Initial Transaction - Marathon Oil (MRO) (8-7-2009)

This position is another example of the ex-dividend date covered call option strategy which I am testing. The idea with these is to purchase a stock a few days before an ex-dividend date, and sell a covered call for the current month which is as much in the money as possible, but will still return at least 1% if called before the ex-dividend date. Marathon Oil is an integrated oil company which participates in all parts of the oil supply chain, both upstream and downstream. The stock has about a 5% dividend yield which will be valuable even if the position is not called away. The profit/loss info is below:

8/7/2009 -- Bought 100 MRO @ 30.70
8/7/2009 -- Sold To Open 1 MRO August $30 Call @ 1.07

The important purchase metrics are below for insight into possible profit and loss (these all include commissions):
Cost Basis: 2963.00

Potential Gain If Called At Ex-Div Date: 1.25%
Potential Annualized Gain If Called At Ex-Div Date: 45.58%