Investors & landlords

"Selling a covered call simply means that I have the shares to cover the sale.  THat is not a short sale,"

 

Your account may not have status to write naked calls but does have status to write covered calls.

Selling a covered call simply means that the broker reserves your stock as surety against assignment, and you have not written a naked call option. Either way, naked or covered, it is a short sale of a call.