Option Block 310: GOOG After Hours Mania Trading Block: The “Correction” is over. Earnings Trading Review: GOOG and CME after the bell. FB - ATM straddle went out around $6, traded nearly $3 through that today. F - Announces "best year ever" but closes nearly unchanged on the day. APPL - That $460 put is not looking so outlandish now. Odd Block: Puts sales trade in Kellogg Company (K), puts buyers trade in Newell Rubbermaid Inc. (NWL), and puts sellers and buyers trade in Overstock.com, Inc (OST...
Jan 31, 2014•1 hr
Option Block 309: The Big AAPL Earnings Show Trading Block: Markets reverse most of today’s slide late in the session. Lots of index volatility, but not many buyers. VIX coming off later in the session. Big Apple earnings after the bell, and right in Tosaw’s crosshairs. The International Securities Exchange (ISE) has not appealed a federal court decision that rejected ISE's attempt in the New York courts to challenge S&P Dow Jones Indices’ (SPDJI) rights to control the use of the S&P 500...
Jan 28, 2014•1 hr 3 min
Option Block 308: The Scale from Smart to Cowboy Trading Block: An aggressive selloff sparked by weak existing home sales. VIX cash back in the mid-teens. Microsoft after the bell. Netflix tearing it up. Odd Block: Call buyers in Flagstar Bancorp, Inc. (FBC), closing put buys in Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS), calls trade in YPF SA (ADR), calls buyers trade in AVG Technologies N.V. (AVG). Xpress Block: Alex gets on a soapbox to discuss tax reporting season and understanding how margin works....
Jan 24, 2014•1 hr 1 min
Option Block 307: Idiotic Upside Calls Trading Block: A mild selloff early in the session. SPX weeklies up 98% in 2013. SPX & VIX options hopefully getting extended hours in 2014. Best buy taking in on the chin after a poor holiday season. Chuck E. Cheese is worth a billion! Odd Block: Calls trade in Eldorado Gold Corp. (EGO), calls trade in Amarin Corporation (AMRN), and calls trade in Insmed Incorporated (INSM) Xpress Block: Intel, Best Buy, and DR Horton were popular on the OX desk today....
Jan 17, 2014•56 min
Option Block 306: Crazy Biotech Action Trading Block: A mild selloff on the street. Still not many bids for volatility, except in select names. VIX due for a spike according to the Wall Street Journal. NPR calls options "The riskiest place to invest outside of penny stocks." Odd Block: Puts trade in Clovis Oncology Inc. (CLVS), puts trading in Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ALNY), puts trade in Five Below Inc. (FIVE), and calls trade in China Finance Online Co. (JRJC). Xpress Block: A big mover o...
Jan 14, 2014•59 min
Option Block: Apple Kills Weekly Volatility Trading Block: Alcoa kicking it off after the bell. Apple crushes weekly premium by announcing a late earnings date - 1/27 as opposed to 1/23 like many expected. Many weekly options on the 1/24 cycle were cut in half. Odd Block: Review from Jan 7: Call buyers in Plug Power Inc. (PLUG), puts sellers trade in BlackBerry Ltd (BBRY), calls roll in Cheniere Energy, Inc. (LNG), and calls roll in American Realty Capital Properties (ACRP). Xpress Block: Alex d...
Jan 10, 2014•1 hr
Option Block 304: Polar Vortex Be Damned Trading Block: Another day, another mild selloff. Crazy fat finger print in gold futures. Apple taking it on the chin. Polar vortex = Boom market for snow derivatives? Odd Block: Put sellers trade in Wyndham Worldwide Corp. (WYN), put sellers trade in iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ), closing call sellers trade in iPath S&P 500 VIX Short Term Futures ETP (VXX). Xpress Block: Apple, Twitter and Facebook: the three perennial favorites on the OX desk. Strate...
Jan 07, 2014•1 hr
Option Block 303: Wither Single Name VIX? Trading Block: Most of the major indexes selling off about 1%. A lot of put activity on the street. The numbers are out for 2013! Odd Block: Puts trade in SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY), puts trade in Yahoo! Inc. (YHOO), review from 11/25: Ziopharm Oncology Inc. (ZIOP), also Titan International Inc. (TWI), review from 10/24: Jive Software Inc. (JAIV), also Covanta Holding Corp. (CVA), review from 06/27: New York Community Bancorp, Inc. (NYCB), also Goo...
Jan 03, 2014•1 hr 1 min
Option Block 302: Looking Forward, Looking Back Trading Block: Predictions for 2014 Mark - I wish they could finally get the Minis right. Hopefully someone wiIl figure out how to aggregate spread flow across exchanges to improve spread execution, less exchanges, less fixation by retail on VIX/ETFs and more migration to futures/futures options. Andrew - I like a VIX low print prediction. Where the market is going and the forgotten sectors in 2013 and how they will fair. Alex - Cash settled equity...
Dec 31, 2013•1 hr 2 min
Option Block 301: Twas the Day Before Christmas Trading Block A strong rally on the street on the back of a strong consumer sentiment - A sea of green. Everyones favorite fruit company, Apple up during the day.Some substantial moves in CBOE. VXX hits a low for the year. Odd Block Call buyers trade in Meritor Inc. (MTOR), put sellers trade in Ambac Financial Group, Inc. (AMBC), call sellers trade in Select Sector SPDR Financial (XLF) and huge rolls in Hercules Offshore, Inc. (HERO) Xpress Block A...
Dec 24, 2013•59 min
300th Episode Spectacular! Hooray for our 300th episode! Mark Sebastian, Mike Tosaw, Andrew Giovinanzzi, Alex Jacobson, Mike Cavanaugh and John Grigus join Mark "The Voice of Options" Longo, to reminisce about the all their favorite moment and shows of the past three years. Comment from Phil M. - Great show guys! Fun times listening to the Option Block. Keep up with what you guys love to do. Comment from Jay Thomas - Congrats to "The Voice of Options" on 300 episodes of The Option Block! Keep th...
Dec 20, 2013•55 min
Option Block 299: Band-Aid for a Severed Jugular Trading Block: A broad rally across the street on the backs of strong manufacturing data. Fed meeting coming up. Herbal Life halted today. SEC promising to crackdown on insider trading. What exactly is HFT? Stock buybacks accounting for substantial percentages of ADV. Odd Block: Puts buyers trade in Royal Bank of Canada (RY), puts trade in ZION Bancorp (ZION), calls trade in Noble Corp. (NE), and calls buyers trade in KBR, Inc. (KBR). Xpress Block...
Dec 17, 2013•54 min
Option Block 298: Only Getting 80% Trading Block: A mixed day on the street. Post non-farms, what is left to give us some vol? Where does one look for premium writers in this environment? Tosaw Update. OX Update. Odd Block: Calls buyers trade in CYTRX Corp. (CYTR), calls buyers trade in Glu Mobile Inc. (GLUU), and call buyers in Bean Inc. (BEAM) Xpress Block: Twitter and Facebook was where the action was on the OX desk. Strategy Block: Uncle Mike Tosaw breaks down the recent adjustment to his po...
Dec 13, 2013•57 min
Option Block 297: Talk of Tesla & Twitter Trading Block: Not a lot to drive the market today. Futures are trading a discount to the cash. Non-farm payrolls. Xpress Block: Tesla and Twitter were lighting up the OX desk today. Also, the United/American Airlines merger - What happens to those investors? Around the Block: Keeping an eye on the 10-year and Home Builders earnings.
Dec 10, 2013•33 min
Option Block 296: Apple Fire Sale Trading Block: A mild selloff on the street. Some vol has been creeping back into the market ahead of Non-Farms. The Apple zealots are back. Pressure continues on the metals. Odd Block: Calls trade in Arris Group Inc. (ARRS), calls trade in CME Group (CME) REVIEW FROM 10/24 - Calls trade in Jive Software Inc. (JIVE) Xpress Block: Rumors that Fords CEO may be coming to Microsoft? Gold and energies were the hot products today. Mail Block: Facbook Question comes in...
Dec 06, 2013•1 hr 1 min
Option Block 295: Saving Yourself Some Headaches Trading Block: Is there any vol on the horizon? Amazon drones - watch your head! Black Friday a resounding meh, Cyber Monday still a question mark. The Tosaw update: GLD, SLV, APPL, etc. Odd Block: IB Options Brief: Best Buy Co. (BBY), calls trade in Intel Inc. (INTC), combos trade in Sprouts Farmers Market Inc. (SFM), calls trade in Forest Labs Inc. (FRX), rolling puts in Avon Products, Inc. (AVP). Mail Block: Question from Mountain Man Tim - Thi...
Dec 03, 2013•58 min
Option Block 294: You’re Soaking in It Trading Block: Positioning going into the short weekend. Where are the long premiums? Where is the free juice? Are OX clients still trading or are they already on vacation? ZNGA love - time for Andrew to gloat. TWTR giving up some of the gains. Odd Block: Hail Mary call buying in The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), calls trade in Ziopharm Oncology Inc. (ZIOP), and in Titan International Inc. (TWI) Xpress Block: The Warren Buffet put in Exxon? The success of OX...
Nov 26, 2013•1 hr
Option Block 293: The Gift that Keeps on Giving Trading Block: A strong rally on the street with VIX futures getting utterly destroyed. Twitter has not been the big vol mover as expected. Tesla continues to take it on the chin. Zynga: the stocky hat keeps on giving. Odd Block: Yesterday review - Calls trade in Star Scientific, Inc. (STSI), risk reversal trades in the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), calls buyers in China Life Insurance Company (LFC) Xpress Block: New technology coming soon to the OX...
Nov 22, 2013•57 min
Option Block 292: TWTR Is No FB Trading Block: The first day of trading for Twitter options was very interesting, but yet not the day everyone was hoping for. With these numbers, Twitter will not set a first-day options trading record as Facebook did on its debut. Alex said Dec 50 calls were popular at OX today. CBOE now disseminating VXST every 15 seconds instead of once per day. Interesting article on Barron’s today slamming VXX and other VIX ETPs. Odd Block: Review from last show - Calls trad...
Nov 19, 2013•57 min
Option Block 291: Twas the Night before Twitter Trading Block: A mild rally on the street today. A tepid outlook from Walmart, doesn't bode well for the economy. Cisco taking in on the chin post-earnings. Happy Twitter Options Eve! Any client interest in trading twitter options? Odd Block: Crazy call buyer in The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), calls trade in Tile Shop Holdings (TTS). Xpress Block: No Alex today. So it’s time for the Trading Patterns Guessing Game - Special Twitter Edition. Strateg...
Nov 18, 2013•50 min
Option Block 290: Keep that Theta Rolling Trading Block: Twitter IPO released, started at $26. Can't wait to sell the puts. Tesla taking it on the chin, breaking through the 140 handle. Priceline closed down. Mail Block: Keep those questions coming Question from Ian @mategio - Can you please expand on these formation you guys talked about (Apple, buy the guts, sell the wings)? Can I see them in Options Xpress? Question from Ed Vangelos - Alex's comment on the Ford collar from last week;s episode...
Nov 08, 2013•55 min
Option Block 289: What a Twit! Trading Block: November 14 is official day Twitter goes public. CBOE earnings on Friday, CME before the open - both resounding "mehs." Apple actually closes around where it started. Blackberry taking it on the chin. Again. Odd Block: Calls trade in Berry Petroleum Co. (BRY), calls trade in Applied Micro Circuits Corp. (AMCC), calls trade in Marin Software Inc. (MRIN), and calls trade in ValueVision Media Inc. (VVTV). Xpress Block : Cue the game show music for yet a...
Nov 05, 2013•1 hr 2 min
Option Block 288: The Exciting Road to Nowhere Trading Block: A selloff at the very end of the day. Most major indexes down half a point. Interesting movement post Facebook and Apple earnings. In hindsight, the Apple skew makes a lot more sense post Google earnings. Odd Block: Puts trade in Ultrashort Euro ProShares (EUO), calls trade in Tile Shop Holdings Inc (TTS), calls trade in Fortress Investment Group LLC. (FIG) and spread trades in Apollo Global Management (APO) Xpress Block: Facebook dis...
Nov 01, 2013•1 hr 4 min
Option Block 287: Trading Patterns Trading Block: A mild rally on the street. Everyone is still playing the wait and see game after hours today with Apple. Interview Block: Guest: Mark Greenstein, CTA with Orchard Grove joins the gang as they discuss metals, rates, as well as the VIX products. Xpress Block: It is time once again for everyone’s favorite "The Trading Patterns" game! Around the Block: Still more earnings around the bend. Apple - 10/28, EA Games - 10/29, General Motors - 10/30, Link...
Oct 29, 2013•55 min
Option Block 286: Super Thursday Trading Block: Another mild day on the street. Earnings-Palooza today! Ford before the bell. A newly revived Microsoft. Amazon surges after hours. Zynga breaks the four handle. Crazy developments in Apple post iPad. Odd Block: Calls trade in Covanta Holding Corp (CVA), straddle trades in Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), calls trade in Silvercorp Metal Inc. (SVM), calls trade in Jive Software Inc. (JIVE). Xpress Block: More interesting OX trading patterns. Apple is back! A...
Oct 25, 2013•1 hr 2 min
Option Block 285: Listener Mail Extravaganza Trading Block: Navigating post-shutdown markets. VIX Cash giving up the ghost post-shutdown. Google, another big after hours more last week. Netflix (aka the Widowmaker) rallying hard pre-earnings. Tesla taking in on the chin. Odd Block: Calls trade in Orbitz Worldwide, Inc. (OWW), large spread trades in iPath S&P 500 short term futures ETN (VXX), calls trade in Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. (TRQ), and puts trade in China Ming Yang Wind Power (MY)...
Oct 22, 2013•59 min
Option Block 284: The Tosaw-Giovinazzi Show Trading Block: Google up $43 after market. How long can the VIX go? Are we looking at the bottom? Gold reacts to the Fed tapering announcement. Odd Block: Calls trade in Ingersoll-Rand PLC (IR). Unusual activity in Cole Real Estate Investments (COLE). A put sale for income gone wrong in Seadrill LTD (SDRL). Trading all over the board in Real Goods Solar Inc. (RSOL). Listener Mail: Question from Uncle Al: I've heard the term maker-taker many times in re...
Oct 18, 2013•39 min
Option Block 283: Kick the Can Trading Block: A huge drop in VIX cash. Gold also got crushed today. Plus, a very unusual trade in VXX. Xpress Block: Everything on the equity options desk was active today Around the Block: Upcoming earnings - Alcoa, Google. Waiting to see if Washington continues to kick the can.
Oct 11, 2013•41 min
Option Block 282: A Whole New Kind of Stupid Trading Block: There was a mild selloff on the street today. VIX cash continues to creep north, as the shutdown continues. Did VIX call sellers get out in time? Potbelly to join the ranks of high-flying IPOs? Tesla gain back all of the "fire losses". Odd Block: Calls trade in eBay Inc. (EBAY), calls trade in Dex Media Inc. (DXM), and puts trade in Miller Energy Resources Inc. (MILL) Xpress Block: A lot of Washington, rates and the dollar. Strategy Blo...
Oct 08, 2013•58 min
Option Block 281: It’s Time for Histrionics Trading Block: The shutdown dance continues. VIX cash break the 17 handle. Tesla in a frenzy after car fire. Ackman/Icahn/Herbalife debacle. CBOE glitch causes routing issues for NASDAQ. Odd Block: Puts trade in Covanta Holding Corp (CVA), calls trade in the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (DIA), collar trades in Consolidated Edison, Inc. (ED) Xpress Block: A ton of two-sided paper, e-mini activity and Tesla. Mail Block: Mega mail block, that is....
Oct 04, 2013•1 hr 2 min
