Trading Block: Earnings today: AMC Networks, HH Gregg, Icahn Enterprises, MGM Resorts International, Nokia Corporation, Starwood Property Trust, Time Inc. (before); Activision Blizzard, Almo Group, Bats Global Markets, LinkedIn Corporation, Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation, Weight Watchers International, Zillow (after). ATVI at $40.84, approx. 7%. Takeover rumor sparks busy day in Twitter options. Odd Block: Aug call buyers in Comcast Corp (CMCSA), selling calls in Noble Corporation PLC (NE)...
Aug 05, 2016•56 min
Trading Block: Earnings today include: AMC Entertainment Holdings, Loews Corporation (before), and Dunn & Bradstreet, General Growth Properties (after). U.S. stocks pressured as oil losses mount. Crude back below $40. BATS to launch “BAM” Options Auctions, offering competitive price improvement opportunity. Odd Block: Calls selling and buying in MetLife (MET), calls selling in FDC First Data Corp (FDC), and LEAPS put buying in Trina Solar Limited (TSL). Strategy Block: Uncle Mike Tosaw discu...
Aug 02, 2016•1 hr 1 min
Trading Block: Big news! OptionsHouse is now the sponsor of The Option Block. Earnings today include CME, FORD, DOW. Ford off nearly 9% AMZN: $748.50. ATM Straddle approx. $50, 6.6% GOOG: $742. ATM Straddle approx. $38.50, 5%. Odd Block: Calls trade in ETSY Inc. (ETSY), calls trade in The Technology SPDR (XLK), calls and puts trade in Yandex NV (YNDX) Mail Block: Listener questions and comments Question from AWorth: Can the Options House guys explain how their short buyback program works? Is it ...
Jul 29, 2016•1 hr 2 min
Trading Block: Earnings! Not many earning today, but a big week is ahead. Apple after the bell tomorrow. Stock at $97.27, ATM Straddle approx. $2.90, or 3%. Oil prices fell to two-and-a-half month low. Verizon owns the internet from the 90s, AOL last year, Yahoo today. Odd Block: Calls trade in Crown Castle Inter. (CCI), call buying in Bank of America (BAC), call selling in iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ), and put selling in Lululemon Athletica Inc. (LULU). Strategy Block: Uncle Mike Tosaw discusse...
Jul 26, 2016•1 hr 2 min
Trading Block: Most major markets off 0.5% or more. VIX cash watch. Earnings today (before) Dunkin Brands,General Motors, Marriott Vacations, Southwest Airlines; (after) AT&T, Chipotle Mexican Grill, E*Trade Financial (ETFC). Apple Watch is a flop! Odd Block: Calls trade in Nobel Corporation (NE), calls trade in Teucrium Corn Fund (CORN), calls and puts trade in Ebay Inc (EBAY), and calls trade in Mattel Corp (MAT). Mail Block: Listener questions and comments....LIVE! Size aside, what are th...
Jul 22, 2016•58 min
Trading Block: The coup that wasn't. Earnings today include Bank of America, Hasbro, Charles Schwab Corp., (before) and IBM, Netflix, Yahoo (after). A Brexit swoon boosts US options volume to a 10-month high. Odd Block: Size puts in IZE iShares MSCI Turkey Market Index ETF (TUR), calls trade in Nobel Energy (NE), calls trade in Market Vectors Russia ETF (RSX), and calls and puts trade in ArcelorMittal SA (MT). Strategy Block: Uncle Mike Tosaw diagonal spreads and when to know the market is at a ...
Jul 19, 2016•1 hr 8 min
Trading Block: Earnings today include: JPMorgan Chase, Delta Air Lines. Legislation to impose financial transactions tax introduced. Clinton aims "Wall Street" tax at Flash Boys, not banks. Odd Block: Calls trade in ConAgra Foods Inc. (CAG), calls trade in HollyFrontier Corp (HFC) and calls trade in Credit Suisse Group (CS). Mail Block: Listener questions and comments Question from Dmitry: What happens to Leaps for tickers that get delisted before expiration? Question from Mark Davis: Hello, I a...
Jul 15, 2016•1 hr 2 min
Trading Block: Today we have a specail co-host, Steve Claussen, Chief Investment Strategist, OptionsHouse. What do the all-stars discuss? Earnings today: Alcoa Inc. ATM Straddle approx. $.65-6.5%. The S&P hits new all-time high, Nasdaq above 5,000. CBOE to list SPX Monday-expiring Weeklys Options. Pokemon Go craze sends Nintendo stock soaring. Odd Block: Short-term bulls go shopping at Macy's (M); calls trade in Sprouts Farmers Market Inc. (SFM); calls trade in Lifelock Inc (LOCK), and; puts...
Jul 12, 2016•1 hr 4 min
Trading Block: Post-Brexit market update. OCC Cleared contract volume up 11% in June. The urgency of the Fed to hike has faded away as Brexit further clouded the outlook. SEC approves NYSE request for new market volatility rules. Twitter Poll Options Question of the Week: Which products' performance post-#Brexit surprised you the most? 43%: Volatility (VIX, etc) 0%: Rates (10yr, etc) 52%: Equity Index: (SPY, etc) 5%: FX (GBP/USD, EUR/USD etc) Odd Block: Size call seller in Kinross Gold Corp (KGC...
Jul 08, 2016•58 min
Trading Block: Earnings today before the bell: ConAgra. U.S. lawmakers seek more money, authority for derivatives regulators. CFTC charges ex-Chicago Board Options Exchange director with fraud. Options Question of the Week Twitter Poll: Where will $VIX close on Friday in this first trading week post-#Brexit? #QOTW 6%: Above 25 13%: 22-24.99 22%: 19-21.99 59%: Below 19 Odd Block: Calls go up in Hershey Co. (HSY), call buyers in Mondelez International Inc. (MDLZ), and put spread buyers in Encana C...
Jul 01, 2016•50 min
Trading Block: Brexit provides a review of pitfalls for options and futures traders. Oil extends decline as Brexit fallout spurs market volatility. Could the Fed potentially reverse course and cut rates? Odd Block: Calls trade in Crown Castle Inter. (CCI), puts trade in Starbucks Corporation (SBUX) Strategy Block: Uncle Mike Tosaw discusses how to select the correct collar size. Listener Mail: Listener questions and comments Question from David Shanabrook: Can you check the $AAPL weekly options ...
Jun 28, 2016•1 hr 2 min
Trading Block: Brexit, Brexit, Brexit! Results due late Thursday night. Tesla owner Elon Musk wants to acquire SolarCity, another company he owns. Gold. Oil. Odd Block: Bull call spreads trade in RiteAid Corp. (RAD), bull call spreads trade in Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (VGK) Mail Block: Listener questions and comments Question from Robert K.: I would like to use strategy regarding naked puts. If the naked put is far out of money what strategy could I use to protect myself. Could I use some type o...
Jun 24, 2016•44 min
Trading Block: Brexit: Much ado about nothing? Market rallies and VIX Cash sells off 2 handles, Dow jumps 200 points. Is that it for volatility? Goldman slashes stock demand estimates. Odd Block: Puts trade in Newmont Mining Corp (NEM), calls trade in Credit Suisse Group AG (CS), and puts trade in Community Health Systems (CYH) Strategy Block: Uncle Mike Tosaw discusses iron condors Around the Block: Earnings! Tuesday: Adobe Systems Incorporated, CarMax, FedEx Corporation, La-Z-Boy Wednesday: Ba...
Jun 21, 2016•1 hr 1 min
Trading Block: Fed keeps rates unchanged, lowering odds for future hikes. Weak Nonfarms number derailed any Fed plans to raise in June. Earnings today: (before the bell) Oracle Corporation; (after the bell) the Kroger Co, Rite Aid Corporation. CME Fedwatch tool: July probability: 7% Sep: 29% Nov: 31% Dec: 47% Options Question of the Week: $VIX surging ahead of FOMC, but for how long? Where will $VIX cash close Friday 6/17? 19% - 18-20 range 47% - 15-17.99 range (Winner) 25% - Above 20 09% - Belo...
Jun 17, 2016•1 hr 1 min
Trading Block: Today we have a special guest co-host: Steve Claussen, Chief Investment Strategist, OptionsHouse. What's going on: VIX/VVIX surging ahead of FOMC - VIX Cash over 20, VVIX: 117. Suspicious options activity in LNKD/MSFT ahead of deal A group from Silicon Valley has a serious plan for creating a totally new US stock exchange. Options Question of the Week Results: How are you prepping your portfolio for #BREXIT: 23% Buying S&P / Index Puts 27% Buying Vol -VIX, VXX, etc 15% Moving ...
Jun 14, 2016•1 hr 2 min
Trading Block: VIX remains somewhat muted heading into FOMC new week as well as Brexit the following week. Billionaire George Soros returns as a Brexit bear. He's also loading up on gold and GLD options, SPY puts. Odd Block: Calls trade in Market Vectors Oil Services ETF (OIH), calls trade in AT&T (T), and calls trade in Marathon Petroleum Corp (MPC). Mail Block: Listener questions and comments Question from JMFarrare: Do you guys have a service that alerts on unusual options activity in the...
Jun 10, 2016•58 min
Trading Block: Market not spooked by Yellen today. Brexit worry has radiated around world as poll puts traders on edge. Odd Block: Calls trade in Calpine Corp (CPN), calls trade in EI Dupont (DD), and calls trade Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) Listener Questions: In which the listeners take over Question from Andy Noble: What do you guys think about this scandal over the super trader? Another black eye for options? Question from Andre Chiles: I am new to the market, but I was wondering if yo...
Jun 07, 2016•1 hr 2 min
Trading Block featuring guest co-host Todd Rich, President of OM Media (an affiliate of OptionsHouse). Crude oil and energy stocks It is that time of the month - volume time. OCC announced that cleared contract volume in May reached 319,533,636 contracts, a four percent increase from the May 2015 volume of 308,639,215 contracts. YTD average daily cleared contract volume is also up four percent from 2015 with 16,734,689 contracts. Odd Block: Calls trade in Xilinx Inc. (XLNX), calls trade in iShar...
Jun 03, 2016•1 hr 4 min
Trading Block Featuring guest co-host Nick Howard, Bantix Soybean rundown: Is the collar skew still favorable? Gold rundown: GLD vs Futures options. The SEC has obtained a court order to freeze the profits of a trader who allegedly manipulated a technology stock through a false regulatory filing traced to a computer in Pakistan. Odd Block: Calls trade in WisdomTree India Earnings (EPI); calls trade in CurrencyShares Euro Trust (FXE); puts trade in Royal Bank of Canada (RY) Mail Block Question of...
May 27, 2016•1 hr 4 min
Trading Block: Will anything useful come out of the Fed meeting? Will the United Kingdom leave the EU? Bayer offers to buy Monsanto for $62B Odd Block: Calls trade in Comcast Corp (CMCSA), calls and puts trade in Bed Bath and Beyond (BBBY), calls trade in Corning Incorporated (GLW) Strategy Block: Uncle Mike Tosaw discusses how not to force a trade. Mail Block: Listener questions and comments Question from Trader Shawn - With the recent rise and fall of crude oil, is there an options tell that w...
May 24, 2016•58 min
Trading Block: Earnings Thursday (retail heavy) After the bell: Gap, Inc., Ross Stores, Shoe Carnival, Before the bell: Wal-Mart, Dick's Sporting Goods, HH Gregg, Stein Mart, The Bon-Ton Stores Stocks to watch: Wal-Mart, Monsanto, Advance Auto Parts, Tesla, Urban Outfitters. This S&P 500 Death Cross could be the real deal. Odd Block: Calls trade in Kinross Gold Corp (KGC), call buyers trade Coeur Mining Inc. (CDE) and puts trade in Market Vectors Gold Miners (GDX) Mail Block: Listener questi...
May 20, 2016•1 hr 1 min
Trading Block: Weekend Review: VIX Options and Futures 5/9 through 5/13. Has VIX bottomed? Yen volatility surges as Central Bank meetings loom. Hedge funds are not what they used to be. Odd Block: Puts trade in Twitter Inc. (TWTR), puts trade in Materials Select Sector SPDR (XLB), and puts trade in CF Industries Holdings inc. (CF) Strategy Block: Uncle Mike Tosaw discusses ratio spreads and sector investing. Mail Block: Last week, the options question of the week was "What is your favorite optio...
May 17, 2016•58 min
Trading Block: S&P was all over the place, to settle down only 0.2%. A little flip on volatility. Apple is no longer the most valuable company in the world. Will online retailers take over retail stores? Are malls dead? Monsanto cheater, could you be more obvious? Odd Block: Big call buying in JNK, massive long-term call buying in JD, and UPS calendar put trades. Around the Block: Bears mini camp. Retail sales numbers. Standard options expiration next week.
May 13, 2016•34 min
Trading Block: Options Civil War: Which side are you on? Earnings today before the bell: Tyson Foods, Liberty Media Group, Sothebys. Traders on edge as Staples-Office Depot deal decision looms. Are markets more sensitive to the Fed these days? Stocks to watch: LendingClub, Krispy Kreme, Freeport-McMoRan, Valeant. Odd Block: Call roll in American Capital LTD (ACAS), buying time call stupid in Nokia Corp (NOK), and put spread buyers in JPMorgan Alerian MLP Index (AMJ). Strategy Block: Tosaw discus...
May 10, 2016•1 hr
Trading Block: Earnings "Straddle Battle" pitted Tesla against Alibaba. Who won? Other interest in Blizzard, XLE Odd Block: OTM call buyers in Weatherford International PLC (WFT), long-term collar trades in Market Vectors Oil Services ETF (OIH), and put spread trades in SPDR S&P Metals and Mining ETF (XME). Mail Block: Listener questions and comments Question from Oarmin333 - Hi. I have been learning and using MProfile for a year now, all on an intraday basis using futures, mainly ES. I woul...
May 06, 2016•1 hr 2 min
Trading Block: What is going on in the market? Options #QuestionOfTheWeek: Earnings Straddles - $AAPL(4.5%), $FB(7%) & $AMZN(8%). Which will be the most accurate? 45% Facebook - Close $108.89 (Straddle. $7.62) - Open $119.57: Difference. $10.68 / 9.8% - Missed by 40% 29% Amazon - Close $602 (Straddle. $48.16), Open $666 - Difference. $64 / 10.6% - Missed by 33% - WINNER!! 24% Apple - Close $104.35 (Straddle.$4.70), Open $96 - Difference. $8.35 / 8% - Missed by 77% 02% Other Earnings Straddle...
May 03, 2016•1 hr 1 min
Xpress Block: We have special guest co-host: Barry Metzger, CEO of optionsXpress. He discusses: The latest developments at OX. Interesting platform upgrades and tech overhauls What are the OX clients trading during the height of earnings season? Any interesting customer questions/feedback? Trading Block: Options Traders Brace for Amazon Earnings. Amazon at $612.60. ATM straddle $49, approx. 8%. LinkedIn Corporation - $123. ATM straddle $16.20, approx. 13%. Earnings before the bell: CME, Coca-Col...
Apr 29, 2016•1 hr 5 min
Trading Block: Stocks drop ahead of earnings onslaught. Traders may just be forced to unwind all those VIX bets. Earnings today before the bell: Xerox, Haliburton Earnings today after the bell: The Container Store AAPL - ATM straddle: $4.90, approx. 4.6% FB - ATM straddle: $8, approx. 7.2% AMZN - ATM straddle: $49.50, approx. 7.9% Odd Block: Calls trade in Health Care SPDR (XLV), calls trade in BankRate Inc. (RATE), and calls trade in Dollar Tree Inc (DTLR) Strategy Block: Uncle Mike Tosaw discu...
Apr 26, 2016•1 hr 1 min
Trading Block: Earnings! Thursday - (Before the Bell): General Motors Company, Southwest Airlines, Under Armour, Verizon Communications; (After the Bell): Microsoft, Alphabet Inc., E*Trade Financial Company, Starbucks Corporation, Visa Inc. MSFT - $56, ATM Straddle $2.37 - approx. 4.2% GOOG - $756.40, ATM Straddle $41.50 - approx. 5.5% SBUX - $60.77, ATM Straddle $2.25 - approx. 3.7% Odd Block: Call spread buyers in Marathon Petroleum Corp (MRO), call buying in Tronox Ltd (TROX), and paper buyin...
Apr 22, 2016•59 min
Interview Block: Today we are joined by special guest Mal Clissold President and Owner of SCC Capital Group, LLC. We discuss: How frequently and with what percentage do they delve into the individual stock world? What positions do you have that are designed to protect and potentially profit against a major one-day move? What kind of fund does he run? How does he control risk for his positions? What attracts him to a short vol position? What does he have on that he really likes right now? Trading...
Apr 19, 2016•1 hr 2 min
