Trading Block: Dow off about 100 points in choppy trade, tries to stay out of correction. Goldman Sachs thinks this volatility index should be much lower: The VIX is trading like the U.S. is in a recession. If the options market is right, China stock rescue is doomed. Odd Block: Calls trade in UltraShort Euro ProShares (EUO), calls trade in Xerox Corp. (XRX), and calls trade in Arch Coal Inc. (ACI). Strategy Block: Tosaw gives us an update of the things he has been doing, and why he has been doi...
Sep 01, 2015•1 hr 2 min
Trading Block: Selloff or rally? The market needs to make up its mind. Whither the VIX: there was a brief flirtation with 50 handle now back into the more “sensible” 20 handle. So, it takes a massive selloff in the marketplace to get VIX over 50. AAPL had a 20 handle range this week. We missed the deal of the century on the AAPL Sep 75 puts. Odd Block: Calls trade in BTU, calls trade in P, and puts trade in LL Mail Block: Listener questions and comments. Question from Leon187: Is it true that Ap...
Aug 28, 2015•1 hr 3 min
Trading Block: The DJIA briefly slumped more than 1,000 points, its biggest point-drop ever. VIX Cash hit 53.29 at 10am. The VIX jumped as much as 90 percent to 53.29, its highest since January 2009. VIX didn’t update for 30 minutes as options quotes got erratic. AAPL hit a low of $92 before rebounding. Around the Block: Retail earnings season winds down this week
Aug 25, 2015•1 hr
Trading Block: 6.5 month low. Breaking through big technical levels in the S&P. Huge move in VIX. A rundown of soft and hard losers. When Wal-Mart becomes a flight-to-safety. Everything is NOT awesome. Odd Block: Strange and unusual activity in MSFT, PNK, and POT. Mail Block: Listener questions and comments in response to Monday’s show. Comment 1 from @MarkBrant1KM: One thing I learned from Dr. J. that you guys don't discuss much is how return on margin is paramount to retail traders! Commen...
Aug 21, 2015•44 min
Trading Block: Stocks to watch include: Tesla, Zulilly, Pentair, and Estee Lauder. Gold trading outlook: Futures extend gains on US rates speculations. U.S. stocks rise as investors turn focus on economic strength. Odd Block: Call spreads go up in Williams Companies Inc. (WMB), giant call roll in Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (HIG), and calls trade in Xilinx Inc. (XLNX). Strategy Block: Tosaw discusses when to roll and when not to roll. Mystery Block: Sebastian discusses his thoughts o...
Aug 19, 2015•46 min
Trading Block: Bearish options bets on Apple are spiraling higher. Stocks to Watch: Tesla Motors Inc. (TSLA) +2.26%), American Apparel Inc. (APP), Lenovo Group Ltd. (HKG). OCC and U.S. Securities Market Coalition ask U.S. Department of Labor to allow use of listed options in retirement accounts. Odd Block: Calls trade in SYSCO Corp (SYS), puts trade in SPDR Barclays Capital High Yield (JNK), and puts trade in Technology SPDR (XLK). Mail Block: Listener questions and comments Question from Mark B...
Aug 14, 2015•58 min
Trading Block: Our special guest today is Vlad Karpel, Founder of Tradespoon. Dow jumps triple digits; oil recovery boosts energy 2%. How should investors play falling Apple stock? Earnings today after the bell: Rackspace Hosting, Inc., Shake Shack, Inc., Take Two Interactive - TTWO $31.38, Straddle - $3.10 - Approx. 10%. BATS gets regulatory nod for second U.S. options exchange. Odd Block: Calls and puts trade in Ensco PLC (ESV), calls trade in Oasis Petroleum Inc. (OAS), and calls roll in SYSC...
Aug 11, 2015•1 hr 1 min
Trading Block: Stocks getting crushed post-earnings. Disney - stock closed @ $121 prior to earnings on 8/4. ATM straddle $4.10 or 3.4%. Stock off over 10% in the past two days - off 2% today. Tesla - stock $270 prior to earnings. ATM straddle $22.25 or 8.2%. Down 28 handles, over 10% today. A massive sell-off is underway in media stocks, and Viacom is by far the biggest loser. Odd Block: Calls trade in Allscripts Healthcare Solutions (MDRX), puts trade in Noble Corp. (NE), and calls trade in SPD...
Aug 07, 2015•58 min
Trading Block: Thanks to everyone that came out last week to our live show! We had a wonderful seeing all of our listeners in person. Earnings today after the bell: Brookdale Senior Living, Avis Budget Group, Allstate Corp, General Growth Properties. Media & retail highlight earnings this week: CVS, Office Depot Inc., Walt Disney Co. Highlights of this week: Wednesday: Tesla, Time Warner, and Twenty-First Century Fox; Thursday: Allergan Odd Block: Calls trade in Williams Companies Inc. (WMB)...
Aug 04, 2015•1 hr
Trading Block: Still in the thick of earnings season. LNKD straddle going out at over $25. Talking FB, VIX. Trading the Sebastian bottom. The introduction of VIX weekly futures. Whole Foods prices weigh on earnings. Who’s afraid of insider trading? Chinese equity vol. Will Gold fall to $350/ounce? SO MANY new CBOE indexes. SO MANY. Odd Block: Ratio/vertical calls roll in MDLZ. Ratio buy-write in NOW. Taking the short off in NOK. The Mail Block: Listener questions and comments. What happened to O...
Jul 31, 2015•1 hr 9 min
Trading Block: China meltdown. Chinese equities have suffered the sharpest one-day crash in eight years. Earnings: Bidu, Facebook, Twitter, Exxon Mobil. Will option traders ‘pin’ gold to $1,100/oz? Odd Block: Call buyers in EXCO Resources Inc. (XCO), calls trade in Knowles Corp (KN), and calls trade in Pfizer Inc. (PFE) Strategy Block: What is going on in the S&P 500? Mail Block: Listener questions and comments. Question from Jose - Avengers, JPW, Minions, so many big summer movies. What is ...
Jul 30, 2015•51 min
Trading Block: Earnings! MSFT: $47.28 on earnings. Straddle: $2.40 / 5%. Opens down approx. $2. Microsoft lost 3.7 percent after posting its largest-ever quarterly loss. AAPL: Closed near $131 on earnings. Straddle: $6.15 / approx. 4.7%. Opened $122 - down $8.75. Apple fell 4.2 percent after iPhone sales and revenue forecast missed estimates. Nasdaq retreats amid tech selloff after Apple, Microsoft results Odd Block: Calls trade in Chevron Corp. (CVX), calls trade in Direxion Daily Financial Bea...
Jul 24, 2015•58 min
Trading Block: In which we feature special guest co-host: Fred Ruffy from Trade Alert Earnings Today: Before the Bell: Morgan Stanley, Haliburton, Hasbro; After the Bell: IBM. Tech names blowing through their straddles: NFLX: 8%, GOOG: 3.5%. Stocks slightly higher as NASDAQ hits new record. Odd Block: Puts trade in Ford Motor Company (F), puts trade in Windstream Holdings Inc. (WIN), and calls trade in ONEOK, Inc. (OKE). Mail Block: Listener questions and comments: Question from Adam Sam - How ...
Jul 21, 2015•1 hr 2 min
Trading Block: GOOG after the bell. ATM Straddle: Approx. $21 - a 3.5% move. Last earnings: 19 handle move from close to open, approx. 3.5%. Volume: Approx. 3x ADV. Calls nearly 3 to 1 over puts. Bank of England urges longer jail terms for market manipulators. On July 16th, 2004 - Martha Stewart was sentenced for insider trading, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice in the ImClone trading scandal. Odd Block: Calls trade in C&J Energy Services Ltd (CJES), calls trade in Regions Financial Co...
Jul 17, 2015•57 min
Trading Block: July and the VIX weigh heavily on the S&P. U.S. stocks rise after Greece reaches an agreement with creditors. Netflix hits new high price in advance of stock split, earnings. Fitbit shares are in uncharted territory as analysts initiate coverage. Odd Block: Puts trade in IAMGOLD Corp. (IAG), calls trade in Marathon Petroleum Corp. (MPC), calls trade in Market Vectors Oil Services (OIH). Strategy Block: Tosaw discusses synthetics and his most recent trading strategies. Mail Blo...
Jul 14, 2015•57 min
Trading Block: What glitch? Competition eases NYSE shut-down. Fed increase are little more than a coin flip for derivative traders. Apple stock chart points to more downside ahead. Earnings today: Before the bell: PepsiCo, Walgreens Odd Block: Calls trade in CBS Inc. (CBS), calls trade WisdomTree EuropeHedged ETF (HEDJ), and calls trade in JCPenney Co. (JCP). Mail Block: Listener questions and comments Question from N198UA - I'm a big fan of all your radio shows - especially Options Oddities. I'...
Jul 10, 2015•58 min
Trading Block: CBOE and C2 Options Exchange total trading volume up 16% in June. Surge in Europe stock options volume shows race to hedge Greece. A few dozen Chicago traders will don their multicolored jackets to trade soybean and forex futures the old-fashioned way one last time on Monday, marking the end of 167 years of open-outcry trading in the city where it was born. Oil at 3-months low as outlook darkens again. Odd Block: Rolling calls in Office Depot (ODP), calls trade in Hilton Worldwide...
Jul 07, 2015•56 min
Today we have Special Guest Star Henry Schwartz from Trade Alert Trading Block: Jobs data disappoints. OCC cleared contract volume grew 4% in June. Tesla Motors Inc. (TSLA) shares gain momentum after record quarterly deliveries. Odd Block: Calls trade in Targa Resources Partners LP (NGLS), calls trade in Market Vectors Gold Miners (GDX), and puts trade in ARM Holdings plc (ARMH) Mail Block: Listener questions and comments: Question from Steamboat Willie - What would you say is the best buy and h...
Jul 06, 2015•54 min
Trading Block: Dow falls 225 points, in the red for the year amid Greece; VIX spikes 24%. Biggest one-day loss since 2011 for European stocks as Greek crisis deepens. FitBit options listed on 6/26: 1st day volume = 4,600 contracts. 2,500 on Friday, 2,500 so far today. Oil falls to three-week low amid risk of Greek exit from Euro. Odd Block: Calls trade in US Silica Holdings (SLCA), calls trade in Yandex NV (YNDX), and puts trade in NorthStar Realty Finance Corp (NRF). Strategy Block: Uncle Mike ...
Jun 30, 2015•51 min
Trading Block: A Greek deal drives the rally ho! Dow briefly adds 150 points, NASDAQ sets intraday high on Greece hopes. Crude and gold both drop - gold off 1.5%. Hilton: Why are so many traders betting on this hotel giant? Amberella getting crushed. Odd Block: Puts trade in Ford Motor Company (F), calls trade in Owens Corning (OC), and calls trade in Green Plains Inc. (GPRE). Strategy Block: Uncle Mike discusses selling calls to hedge, post rally. Mail Block: Listener questions and comments Que...
Jun 23, 2015•59 min
Trading Block: Rally ho on the street. Fitbit IPO prices at $20 a share, above expectations. Fitbit Inc., the maker of wearable fitness-tracking devices, priced its initial public offering above its estimated range at $20 a share, raising $732 million. That makes it the biggest tech IPO this year and gives it a market cap of roughly $4 billion. Apple Bands - Apple (AAPL) shares are in focus in early trading. The tech giant is reportedly amassing major profits from its Apple Watch band. Reuters r...
Jun 19, 2015•59 min
Trading Block: Trade bodies urge regulators to sort out derivatives reporting. Stocks to watch: CVS, Lumber Liquidators, Actavis. CBOE extends VIX and SPX options trading hours as global growth in VIX continues to build. Odd Block: Puts trade in SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF (XHB), calls trade in iShares MSCI Germany Index (EWG), and calls roll in TASER International, Inc. (TASR). Strategy Block: Tosaw discusses hedging bond portfolios. Option Pit Mystery Block: Sebastian discusses crisis manage...
Jun 16, 2015•55 min
Trading Block: Apples big meeting is a loser for investors - the Apple (AAPL) faithful are breathlessly awaiting the company's latest announcements at its confab starting Monday. But investors know better – it's a bust. VXX - closed the day at $18 (a change of -2.33%) at a relative volume of 0.95. Lululemon founder, Chip Wilson, files to sell his stake in the company. Odd Block: Calls trade in iShares FTSE/Xinhua China (FXI), puts trade in iShares MSCI Germany Index (EWG), and big call buy in DI...
Jun 12, 2015•1 hr
Trading Block: Down day on the market: weekend coming in; selloff. TSLA up $7, but why? What is going on with Greece? If they can get out of their debt, why not the rest of the EU? Theta vs. delta. Could AAPL go over the trillion dollar market cap level? AVP rumor redux: making up stories to manipulate the market & SEC. Odd Block: Puts trade in TUR, puts trade in AU, and calls trade in CCL. Strategy Block: Ratio spreads on bonds. Around the Block: Shaking fists at Greece. Vol blip. LULU earn...
Jun 09, 2015•58 min
Trading Block: A pronounced selloff across the market today. The IMF calls out the Fed - says rates should be not raised until 2016. Goldman is long puts in USO and XLE - saying volatility is just too low. Odd Block: Puts trade in Ocwen Financial Group (OCN), puts trade in Intel Corp. (INTC), and Aug calls trade in Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) Mail Block: Listener questions and comments Question from Value Investrader: Question for you regarding unusual options activity, when Vol & OI increase...
Jun 06, 2015•56 min
Trading Block: Embrace options in the TWTR stock fire sale. Intel to buy Altera in nearly $17B cash deal. Euronext to launch volatility contracts. Odd Block: Calls and puts trade in CSX Corp (CSX), puts trade in IAMGOLD Corp (IAG), and calls trade in EV Energy Partners LP (EVEP) Strategy Block: Anything you can do with stock, I can do with options. Around the Block: June kicks off the close of earnings season.
Jun 02, 2015•53 min
Trading Block: Wall Street is using the power of Dodd-Frank against itself. Shake Shacks (SHAK) unhedgeable risk. Chipotle (CMG) stock rallying following higher analyst rating. Google (GOOGL) tech deals on pace to surpass 1999. Odd Block: Calls trade in CONSOL Energy Inc. (CNX), calls trade in McDonalds Corp (MCD), and puts trade in iPath S&P 500 VIX Short Term ETN (VXX). Mail Block: Listener questions and comments Question from Gerry Engle - Hola fellows. Like the programs especially Option...
May 29, 2015•50 min
Option Block 434: Buy SPY Calls and Go Away Trading Block: Buying SPY for the summer. The absence of fear - How low can the VIX go? Stocks rise to near records; oil jumps above $60. Someone made a quick buck trading cable mergers - Cablevision soared 18 percent on Wednesday Odd Block: Calls trade in Sphere 3D corp. (ANY), calls trade in TYCO Intl PLC (TYC), and calls trade in Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (AAP) Mail Block: Listener questions and comments Question from David S. - I think Apple is writ...
May 22, 2015•1 hr
Trading Block: Icahn says "dramatically undervalued" Apple should trade at $240. AccuShares is set to list a couple of interesting products on Tuesday: AccuShares Spot CBOE VIX Fund Up Shares (VXUP) and AccuShares Spot CBOE VIX Fund Down Shares (VXDN). Odd Block: Calls and puts trading in CBRE Group Inc. (CBRE), puts trade in DSW Inc. (DSW), and calls trade in Molson Coors Brewing Company (TAP) Strategy Block: Uncle Mike Tosaw discusses trading in SPY Around the Block: Earnings: Consensus estima...
May 19, 2015•56 min
Trading Block: Rally ho on the market today. Is Avon in play? Stock halted after rallying over 20%. ADV 11k contracts - today over 75k! Avon Products Inc. said it never received a takeover bid from PTG Capital Partners Ltd., a firm listed in a securities filing as offering $18.75 a share for the struggling cosmetics company. Odd Block: Calls trade in Michael Kors Holdings (KORS), calls trade in PowerShares DB Agriculture (DBA), and puts trade in Healthcare SPDR (XLV) Mail Block: Listener questio...
May 15, 2015•58 min
