Trading Block: VIX provided most of the movement in the market. Spain concerns weigh on the market again. Analyst says JP Morgan could make an upside surprise as they disclose more about the $2 billion "hedge." Apple's WWDC doesn't budge the stock – announces new MacBooks, iOS 6, better voice, no new iPhone, and switching away from Google maps – a potential big hit for Google. Commodity/vol rundown. Odd Block: Interesting and unusual activity in Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (GMCR), Pitney Bowes, Inc. (PBI), and Focus Media Holding, Ltd. (FMCN). Xpress Block: Tim Navabi is back in the OX hot seat and goes over what was active over at optionsXpress. Apple, SPY, and more, a grain report coming out tomorrow. Helping a few customers with spreads. Mail Block: Taking on Listener QuestionsAround the Block: June 13: PPI & Retail Sales June 14: CPI & Jobless Claims June 15: Industrial Production, Consumer Sentiment & Triple Witching Expiration
Volatility Views 57: Turning the Tables on Mark Sebastian
Volatility Review: VIX is back this week, after it ended unchanged at 0.0 before last week's Option Block episodes. Time will tell as we see what happens in Europe. NASDAQ one- and three-month realized volatility has had almost no movement at all, but the trend is surely upward.Crystal Ball: We'll have to keep an eye on Europe, but expect little change in realized volatility. There will be a break in S&P in one direction or the other. Volatility Viewpoint: Long-time panelist Mark Sebastian gets the chance to sit in the guest's seat and discusses what Option Pit is and the world of options education. Mail Bag: Answering listener questions.
Late Edition
Late afternoon roundup of industry-related stories
Options Insider Radio 104: Interview with Russ Chrusciel, Division Head of SunGard-Valdi Options
Recorded live at the 2012 OIC Conference, Mark and Russ discuss:? The transition into Valdi suite of products in the past year? A breakdown about the Valdi product line? Valdi's plans to add more analytics into your data feed? When the thin client retail version of MicroHedge/Valdi might come out? What they have to offer the high end retail trader
Option Block 157: We Are in a Holding Pattern Until We Are Not
Trading Block: For the second show in a row, the S&P is literally closed unchanged at 0.0%, what are the odds? The Fed pretty much stymied most activity. Have to love the Feds – says end of tax cuts is the most important fiscal event on the horizon, yet refuses to comment on whether tax cuts should stay or go. China cut their benchmark lending rate for the first time in about 4 years. VIX drifting toward the lower end of its recent range. Commodity/Metals update. Odd Block: Interesting and unusual activity in Lululemon Athletica, Inc. (LULU), Market Vectors Gold Miners Index ETF (GDX), and SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF (XHB)Xpress Block: Sean Fitzgerald returns to the Xpress Block for the second time and discusses Facebook and its seemingly recent divorce from the public's love and attention. In other news, Starbucks will start producing for the "K-Cup" Green Mountain single cup coffee brewing system.Listener Mail: Taking on listener questions.Around the Block: Keeping an eye on Greece and The Fed.
Options Insider Radio 104: Interview with Russ Chrusciel, Division Head of SunGard-Valdi Options
Recorded live at the 2012 OIC Conference, Mark and Russ discuss:? The transition into Valdi suite of products in the past year? A breakdown about the Valdi product line? Valdi's plans to add more analytics into your data feed? When the thin client retail version of MicroHedge/Valdi might come out? What they have to offer the high end retail trader
Option Block 156: Greek Tragedy
Trading Block: The selloff eased after the bloodbath on Friday. The S&P closed almost completely unchanged today. Still waiting for the Greeks. All-time record lows in the 10- and 30-year bonds. VIX headed to 30…and beyond? A Facebook flow recap. Peak 6 gobbles up the remnants of Pension, creating a new entity, Apex Clearing Corp.Odd Block: Unusual and interesting activity in Research in Motion, Ltd. (RIMM), HollyFrontier Corp. (HFC), and Hansen Medical, Inc. (HNSN).Xpress Block: Newcomer Sean Fitzgerald gets to take hold on the OX reins and discusses the July crude oil technicals, SPX and an upcoming economic report.Around the Block: Greece, Greece and more Greece with a side of Saganaki.
Volatility Views 56: More Listener Mail Fun
Volatility Review: Broad selloffs across the markets, due to the poor jobless claims numbers. One-month realized volatility on the NASDAQ was up about half a percentage point to 17.40, and the three-month edged higher to 16.02. Reacting, rather than predicting, was the order of the day.Listener Mail: We're Going Listener Mail Crazy Again This WeekCrystal Ball: We could see 30 shortly in the VIX. All-time low for 10- and 30-year bonds. More volatility — it's going to get worse before it gets better.
Volatility Views 56: More Listener Mail Fun
Volatility Review: Broad selloffs across the markets, due to the poor jobless claims numbers. One-month realized volatility on the NASDAQ was up about half a percentage point to 17.40, and the three-month edged higher to 16.02. Reacting, rather than predicting, was the order of the day.Listener Mail: We're Going Listener Mail Crazy Again This WeekCrystal Ball: We could see 30 shortly in the VIX. All-time low for 10- and 30-year bonds. More volatility — it's going to get worse before it gets better.
Option Block 155: The Long and Winding Road to Nowhere
Trading Block: Given the end of month, it was a strange seesaw-like day on the market. Facebook is actually going up, closing today at $29.53. There is a lot of opportunity in those options. Commodities movers today included crude oil, natural gas, soy meal, oats, soybeans, wheat, coffee and lumber. But who could forget about bond? Gold and silver rundown. Xpress Block: Tim Navabi takes the OX seat and talks first about the Corzine Rule being proposed for futures brokers, and then the number tomorrow. Strategy Block: Uncle Mike Tosaw's strategy and story from today are about adjustments of trades.Around the Block: Again, the big number tomorrow – if you fail to prepare, be prepared to fail. Election in Greece later this month. Check out the Facebook options survey results posted on theoptionsinsider.com
Exclusive 2012 OIC Conference Coverage: Options Exchange Leaders Panel
Options Exchange Leaders Panel Moderated by Joseph Gawronski, President and COO, Rosenblatt Securities Inc.
Options Insider Radio 103: Joe Burgoyne, Managing Director of Retail & Institutional Marketing at OIC
Recorded live at the 2012 OIC Conference, Mark interviews Joe Burgoyne, Managing Director of Retail & Institutional Marketing at OIC


