Option Block 125: When Squishy Becomes a Technical Term

Trading Block: Is it too risky to actively short volatility in this environment? Andrew thinks that, from a volatility point of view, all things are pointing in the same direction. Earnings plays. What's the deal with Amazon? Chipotle, or stealth Apple, is nothing but classy. Andrew gives taqueria recommendations in San Francisco. All is right in the world, so it's time to buy stocks.Odd Block: Unusual activity in Zynga, Inc., Facebook is spreading the love.Xpress Block: John Grigus discusses the IPO process, and the confusion around when the stock will actually trade. Tax season updates on 1099's.Around the Block: Non-farms payrolls released on Friday before the open. Andrew suggests an ADP indicator. Earnings still coming out: Activision, CBOE, CSCO, Groupon.

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Option Block 124: Confessions of a Juice Buying Junkie

Trading Block: It was a calm day in volatility, given that it has been beaten up recently. What effect does Greece's financial woes has on our market anymore? The precious Metals market pulls back, affected by China. The yellow Wiggle is out: Australia is in turmoil! The biggest kids brand is in the toilet, sold Wiggles sold!!! Scalping tech Vol. Odd Block: Unusual activity in Pfizer Inc. (PFE), Cell Therapeutics Inc. (CTIC) (an odd block special!), and RenRen Inc. (RENN). It looks like Facebook love is spreading to RENN.Mail Bag: The weekly butterfly risk and reward Around the Block: Earnings: Amazon coming out after the close tomorrow. Numbers: Non-Farms on Friday, this week we might see some numbers pop.

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Volatility Views 38: The Great Skew Debate

Volatility Views 38: The Great Skew Debate

Volatility Review: What is going on with the VIX? How low can it go? Sebas sees VIX going to 16. Don gives a Euro VolContract update, noting the equity-like behavior (underlying increased, while vol dropped). Looking forward to the Nasdaq 100 VolContracts.Volatility Viewpoint: Mark, Mark, and Don discuss volatility and skew with John Bilson, Professor of Finance at the Illinois Institute of Technology's Stuart School of Finance. Professor Bilson also proposes two new types of contracts for the marketplace.Crytsal Ball: Right now, there are good opportunities to buy individual equity options because volatility is so low. Mark Sebastian uses AAPL as an example. The impact of the leverage effect. Don thinks that the vol levels on the Euro VolContracts look just about right.

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Volatility Views 38: The Great Skew Debate

Volatility Views 38: The Great Skew Debate

Volatility Review: What is going on with the VIX? How low can it go? Sebas sees VIX going to 16. Don gives a Euro VolContract update, noting the equity-like behavior (underlying increased, while vol dropped). Looking forward to the Nasdaq 100 VolContracts.Volatility Viewpoint: Mark, Mark, and Don discuss volatility and skew with John Bilson, Professor of Finance at the Illinois Institute of Technology's Stuart School of Finance. Professor Bilson also proposes two new types of contracts for the marketplace.Crytsal Ball: Right now, there are good opportunities to buy individual equity options because volatility is so low. Mark Sebastian uses AAPL as an example. The impact of the leverage effect. Don thinks that the vol levels on the Euro VolContracts look just about right.

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Option Block 123: Like a Virgin

Trading Block: Apple blows the doors off earnings again ? long premium going into earnings was the way to play it. JC Penney up $6.50 today, but is it best to still keep a short position? Netflix on the comeback trail? Odd Block: Unusual activity in Deutsche Bank AG (DB) and DeVry Inc. (DV).Xpress Block: Tim Navabi breaks down the recent activity at OX. Have the recent round of earnings and a move to the upside started to lure back degenerate premium sellers back to Netflix? Have people continued to dive back into the short end of Google? Strategy Block: In this rare opportunity, Mark Sebastian takes over the strategy block to discuss what he thinks about the VIX.Around the Block: Keeping an eye on Ford and Apple – again. Very interesting to see oil still around the 100 mark – gold and silver are also moving. Earnings: Jan 31 – Amazon, Feb 1 – Chipotle (stealth Apple), Exxon Mobile & UPS – next week.

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Option Block 122: Option Block After Dark

Trading Block: Greek debt swap is keeping the market in neutral. S&P and VIX both up today, but overall a slow trading day. Natural gas and Google are both gathering interest among traders. It is an interesting time to looking at long premium. Odd Block: Usual activity in Melco Entertainment (MPEL), Alexza Pharmaceuticals (ALXA), and Ingersoll Rand (IR).Xpress Block: Tim Navabi discusses the most recent strike of the widowmaker, Google, and some of the calls received by customers last Friday, unhappy with their positions. Around the Block: Big earnings tomorrow! Apple, AMD, and Ford to name a few of the biggest. How much more can Apple rally on earnings? Ford, a wheel of fun candidate, is not risky enough for a collar.

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Volatility Views 37: Volatility: How Low Can It Go?

Volatility Views 37: Volatility: How Low Can It Go?

Volatility Review: Might we see VIX below 20 for some time to come? Euro vol up slightly since last week — Bob Krause called it correctly. Two weeks to go in the Feb VolContract.Volatility Viewpoint: Don gets a chance to give his views on last week's topics and talking points from Nikunj Kapadia, Associate Professor at the UMass Eisenberg School of Management. Mailbag: VolContracts on the NASDAQ!!!Crystal Ball: Vol could stay below 20 for a while, VIX futures are even on sale. Is volatility at 12 realistic for the Euro going forward?

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Volatility Views 37: Volatility: How Low Can It Go?

Volatility Views 37: Volatility: How Low Can It Go?

Volatility Review: Might we see VIX below 20 for some time to come? Euro vol up slightly since last week — Bob Krause called it correctly. Two weeks to go in the Feb VolContract.Volatility Viewpoint: Don gets a chance to give his views on last week's topics and talking points from Nikunj Kapadia, Associate Professor at the UMass Eisenberg School of Management. Mailbag: VolContracts on the NASDAQ!!!Crystal Ball: Vol could stay below 20 for a while, VIX futures are even on sale. Is volatility at 12 realistic for the Euro going forward?

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Option Block 121: Degenerate Options Traders

Trading Block: Ho hum day on the street, but VIX makes it below 20 after much dancing in the area. Looking at a sleepy creep up of the general markets and for a dedicated selling of volatility. Uncle Mike's patience has paid off in Ford. Mark rolls in the Wheel of Fun. The gang fixes the issues with weeklys, but are the exchanges listening? Playing around in earnings season. Kodak throws in the towel and declares bankruptcy. Odd Block: Unusual activity in Safeway, Inc. (SWY).Strategy Block: Uncle Mike takes us through win-loss ratios. High probability does not equal guaranteed money. Premium selling is not an annuity; you still have to prepare for risk. Around the Block: Earnings dominating the horizon.

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Volatility Views 36: The VIX vs. Black Swan: Analyzing Tail Risk in the VIX

Volatility Views 36: The VIX vs. Black Swan: Analyzing Tail Risk in the VIX

Volatility Review: Another interesting week in general volatility. Although predicted to settle around the new mean of 23-25, VIX is down to 19. Where will it go next? CBOE has finally put out an adjustment to their settlement process. Euro VolContract review. Volatility Viewpoint: This week's guest, Nikunj Kapadia from UMass, sits down with Mark and Bob to discuss Black Swans, volatility pricing, tail risk, and buy-writes.Crystal Ball: VIX may be headed towards 19 from heavy pressure on VIX Jan and Feb futures. Could we really see an explosion to the upside? Big news at VolX!

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Volatility Views 36: The VIX vs. Black Swan: Analyzing Tail Risk in the VIX

Volatility Views 36: The VIX vs. Black Swan: Analyzing Tail Risk in the VIX

Volatility Review: Another interesting week in general volatility. Although predicted to settle around the new mean of 23-25, VIX is down to 19. Where will it go next? CBOE has finally put out an adjustment to their settlement process. Euro VolContract review. Volatility Viewpoint: This week's guest, Nikunj Kapadia from UMass, sits down with Mark and Bob to discuss Black Swans, volatility pricing, tail risk, and buy-writes.Crystal Ball: VIX may be headed towards 19 from heavy pressure on VIX Jan and Feb futures. Could we really see an explosion to the upside? Big news at VolX!

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Option Block 120: Doing Stuff

Trading Block: Another mild day on the market. Metals/Commodities rundown – GLD up a bit, but not much. Premium on the VIX futures is getting crushed. Corn and grains limit down after a USDA report this morning rocked the market.Odd Block: Unusual activity in Newell Rubbermaid, Inc. (NWL) and Research in Motion (RIMM). Xpress Block: Rob Kurzatkowski commands the OX desk today and discusses the ags from CME and Globex, limits and what you need to know before trading following reports. Strategy Block: Andrew Giovanazzi runs the strategy block and talks about doing stuff after trading Zenga and XLF.Around the Block: Earnings outlook: Goldman Sachs, Citi – 1/18, Intel – 1/19, as well as Apple – 1/24. Will we push through the 1300-level, or will it act as a level of resistance? Next Wednesday is VIX expiration for the Jan contracts.

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