Double-Diagonals Have You Seeing Double (Margin)?

Options-centric brokers don't require double margin on a balanced iron condor or butterfly (i.e., where the vertical spreads are equal and all contracts have the same expiration date)?but thanks to a regulatory crack-down in the wake of the 2008 credit crisis, it's increasingly likely that any deviation from a balanced iron condor or butterfly will cost you margin on both sides, at least until the regulations are updated (and the most optimistic estimates for when that might happen are on the order of several months).

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Options Insider Radio Episode 60 – Live From OIC: Options Industry Council

Mark is joined by Susan Milligan, Executive Director, Options Industry Council. Mark and Susan discuss the OIC's latest study of retail options traders. Topics include: Why women don't trade options and the demographic shifts that have occurred in the options market over the past 20 years. In addition, Mark and Susan discuss the numerous challenges facing the derivatives industry in Washington, D.C.

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Options Insider Radio Episode 58 – Live From OIC: TD Ameritrade

Live from OIC 2010 – Mark is joined by Chris Nagy, MD, TD Ameritrade. Mark and Chris discuss TD Ameritrade's plans for the options market, including the ongoing integration of the ThinkOrSwim options platform. Other discussion topics include: How does TD Ameritrade plan to differentiate itself from ThinkorSwim and continue to attract options traders going forward? Why do so many financial advisors continue to ignore the options market? How difficult is it to be a derivatives lobbyist in the current political climate

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Episode 56 – Live From OIC: NASDAQ OMX and PHLX

Live from OIC – Mark is joined by Tom Wittman, President, NASDAQ OMX/PHLX. Mark and Tom discuss the fact that so many exchanges are copying PHLX by swapping ownership for order flow. They also discuss the claims that NASDAQ and BATS are cannibalizing the options market. Finally, they debate PHLX's controversial pursuit of dividend trade volume. Does this strategy exploit retail traders and distort the overall options market?

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