Option Block | The Options Insider

Option Block 37: Dictators For Hire

by Option Block | Feb 25, 2011 | Radio Show

* TRADING BLOCK: GOLD RALLY CONTINUES; OX XUSTOMERS LOVE OIL;WRITING DOWNSIDE SPX PUT SPREADS; WRITING ITM PUTS FOR INCOME * ODD BLOCK: TOLL BROTHERS & SHUTTERFLY DRAW SOME UNUSUAL ACTIVITY, POTENTIAL OPENINGS FOR TOTALITARIAN DICTATORS * SPREAD BLOCK: CITI options not dominating the tape at OX;check out rob's picks in the xpresso newsletter,Lots of margin calls for NFLX weeklies traders * Strategy Block: Answering user questions about ratio spreads; Setting up and trading ratio spreads * Around The Block: Is $35B enough to save The Kingdom?; Nat Gas at key levels. Is the bounce coming?; Is Libya the catalyst that can finally kill the bull market?; OX customers are taking advantage of the pullback to go long the market. OX social is live, but you can't poke Tim Navabi.

Option Block 36: Libya and AAPL

by Option Block | Feb 23, 2011 | Brokerage Information

Trading Block: S&P, Dow, Nasdaq down, Consumer confidence up. Oil hits two year high. AAPL Christmas tree risk reversal. Amazon free streaming goes live.Odd Block: Bears come down to Iron Mountain (IRM) with 4x normal volume. Carnival Cruise (CCL) cruising in bearish waters, but contrarians see a life boat. THC – review of suspicious call buying. *** OX / Spread Block: OX traders burnt out on bullish GLD turn to neutral strategies: butterflies and calendar spreads. Brent crude/WTI crude spread action. Bearish AAPL order flow. *** Around the Block: AAPL, NFLX, GDP. Upcoming earnings: Garmin, GM, THC. Libya…pushing VIX to 30??

Option Block 36: Libya and AAPL

by Option Block | Feb 23, 2011 | Radio Show

Trading Block: S&P, Dow, Nasdaq down, Consumer confidence up. Oil hits two year high. AAPL Christmas tree risk reversal. Amazon free streaming goes live.Odd Block: Bears come down to Iron Mountain (IRM) with 4x normal volume. Carnival Cruise (CCL) cruising in bearish waters, but contrarians see a life boat. THC – review of suspicious call buying.OX / Spread Block: OX traders burnt out on bullish GLD turn to neutral strategies: butterflies and calendar spreads. Brent crude/WTI crude spread action. Bearish AAPL order flow.Around the Block: AAPL, NFLX, GDP. Upcoming earnings: Garmin, GM, THC. Libya…pushing VIX to 30??

Option Block 35: Byzantine Exchange Tango

by Option Block | Feb 18, 2011 | Radio Show

Trading Block: Exchange tango; Too many marketplaces? Who is protecting Market Makers?Odd Block: Dell buying AMD? Chicos: Sebastian's sartorial choiceXpress / Spread block: Boring? Don't say that to commodities; MOO, COWAround the Block: Pin risk; Natural gas; VIX echoing friction; AAPL vol…Sebastian loves itCheck out optionsxpress.com/oxradio for a special trial offer only for Option Block listeners. Plus, don't forget to visit the education tab on optionsxpress.com to see all upcoming webinarsBe part of the show…call 312.544.9356 to leave your questions or comments, and maybe we'll have you in live for a taping.

Option Block 34: Barry White vs. Tesla

by Option Block | Feb 15, 2011 | Brokerage Information

* Trading Block: No love for MSFT + Nokia; FCG natural gas ETF; Silver streak; crude oil * Odd Block: Delta neutral explained; EXPE bullish risk reversal; Colgate Palmolive – you're soaking in it; TWC; RBBD * Spread Block: Automated quotes on the auto phone line; Surveys coming to OX customers; Vote now on the wish list * Around the Block: Housing starts; CPI; Tech earnings galore; More downside left in crude?: 1 x 2 Ratio calendars

Option Block 34: Barry White vs. Tesla

by Option Block | Feb 15, 2011 | Radio Show

Trading Block: No love for MSFT + Nokia; FCG natural gas ETF; Silver streak; crude oilOdd Block: Delta neutral explained; EXPE bullish risk reversal; Colgate Palmolive – you're soaking in it; TWC; RBBDSpread Block: Automated quotes on the auto phone line; Surveys coming to OX customers; Vote now on the wish listAround the Block: Housing starts; CPI; Tech earnings galore; More downside left in crude?: 1 x 2 Ratio calendars

Option Block 33: AAPL-PALOOZA with a dash of CSCO, THC. CBOE and CMG

by Option Block | Feb 11, 2011 | Brokerage Information

* TRADING BLOCK: CSCO DOWN OFF EARNINGS, WHAT TO WITH WITH YOUR SHORT FEB 20 CSCO PUTS,MARCH 18-20 CSCO RISK REVERSAL IS SUPERIOR TO NAKED LONG CALLS OR SHORT PUTS,LEGGING FROM A RISK REVERSAL INTO A BULLISH VERTICAL CALL SPREAD. * THE BIG APPLE BLOCK: HOW ARE RETAIL CUSTOMERS LOOKING AT APPLE & APPLE OPTIONS THESE DAYS; MANAGING APPLE STRADDLES; APPLE OPTIONS PRICING OUT RETAIL CLIENTS; ARE APPLE'S BEST DAY'S BEHIND IT; APPLE'S DOMINANCE OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN; DOES APPLE HAVE A DEEP BENCH TO REPLACE JOBS; NH LEGISLATURE LOOKING TO REPLACE ALL GOVERNMENTAL PAPER USE WITH IPADS – THE START OF A NEW TREND FOR APPLE WITH FEDERAL CONTRACTS? * ODD BLOCK: VERY SUSPICIOUS CALL ACTIVITY IN THC * XPRESS BLOCK: OX CUSTOMER PLAYING HEAVILY IN COMMODITY ETS AND FUTURES; OX CUSTOMERS HOPING BOND MARKET HAS FOUND A BOTTOM; OX CUSTOMERS HAVE NO CONSENSUS ON THE BROAD MARKET RIGHT NOW…STRATEGIES ARE MIXED BETWEEN LONG AND SHORT; STEVE JOBS = BORIS YELSTIN? * AROUND THE BLOCK: EXCHANGE TANGO; CBOE RIPE FOR A TAKEOVER?; WILL CME PULL THE TRIGGER?; CBOE/CME COMBO WOULD BE A POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT FOR FUTURES/OPTIONS PORTFOLIO MARGINING; ISE, NYSE ARCA AND AMEX OPTIONS EXCHANGES ALL UNDER ONE ROOF? WHICH EXCHANGE IS THE ODD MAN OUT?; CMG EARNINGS EXPLOSION; WILL ICE JUMP INTO THE FRAY AGAIN?

Option Block 33: AAPL-PALOOZA with a dash of CSCO, THC. CBOE and CMG.

by Option Block | Feb 11, 2011 | Radio Show

TRADING BLOCK: CSCO DOWN OFF EARNINGS, WHAT TO WITH WITH YOUR SHORT FEB 20 CSCO PUTS,MARCH 18-20 CSCO RISK REVERSAL IS SUPERIOR TO NAKED LONG CALLS OR SHORT PUTS,LEGGING FROM A RISK REVERSAL INTO A BULLISH VERTICAL CALL SPREAD. * THE BIG APPLE BLOCK: HOW ARE RETAIL CUSTOMERS LOOKING AT APPLE & APPLE OPTIONS THESE DAYS; MANAGING APPLE STRADDLES; APPLE OPTIONS PRICING OUT RETAIL CLIENTS; ARE APPLE'S BEST DAY'S BEHIND IT; APPLE'S DOMINANCE OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN; DOES APPLE HAVE A DEEP BENCH TO REPLACE JOBS; NH LEGISLATURE LOOKING TO REPLACE ALL GOVERNMENTAL PAPER USE WITH IPADS – THE START OF A NEW TREND FOR APPLE WITH FEDERAL CONTRACTS? * ODD BLOCK: VERY SUSPICIOUS CALL ACTIVITY IN THC. * XPRESS BLOCK: OX CUSTOMER PLAYING HEAVILY IN COMMODITY ETS AND FUTURES; OX CUSTOMERS HOPING BOND MARKET HAS FOUND A BOTTOM; OX CUSTOMERS HAVE NO CONSENSUS ON THE BROAD MARKET RIGHT NOW…STRATEGIES ARE MIXED BETWEEN LONG AND SHORT; STEVE JOBS = BORIS YELSTIN? * AROUND THE BLOCK: EXCHANGE TANGO; CBOE RIPE FOR A TAKEOVER?; WILL CME PULL THE TRIGGER?; CBOE/CME COMBO WOULD BE A POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT FOR FUTURES/OPTIONS PORTFOLIO MARGINING; ISE, NYSE ARCA AND AMEX OPTIONS EXCHANGES ALL UNDER ONE ROOF? WHICH EXCHANGE IS THE ODD MAN OUT?; CMG EARNINGS EXPLOSION; WILL ICE JUMP INTO THE FRAY AGAIN?.

Option Block 32: Super Bowl Shuffle

by Option Block | Feb 8, 2011 | Brokerage Information

* Trading Block: VIX vs. VXX; Financialls rally; AOL + HuffPo; Oil on the move; AAPL upgrade + low vol = ?? * Odd Block: BAX Aug 55 Calls sell 25k times; Rollin' shorts: BPOP 10x normal volume * Xpress / Spread Block: Commodities on the move: Cotton, lean hogs, oats, wheat natural gas, rough rice, cattle; Top in natural gas? Most traded stocks at OX: SPY, AAPL, SPX, QQQQ, F, FFIV, BAC, GE. * Strategy Block: Incorporated weeklys into strategies: ratio spread, vertical spread, horizontal spread * Around the Block: Jobless claims; Earnings watch: Cisco, Activision, Chipotle

Option Block 32: Super Bowl Shuffle

by Option Block | Feb 8, 2011 | Radio Show

*Trading Block*: VIX vs. VXX; Financialls rally; AOL + HuffPo; Oil on the move; AAPL upgrade + low vol = ??. * Odd Block*: BAX Aug 55 Calls sell 25k times; Rollin' shorts: BPOP 10x normal volume*Xpress / Spread Block*: Commodities on the move: Cotton, lean hogs, oats, wheat natural gas, rough rice, cattle; Top in natural gas? Most traded stocks at OX: SPY, AAPL, SPX, QQQQ, F, FFIV, BAC, GE.*Strategy Block*: Incorporated weeklys into strategies: ration spread, vertical spread, horizontal spread*Around the Block*: Jobless claims; Earnings watch: Cisco, Activision, Chipotle

Option Block Episode 31: Tesla vs. GM vs. Ford

by Option Block | Feb 4, 2011 | Brokerage Information

Trading Block:Commodities moving; Ford vs GM vs Tesla – which straddle are you buying?; SPX Downside skew starting to soften; the importance of staying cool ** Odd Block: Bulls love Tyson chicken; Massive vertical call spread in YHOO; Bullish bets or rolling down an established long position?; ERTS call sellers go off a cliff ** Xpress Block: Important lessosn for beginning futures traders; Watch your stops on LIFFE – they may vanish before your eyes; Explaining price improvement auctions; The unintended consequences of flash regulation in the options market. ** Around the Block: Non-farm payroll; CMG off to the races – earnings coming up; CSCO earnings on the horizon; Short downside puts in Tesla?? Look for support at 20; Where is the best entry point in Goldman Sachs?; ATVI earnings coming up – will it be another explosion like ERTS?

Option Block Episode 30: He-Man vs. The Exploding VIX

by Option Block | Feb 1, 2011 | Brokerage Information

**Trading Block: Egyptian ripple effect; crude oil hits $100, GLD closes down; A tale of two VIX. **Odd Block: MAT sees 5k Feb 24 straddles trade at 1.50; Bears eat up EXM; CVLT doubles open interest. **Xpress Block: Crude oil futures vs. ETFs; Avoiding VXX; Xpresso authors webinar coming in Feb. **Strategy Block: Coming down from butterfly mountain. **Around the Block: Crude inventories, non-farm payrolls, and housing data; All eyes on Egypt.