconomic frameworks.
Gianluca is the founder of Cycle Quest, a project focused on applying cyclical models to financial markets, economic indicators, and more. With an international academic background and a passion for data-driven decision-making, Gianluca empowers traders and investors with expert insights, clear strategy frameworks, and cutting-edge tools.
Education
- Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from University of Brescia (Italy)
- Two Master’s Degrees in Economics and Empirical Finance from Sorbonne University (France)
References
- Founder at Cycle Quest
- Contributor at Traders Union
- Author at Tokize.com
- Author at Crypto Adventure
Experience
- Over a decade of experience trading options, with a focus on defined-risk strategies such as vertical spreads, iron condors, and diagonals
- Deep understanding of options pricing models like Black-Scholes and binomial trees, applied daily to position evaluation
- Active user of the CBOE indices as a benchmark to build and test different trading strategies with options
- Expert in managing trades using the Greeks (Delta, Theta, etc.) to dynamically adjust risk
- I regularly post live trade setups and market reads on Gianluca’s Trades via the Option Samurai blog and my personal Stocktwits profile
- Skilled in building algorithmic strategies in Python and Pine Script, with a focus on short-term price action and event-driven plays
- Creator of backtesting environments tailored to options logic using Python’s Pandas and NumPy stack
- Daily use of TradingView, Interactive Brokers, and Databento for execution, charting, and data analysis
- Developed custom automated dashboards in Plotly and Streamlit for real-time tracking of trade performance and volatility curves
- Frequently design strategies aligned with FOMC and macroeconomic indicators for directional and volatility bias
- Strong foundation in fundamental analysis, with deep dives into financial statements and earnings behavior
- Implemented statistical arbitrage and volatility modeling techniques to detect mean-reverting edges
- Experienced in handling expiration risk, assignment logic, and optimizing trade timing around options cycles
- Advocate for integrating behavioral finance principles to mitigate biases and improve trader discipline
- Regularly consult with traders on strategy design, risk control, and automation to elevate their performance across market regimes
Trading with the Bear Put Spread Strategy [Essentials and Real-Market Example]
If you feel like opening a bearish trade is a good idea but don't want to risk too much (as you would with a naked call, for instance), the bear put spread strategy might be for you. This options...
A 101 Beginner's Guide to Implied Volatility (IV) [Implications for Options Traders]
You may or may not be a seasoned options trader, but the concept of implied volatility (or "IV") is essential to understand. Implied volatility measures the market's expectations for price...
The Bull Put Spread Strategy: What You Should Know Before Trading (Practical Considerations)
The bull put spread strategy is one of the most popular ways to trade when expecting a moderate increase in an asset's price. By buying a put option at a lower strike price and selling another put...
Overview of the Bull Call Spread Strategy [Strategies for Moderately Bullish Markets]
When you expect a moderate increase in a stock or ETF price, perhaps options trading is the right approach for you. The bull call spread strategy involves buying one call option and selling another...
The Basics of the Covered Put Strategy: What You Need to Know (and How to Handle Risk)
When you have a short position on a stock, a covered put strategy can help you generate income and manage risk. By selling covered put options, you can earn premiums to reduce your short position's...
Covered Call Strategy: From Theory to Practice [When to Use It and When to Avoid It]
A covered call strategy is a popular options trading technique used by investors to generate additional income from their stock holdings. This article will explore the fundamentals of covered...
Quadruple Witching Dates 2025-2026 (How to Trade & Essential Dates)
Learn about the concept of Quadruple Witching and its potential impact on the stock market. Find out the upcoming Quadruple Witching dates.
Triple Witching Dates 2025/2026 - What Is Triple Witching? (and How Can You Trade It?)
Among the recurring events in options trading, triple witching dates are something you cannot afford to ignore. But what is triple witching?
How are Options Priced? A Clear Explanation [Beginner-Friendly]
While it may be relatively straightforward to understand how stock prices work, options pricing can be a bit more complex. Options pricing is determined by intrinsic and extrinsic values. So, how...
Real-Life Examples of the Strangle Option Strategy [Practical application]
If you are open to trying multi-leg strategies in options trading, then you'll likely find yourself dealing with the strangle option strategy. This involves buying or selling a call and put option...
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