Shows / The Option Block
The Option Block
The Option Block All-Star Panel breaks down the latest developments in the options market, analyzes unusual options activity, explains cutting-edge options strategies, answers listener questions and much more. Whether you're an active options trader or just getting started in the options market, The Option Block will keep you informed and entertained.
Episodes
The Option BlockOption Block 569: The Musical Halloween Spooktacular
Trading Block: The tumultuous presidential election could peak the VIX today. Emotional uncertain about the election? Stick to your investing plan. Odd Block…
The Option BlockOption Block 568: Honking Slingshot Swaps Plus AMZN, GOOGL and TWTR Earnings
Trading Block/Earnings Palooza! Before the Bell: TSLA: stock up 1.5%, $12.30 (6%) AAPL: stock closed $118.25, but dropped nearly $5 the next trading day - now…
The Option BlockOption Block 567: VIX Fades and Broker Buyouts
Trading Block: Earnings today before the bell: T-Mobile USA, Inc. Earnings today after the bell: Visa Inc. S&P 500 Skew Unwind Shows Complacency Over Clinton…
The Option BlockOption Block 566: Revenge of the Pit Traders
TRADING BLOCK Earnings highlights today: Before the bell: American Airlines, Dunkin Brands, Verizon Communications, Textron (TXT), Illinois Tool Works (ITW)…
The Option BlockOption Block 565: Rise of the Widowmaker
Trading Block: Earnings today before the bell: Bank of America (BAC) leading off before the market opened Monday with a positive result. Earnings today after…
The Option BlockOption Block 564: Winter Is Coming
Trading Block: Dow drops amid weak China data and rate fears. Will it be a cold winter? Will that spike energy prices? WTF Fed? Airline earnings Odd Block…
The Option BlockOption Block 563: Stocks That Cause Great Sadness
Trading Block: Deutsche Bank says derivatives exposure fears overblown. Twitter shares plunge on report bidders are scarce. TWTR off 11% - back around $17.50…
The Option BlockOption Block 562: The Sexy Yield Party
Trading Block: An anemic day in the market. Deutsche Bank does not need a bailout for now, IMF says. DB-$13.50; normal ADV is around 30k, today it was over…
The Option BlockOption Block 561: Dangerous Call Volatility
Trading Block: It is that time of the month: OCC Cleared Contract volume up 2% in September. Exchange-listed options volume reached 357,041,027 contracts in…
The Option BlockOption Block 560: The Sex Appeal of Options
Today we have a very special guest co-host, Benjamin Londergan, Executive Managing Director and Head of Options Trading and Technology, Convergex. Trading…
The Option BlockOption Block 559: Options Buyout Frenzy
Trading Block: Vol begins to head north again after a big selloff in VIX on Friday. The debates are coming! Merkel has no love for Deutsche Bank. Golf loses a…
The Option BlockOption Block 558: Sucking Up the VIX Slurpee
Trading Block: VIX apocalypse post-Fed. It looks like we were not pessimistic enough on Vol Views last week! How will next weeks first Presidential debate…
The Option BlockOption Block 557: Get Your Bowels in an Uproar
Trading Block: AAPL! It is no longer the Feds market, it is now Apple's market. Last week Apple essentially carried the S&P 500, Dow, and NASDAQ, having one of…
The Option BlockOption Block 556: Flimflammery and Skull Blockery
Trading Block: Volatility is coming back! Wall Street gains on Apple, dimmer chances of rate hike. Odd Block: Calls trade in Lending Club Corp (LC), calls…
The Option BlockOption Block 555: Will the Fed Please Shut Up
Trading Block: Dow rebounds 130 points amid rate hike debate. Vol explodes higher and the bulls' confidence is tested. TSLA: Shares of Tesla Motors Inc. fell…
The Option BlockOption Block 554: Crude Battle Plus the Collar-Risk Reversal Breakdown
Trading Block: August this year was the lowest average daily volume for puts and calls since October 2012. Stocks to Watch: TWTR - Stock off over 5% AAPL -…
The Option BlockOption Block 553: Hearing Crickets
Trading Block: OCC Cleared Contract volume down 24% in August. Earnings today: (before the bell) Campbell Soup Co., Lands End, Vera Bradley; (after the bell)…
The Option BlockOption Block 552: Controversy Options: VRX, HLF, MYL and More
Trading Block: Stocks to Watch: Mylan, Herbalife, and Caesars Entertainment. Mylan on Monday said it would launch a generic alternative to EpiPen at a 50%…
The Option BlockOption Block 551: Epic MYL Rant and HPQ Call Fail
Trading Block: Earnings today include: Gamestop, Ulta Salon, Cosmetics and Fragrance. Gamestop (GME) is at $32.21, ATM straddle: $1.50, or approx. 4.6%. Stocks…
The Option BlockOption Block 550: Buy Your War Bonds Now
Trading Block: The one- year anniversary of the 8/24 flash crash looms near. Yellen speech at Jackson Hole set to dominate mood on Wall Street. VRX continues…
The Option BlockOption Block 549: Squeezy Mcheesenstein
Trading Block: Earnings today (before the bell): Wal-Mart, Hormel Foods, MSG Networks); (after the bell): Gap, Ross Stores. Wal-Mart closed at $73. ATM…
The Option BlockOption Block 548: Chatting About VRX, VIX, AMZN, PAAS and more
Trading Block: New all-time highs across most major indices. Oil rallies yet again; up 1.5%. VIX cash still below the 12-handle. Earnings Tuesday: BMO. Stock…
The Option BlockOption Block 547: TWTR Frenzy, BABA Bounce and VRX Volatility
Trading Block: Strong earnings, surge in oil power Dow to record intraday high. Earnings today: Before the bell: Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, Kohls Corporation…
The Option BlockOption Block 546: VRX and Buffett's Weapons of Mass Destruction
Trading Block: Earnings today include (before): Dean Foods, Sotheby's, Tyson Foods; (after) Hertz Global Holdings, Rackspace, WebMD Health Corp. Options bears…
The Option BlockOption Block 545: Dump Like an Elephant
Trading Block: Earnings today: AMC Networks, HH Gregg, Icahn Enterprises, MGM Resorts International, Nokia Corporation, Starwood Property Trust, Time Inc…
The Option BlockOption Block 544: The Great Options Broker Debate: Commissions Vs. Platform
Trading Block: Earnings today include: AMC Entertainment Holdings, Loews Corporation (before), and Dunn & Bradstreet, General Growth Properties (after). U.S…
The Option BlockOption Block 543: Broker Buying Sprees and Earnings Breakdowns
Trading Block: Big news! OptionsHouse is now the sponsor of The Option Block. Earnings today include CME, FORD, DOW. Ford off nearly 9% AMZN: $748.50. ATM…
The Option BlockOption Block 542: VZ Buys YHOO, plus AAPL Downgrade
Trading Block: Earnings! Not many earning today, but a big week is ahead. Apple after the bell tomorrow. Stock at $97.27, ATM Straddle approx. $2.90, or 3%…
The Option BlockOption Block 541: Revenge of the Schwartzotron
Trading Block: Most major markets off 0.5% or more. VIX cash watch. Earnings today (before) Dunkin Brands,General Motors, Marriott Vacations, Southwest…
The Option BlockOption Block 540: Free Trades with Every Pokemon
Trading Block: The coup that wasn't. Earnings today include Bank of America, Hasbro, Charles Schwab Corp., (before) and IBM, Netflix, Yahoo (after). A Brexit…
The Option BlockOption Block 539: Transaction Taxes, Call Frenzies, and Fake Dividends
Trading Block: Earnings today include: JPMorgan Chase, Delta Air Lines. Legislation to impose financial transactions tax introduced. Clinton aims "Wall Street"…
The Option BlockOption Block 538: The Hottest Girl at the Dance
Trading Block: Today we have a specail co-host, Steve Claussen, Chief Investment Strategist, OptionsHouse. What do the all-stars discuss? Earnings today: Alcoa…
The Option BlockOption Block 537: Surprise Options Successes and Failures
Trading Block: Post-Brexit market update. OCC Cleared contract volume up 11% in June. The urgency of the Fed to hike has faded away as Brexit further clouded…
The Option BlockOption Block 536: Hershey Insiders and VIX Iron Condors
Trading Block: Earnings today before the bell: ConAgra. U.S. lawmakers seek more money, authority for derivatives regulators. CFTC charges ex-Chicago Board…
The Option BlockOption Block 535: The Brexit Maelstrom
Trading Block: Brexit provides a review of pitfalls for options and futures traders. Oil extends decline as Brexit fallout spurs market volatility. Could the…
The Option BlockOption Block 534: Should I Stay or Should I Go?
Trading Block: Brexit, Brexit, Brexit! Results due late Thursday night. Tesla owner Elon Musk wants to acquire SolarCity, another company he owns. Gold. Oil…
The Option BlockOption Block 533: Brexit Volatility Annihilation
Trading Block: Brexit: Much ado about nothing? Market rallies and VIX Cash sells off 2 handles, Dow jumps 200 points. Is that it for volatility? Goldman…
The Option BlockOption Block 532: Dead Pro Wrestlers. And Brexit
Trading Block: Fed keeps rates unchanged, lowering odds for future hikes. Weak Nonfarms number derailed any Fed plans to raise in June. Earnings today: (before…
The Option BlockOption Block 531: Shady Options Activity in LinkedIn
Trading Block: Today we have a special guest co-host: Steve Claussen, Chief Investment Strategist, OptionsHouse. What's going on: VIX/VVIX surging ahead of…
The Option BlockOption Block 530: Option Block from a Train
Trading Block: VIX remains somewhat muted heading into FOMC new week as well as Brexit the following week. Billionaire George Soros returns as a Brexit bear…
The Option BlockOption Block 529: Options Scandals and Brexit Battles
Trading Block: Market not spooked by Yellen today. Brexit worry has radiated around world as poll puts traders on edge. Odd Block: Calls trade in Calpine Corp…
The Option BlockOption Block 528: Staring into the Eye of Sauron
Trading Block featuring guest co-host Todd Rich, President of OM Media (an affiliate of OptionsHouse). Crude oil and energy stocks It is that time of the month…
The Option BlockOption Block 527: Dubious Calls and Silly Stupids
Trading Block Featuring guest co-host Nick Howard, Bantix Soybean rundown: Is the collar skew still favorable? Gold rundown: GLD vs Futures options. The SEC…
The Option BlockOption Block 526: Options on a Sunny Day
Trading Block: Will anything useful come out of the Fed meeting? Will the United Kingdom leave the EU? Bayer offers to buy Monsanto for $62B Odd Block: Calls…
The Option BlockOption Block 525: Causing Confusion and Delay
Trading Block: Earnings Thursday (retail heavy) After the bell: Gap, Inc., Ross Stores, Shoe Carnival, Before the bell: Wal-Mart, Dick's Sporting Goods, HH…
The Option BlockOption Block 524: From Footloose to Options Trading
Trading Block: Weekend Review: VIX Options and Futures 5/9 through 5/13. Has VIX bottomed? Yen volatility surges as Central Bank meetings loom. Hedge funds are…
The Option BlockOption Block 523: How to Get Caught Cheating
Trading Block: S&P was all over the place, to settle down only 0.2%. A little flip on volatility. Apple is no longer the most valuable company in the world…
The Option BlockOption Block 522: Options Civil War
Trading Block: Options Civil War: Which side are you on? Earnings today before the bell: Tyson Foods, Liberty Media Group, Sothebys. Traders on edge as…
The Option BlockOption Block 521: TSLA and BABA Straddle Battle
Trading Block: Earnings "Straddle Battle" pitted Tesla against Alibaba. Who won? Other interest in Blizzard, XLE Odd Block: OTM call buyers in Weatherford…
The Option BlockOption Bbock 520: Imagine an Apple Tesla Mashup
Trading Block: What is going on in the market? Options #QuestionOfTheWeek: Earnings Straddles - $AAPL(4.5%), $FB(7%) & $AMZN(8%). Which will be the most…
The Option BlockOption Block 519: OptionsXpress CEO Joins the All-Star Panel
Xpress Block: We have special guest co-host: Barry Metzger, CEO of optionsXpress. He discusses: The latest developments at OX. Interesting platform upgrades…
The Option BlockOption Block 518: Earnings Preview: AAPL, AMZN, FB and More
Trading Block: Stocks drop ahead of earnings onslaught. Traders may just be forced to unwind all those VIX bets. Earnings today before the bell: Xerox…
The Option BlockOption Block 517: Mega Earnings Spectacular: GOOG, MSFT, SBUX and More
Trading Block: Earnings! Thursday - (Before the Bell): General Motors Company, Southwest Airlines, Under Armour, Verizon Communications; (After the Bell)…
The Option BlockOption Block 516: Dueling NFLX Butterflies
Interview Block: Today we are joined by special guest Mal Clissold President and Owner of SCC Capital Group, LLC. We discuss: How frequently and with what…
The Option BlockOption Block 515: The Many Joys of Limit Display Rules
Trading Block: U.S. stocks fluctuate on earnings a crude oil retreats with gold. CITI before the bell tomorrow. Stock = $45, ATM straddle - $1.40 / approx. 3%…
The Option BlockOption Block 514: The Many Flavors of Skew
Trading Block: The fear gauge just hit an all-time high. Turbulence for Delta Air Lines, Inc.: Two earnings trades for DAL stock. Under Armor selling off over…
The Option BlockOption Block 513: Why, Why, Why
Trading Block: Today we are joined by Nick Howard, Founder & CEO of Bantix Technologies, LLC, and creator of QuikStrike. Stocks tumble amid choppy start to…
The Option BlockOption Block 512: Do Not Smoke the Hopium
Trading Block: March Madness Poll - Winner: TradeKing, which (beat Interactive Brokers in the finals. Drawing winners will be announced on Thursday's Option…
The Option BlockOption Block 511: Revenge of the Time Combo
Trading Block: March Madness Poll - Vote today for TradeKing or E*Trade to find out who will go to the finals against Interactive Brokers, who beat…
The Option BlockOption Block 510: Trading Size Stupids in VIX
Trading Block: A bull market in the S&P 500 goes AWOL as history rewards patience. Could Jan. 1, 2018 become the next "Perfect Banking Storm"? Appeals court…