Blog Archive: October 2025
Week 30 / NVDA, BMY and SHELL Options: $161 Premium, +4.65% Return
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As of October 31, 2025, our covered call stock portfolio has grown to $9,617, what is a significant increase of +4.65% (+$426) if compared to the previous week. The strong performance in our portfolio was driven by a rebound in BMY’s share price and NVDA’s historic breakout above $200, making it the first company ever to surpass a $5 trillion market capitalization. An extraordinary week by any measure.
On a personal note, my mother visited me in Tbilisi, and we enjoyed a few short day trips to David Gareji and Kiketi Farm.
Last week, I rolled BMY options to the $43.50 strike, added a position in Royal Dutch Shell (Amsterdam) to strengthen our euro-denominated exposure, and initiated a new credit spread on NVDA.
Current positions
- NVDA NOV 7, 2025 185/175 Bull Put Credit Spread
- 2X BMY NOV 21, 2025 43.5/38 Bull Put Credit spread
- SHELL DEC 19, 2025 31/28 Bull Put Credit Spread
- NVDA APR 17, 2026 $115 Covered Call
One of the primary goals of our covered call stock portfolio is to gradually reduce debt while maintaining a long position…
Week 29 / Tbilisi Silk Road Forum & Weekly Portfolio Update: NVDA Options Roll, McDonald’s Purchase
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As of October 23, 2025, our covered call stock portfolio has grown to $9,190, what is a significant increase of +3.08% (+$272) if compared to the previous week.
Besides our activities in the equity markets, last week I had the honor of attending the Tbilisi Silk Road Forum. During the event, I had the opportunity to meet the Prime Ministers of Armenia, H.E. Nikol Pashinyan; Georgia, H.E. Irakli Kobakhidze (twice); and Azerbaijan, H.E. Ali Asadov.
Georgia truly is a wonderful place to be. I also had the chance to connect with the Governors of the National Banks of Georgia and Kazakhstan, and to befriend the former Minister of Economy of Armenia, among others.
One of the highlights of the forum was meeting and befriending a chess prodigy who has defeated Garry Kasparov and even played against my fellow Latvian, Mikhail Tal. Options trading and chess share a remarkable resemblance — both require strategy, patience, and precise timing.
Now, turning to the equity markets and derivatives — last week I made a few smaller purchases of McDonald’s and NVDA stock, providing a solid boost to our long-term portfolio. On the…
Tsikhisdziri & Batumi Botanical Garden
| Living in Georgia | 30 seen
After returning from our amazing trip to Thessaloniki, we decided to extend our holiday a bit longer — this time in beautiful Tsikhisdziri. Huge thanks to Eto for kindly offering her cozy apartments at Bambo Beach, where we enjoyed a full week of relaxation by the sea.
During our stay, we explored local gems like Shukura Tsikhisdziri (შუქურა ციხისძირი), savored delicious Georgian food, and took a peaceful stroll through the Batumi Botanical Garden.
The result? A short travel movie that captures the essence of our Tsikhisdziri escape — sun, sea, good food, and great vibes.
Week 28 / NVDA Roll to 180/160; $66 Premium Collected
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As of October 17, 2025, our covered call stock portfolio has dipped to $8,917, what is a decrease of -1.83% (-$166) if compared to the previous week. In our Terramatris crypto hedge fund, this week has been much rougher, with a sharp drop of more than 20% following the U.S. tariff announcement on China.
Due to increased volatility in the stock market earlier this week, I rolled down and forward our NVDA $182 put to a $180/$160 bull put spread with next week’s expiry, while still collecting a premium of $66. That was the only adjustment made to the portfolio last week.
Current positions
- NVDA Oct 24, 2025 180/160 Bull Put Credit Spread
- 2X BMY Oct 31, 2025 44/41 Bull Put Credit spread
- UBER Oct 24, 2025 89/85 Bull Put Credit Spread
- NVDA APR 17, 2026 $115 Covered Call
One of the primary goals of our covered call stock portfolio is to gradually reduce debt while maintaining a long position of 100 shares in NVDA. Notably, we earned $66 in options premium this week. If we can consistently average that amount, it would…
Unique newsreel footage of the Battle in the Courland Pocket. ‘The Baltic Verdun’ (1944–1945)
| Documentaries | 15 seen
Earlier today, YouTube unexpectedly recommended a Russian-language documentary titled “The Baltic Verdun (1944–1945)”, produced by Frontline Chronicles. The film presents rare archival footage from the Battle in the Courland Pocket, a series of fierce engagements fought in western Latvia during the final months of World War II.
It seems the algorithm did its job remarkably well — because this documentary touches directly on places connected to my own family history. My grandfather, Solomon Fischer (1913–1995) — a Holocaust survivor who later served in the Red Army (1941-1945)— fought in several of the very locations mentioned in the film: Blīdene, Saldus, and nearby areas.
The documentary traces the events across Tukums, Saldus, Priekuli, Liepaja, and other towns, depicting the desperate final battles where German forces were pushed toward the Baltic coast. One striking scene even references soldiers sending water from the Baltic Sea near Tukums to Stalin — a symbolic gesture marking the Red Army’s advance to the sea.
Watching this piece of history was both emotional and illuminating. It’s not just a war story — it’s a glimpse into the harsh realities my…
Week 27 / 12 Years Blogging from Tbilisi: Beating the S&P 500 in 2025
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Greeting from Tbilisi, Georgia! Today is October 10, and it marks the 12th anniversary of my personal blog — wow, how time flies! For nearly a decade, I was very active in publishing daily content on almost everything: life in Georgia, restaurant reviews, travel experiences around the world, and finance.
Over the past two years, my focus has gradually shifted toward financial topics, with occasional travel posts and regular travel videos. And for the past six months, I’ve been writing exclusively about my covered call adventures with NVDA stock and other trades — a new chapter in my long blogging journey.
Without further ado, as of October 10, 2025, our covered call stock portfolio has reached $9,083, what is another minor increase of +0.74% (+$66) if compared to the previous week. While YTD, the portfolio is already up by +17.29%.
Wow, what a run it has been so far in 2025 — we’re finally ahead of the S&P 500 (+14.94%) by a few points!
Earlier this week, I rolled down and away a BMY credit spread, effectively lowering our…
Summer in Latvia 2025
| Travel guides | 40 seen
Summer in Latvia movie is out - Join us on our July (2025) journey through Latvia: installing a bathtub in our countryside cottage, setting up a pop-up store at Bangotnes, celebrating a birthday in Vērbeļnieki, traveling via Riga to Jaunpiebalga, Vecpiebalga, Smiltene, and Valka.
From sipping sparkling wine with swallows to running 4K morning runs, and so much more, this film captures the essence of a vibrant Latvian summer. Enjoy the video and thumbs up!
Week 26 / NVDA Covered Call Roll Adds ~$300 in Six Months (Update)
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As of October 3, 2025, our covered call stock portfolio has reached $9,017, what is a decent increase of +2.38% (+$209) if compared to the previous week. While YTD, the portfolio is already up by +15.44%. Technically, we’re slightly outperforming the S&P 500 this year. Practically though, wouldn’t it be simpler to just buy and hold the SPY ETF?
On the other hand, I enjoy being in the market every day—generating options premium while steadily growing our dividend stock portfolio. This week alone, we collected $148 from selling options, well above my target of at least 1% in weekly premium, reaching 1.64%
This week I finally rolled up and forward our NVDA covered call, closing the $113 December call and opening a $115 April 26 call. The adjustment is expected to add roughly $300 to the portfolio over the next six months, or about $50 per month.
As NVDA continues breaking milestones, I decided to reinvest part of the income into an additional 0.25 shares of NVDA. While this does increase our margin balance, which I’m working to reduce as quickly as possible - I see it as a worthwhile long-term move.
Now…