This episode of Traders Talk Live Radio (AM 560 WIND Chicago) features special guest Mark Longo and is devoted to options basics for retail stock investors.

In this episode, Mark is joined by Bill Brodsky, President & CEO of the Chicago Board Options Exchange. Mark and Bill discuss the explosion of interest in the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX). They also discuss penny pricing, the rise of dark pools and the options industry's growing dissatisfaction with the SEC.

A look back at the winners and losers from the past week…

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After a long expiration week, there's nothing more refreshing than an "Options Cocktail." Topics on tap include: Financial Select SPDR (XLF) / Russel 2000 (IWM) Put Spread, Regional Bank Holders Index (RKH), SPDR Gold Shares (GLD), the Fed's Catch-22 with interest rates and more…

Topics on tap for this week's program include: unusual options activity in the regional banking sector (Fifth-third Bancorp (FITB), Suntrust Banks (STI), Washington Mutual (WM), etc), CBOE & CME bury the hatchet and FCC gives the nod to the Sirius/XM satellite radio merger…

There seems to be a newfound rancor towards "speculation" in the marketplace. This appears to be another case of misguided perception. By confusing "speculation" with "manipulation", the public is being led in the wrong direction. Those of us who earn our living in the markets know that speculators play a vital role in their proper function…

And the winner is…

In this episode, Mark is joined by Alex Jacobson, Education Officer of the International Securities Exchange. Mark and Alex discuss the fascination with "premium harvesting" in the retail options market. They also discuss the growing interest in forex options and the explosion of demand for options education around the world…

In this episode, Mark is joined by Adam Nunes, Head of the NASDAQ Options Market. Mark and Adam discuss the growing rivalry between the NASDAQ Options Market and BOX. They also discuss options dark pools and what it takes to compete in the cutthroat world of options.

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In this episode, Mark is joined by Scott Morris, CEO of the Boston Options Exchange. Mark and Scott discuss the growing rivalry between BOX and the NASDAQ Options Market. They also discuss options dark pools and how BOX plans to compete in the increasingly crowded options business.