Trading Block: VIX term structure, the election and coal. Odd Block: F, M. Xpress/Spread Block: The panel embarks on a heated discussion of C2 and the potential for an electronic SPX contract. Around The Block: The election dominates everything next week. The panel also discusses 3M and asks the question – what the heck happened to Sony?

Trading Block: Ford is on the docket this week as is the explosion in new home sales. Odd Block: AMD, CHKP, FMCN, POT. Xpress/Spread Block: Tim breaks down the growing customer interest in cotton options as well as Baidu. Strategy Block: It's time to learn money management from Uncle Mike. Around The Block: MSFT dominates the crystal ball this week.

While Mark continues to dial in from poolside in Florida, The Option Block team is joined by special guest panelist Bill Luby from VIX and More. The panel discusses the vagaries of the VIX and debates the value of the VIX as a hedging tool. The panel also discusses unusual options activity in SKS, RSH, MOT and HRB. In the Xpress Block, John breaks down the growing customer interest in currency options, particularly World Currency Options. Finally, the panel looks ahead to next week's earnings and debates the impact of the penny pilot on retail options traders.

In The Trading Block, our panel discusses the growing battle between tech titans Apple, Microsoft and Google, as well as the current outlook for IBM. In The Odd Block, they explore unusual options activity in WHR, LNC, GE, AAPL and IBM. In The Xpress Block, OptionsXpress explores recent customer activity in GOOG, including a surge of selling activity in the 540 straddle. In the Strategy Block, Mike Tosaw explores the benefits of using a 1×2 ratio put spread to leg into an equity position. Finally, our panelists break down the coming wave of earnings in Around The Block.

Trading Block: What the heck is going on with the VIX term structure? Odd Block: CBS, VCI, DLTR, HUM & HRB. Spread/Xpress Block: OX customers are bullish on Apple, even as the panelists debate the future of the Iphone and Ipad. Strategy Block: How to get a handle on your risk exposure. Around The Block: Google and GE earnings lurk on the horizon this week.

The Ag Explosion dominates the Trading Block today. Odd Block: Size strangle seller in XRX, Size put seller in PHM, Interesting ratio put spread in CVX, Options explosion in NYT. Spread/Xpress Block: OX customers light up the boards with questions about limit-up ag futures. Strategy Block: The finer points of Treasury derivatives. Around The Block: Google, JP Morgan, Intel and GE earnings lurk on the horizon this week, along with concern over the recent VIX drop.

Welcome to the premiere episode of The Option Block. Join our all-star panel as they break down the latest unusual activity (SOLF, RCL and BMC), strategies (when to use futures options vs. equity options) and customer activity (CRM lights up the OptionsXpress phone bank) from the options market.

Welcome to another sneak preview of the newest addition to the Options Insider Radio Network – The Option Block. Join our all-star panel as they break down the latest unusual activity, strategies and customer activity from the options market.