Trading Block: PFG Best madness; the Chicago based options brokerage firm reeling after their CEO, Russ Wasendorf, attempted suicide after charges of fraud and a missing $200M+ in customer funds. How did the NFA miss this? Another day, another mild selloff that weakens toward the close. The Apple pre-pre earnings.Odd Block: Interesting and unusual activity: A size calendar strangle in VIX options.Strategy Block: Mike Tosaw leads the Strategy Block this week and discusses the ratio repair strategy.Listener Question: Should I sell the Ford Aug 9 puts for around $.30 and buy Ford Sep 10 calls for about $.15 – do you like this risk reversal? (Via Twitter from Dougman)Around the Block: The earnings fiesta begins! A tech day on 7/19: Google, Microsoft, Nokia, AMD (and the other Apple, Chipotle) Apple 7/24, Bank of America 7/18, Citi 7/16.

Trading Block: Another day, another mild selloff. VIX getting the weekend/holiday back, plus a little more. Oil/Commodity rundown – the hot, dry weather has had a big impact of the ags, especially corn. Activision on the block. Odd Block: An unusual activity review for Materials Select Sector SPDR (XLB), Research in Motion, Ltd. (RIMM), and Horizon Pharma, Inc. HZNP (HZNP).Xpress Block: John Grigus gets the floor over at the OX desk and discuss the recent grain market and what to remember if you want to start trading ag futures and options.Mail Block: How do you explain what you do?Around the Block: Earnings season is back! Google on July 12, Citi on the 16th. Apple running pre pre-earnings. Keeping an eye on Activision and EA.

The Options Insider's exclusive coverage of the 2012 OIC Conference concludes with the closing remarks and the passing of the hammer.

The Options Insider's exclusive coverage of the 2012 OIC Conference continues with: The Future of Social Communication in Financial Services

The Options Insider's exclusive coverage of the 2012 OIC Conference continues with the final keynote address delivered by Peter Ricchiuti, Economist/Humorist and Professor at Tulane University.

Our exclusive OIC 2012 audio coverage continues with Options Insider Founder Mark S. Longo's compelling panel – The Holy Grail of The Options Market. This session explores the often tumultuous relationship between financial advisors, asset managers and the options market. What are the major stumbling blocks keeping advisors from adopting options? Why aren't more asset managers using options to hedge their portfolios or generate income? We explore these topics and many more on The Holy Grail of The Options Market.

Trading Block: Apple lurking near $600 again before earnings. RIMM in the toilet and ended up blowing past weekly ATM straddle after all. Ford also taking a beating. June numbers are out and options volume down 13% overall from last year. Avg. daily volume down 8.47%, equity option volume down 13%, and overall equity options ADV down 9%. OCC announced that cleared contract volume reached 329,891,797 in June, dividend trades made up 3.8% of industry volume in June 2012, almost 15% of PHLX's options volume came from dividend trades, about 7% for NYSE ARCA. New exchanges in the mix – NASDAQ launched OMX BX options. ISE files for second exchange license. Floor traders suing CME.Odd Block: Interesting and unusual activity in Material Select Spider (XLB) and McMoran Exploration Co. (MMR).Xpress Block: John Grigus holds down the OX seat and talks about this slow week. Watching the move in crude oil. Tomorrow starts the website release training courses. A walking limit and other new features to the site coming out soon. Around the Block: A slow holiday week. Be careful on the short gamma in the next four days. Chinese internet stock is very cheap. Non-farm payroll on the horizon