The Option Block
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Top 10 The Option Block Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best The Option Block episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to The Option Block for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite The Option Block episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Option Block 743: Is Volatility Making a Comeback?
The Option Block
09/14/18 • 58 min
Trading Block: Volatility Flash Poll!
VIX is threatening 15 and $VXX is back above 30. Is this the return of volatility or just a blip? Quite simply - where will we be at the end of next week?
- 14% - Here: VIX=14, VXX=30(ash)
- 32% - Low: VIX=
Option Block 750: Live from Duke University
The Option Block
10/11/18 • 68 min
Trading Block: OCC cleared contract volume up 8.7% in September. Total cleared volume up 18.6% year-to-date. Equity options volume up 14.3% in September and up 21.7 percent year-to-date.
Odd Block: Call sale in Glu Mobile Inc. (GLUU), Puts trade in AMETEK, Inc. (AME), and Call-palooza in Delta Air Lines, Inc. (DAL)
Mail Block: Volatility flash poll, plus live questions from Duke University
VIX has soared to 18.50 & $VVIX hit 120. Is this the new normal or a quick blip? Let's put that to the test starting with this week. Quite simply - Where do you think VIX will close this Friday?
- Here: 18-19.5
- Higher: > 19.5
- Lower: 16 - 17.99
- Lowest: < 16
Around the Block: What's on the radar going into the weekend?
Option Block 741: We Are Back Talking TSLA, VIX, SPY and More
The Option Block
09/07/18 • 65 min
Trading Block. There are still names reporting earnings. Namely, Barnes & Noble and GameStop.
Odd Block: Cheapie calls in Northern Oil & Gas, Inc. (NOG) from 5/21. Crazy put palooza in Dean Foods Co (DF) from 4/30. Call love in Devon Energy Corp (DVN) from 4/16
Mail Block: Listener questions and comments
- Question from Jason Anstey: Would you or your followers have a recommendation on best discount brokerage? Ideally low cost per contract and the ability to enter spread orders on a mobile device. Thanks. Appreciate it.
- Question from Florence: When trades go against you do you close or roll the whole thing out or only the losing parts?
Around The Block/This Week In the Markets:
- Sep 4 - Construction Spending
- Sep 5 - International Trade
- Sep 6 - Jobless Claims, Productivity and Costs, Factory Orders
- Sep 7 - Unemployment
Option Block 728: Tariff-Ied of Killer Foxes
The Option Block
07/03/18 • 56 min
Trading Block: Canadian revenge tariff are on the docket today. VIX cash sits above 17. OCC Cleared Contract Volume up 6% in June - the highest June for total options volume on record. It's SPX's 35-year anniversary.
Odd Block: July 4 calls in Limelight Networks, Inc. (LLNW), Funky multi-leg in BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust (BPT), Rolling puts in (FLO).
Strategy Block: Uncle Mike Tosaw discusses trading short put spreads
Mail Block: Options question of the week
Traders generally fade volatility going into holidays (today notwithstanding). What's your favorite vehicle when you want to wager on the dark side of volatility? Short-term or Long-term - that's up to you.
- Short VIX Futures
- Long $VIX Puts/Spread
- Long $VXX Puts/Spread
- Short $VIX Calls/Spreads
Around the Block: 'Murica. Mired in tariff talk. Negotiating trade deals is tough!
Option Block 726: Amazing VIX Predictions...and Hiccups
The Option Block
06/26/18 • 60 min
Trading Block: Trump's trade war spooks the market. Again. Bitcoin manipulation via tether. Who out there is trading or interested in Crypto? What are you trading?
Odd Block: Call writing frenzy in Campbell Soup Company (CPB). Call palooza in Market Vectors Oil Services ETF (OIH). Call love in Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCAU).
Mail Block: Listeners take over
Options question of the week. Let's have some fun. These "entertainment" stocks are pricing in big moves. Gun to your head: Which July ATM straddle would you rather own in your portfolio? $WWE $DIS $WYNN $SEAS #DegeneratePremiumBuyers #PalmsIn #FearNoTheta
- 17% - $WWE July ATM Strad: $7
- 37% - $WYNN July ATM Strad: $12
- 16% - $SEAS July ATM Strad: $2
- 30% - $DIS July ATM Strad: $5
Listener questions and comments:
- Comment from SecretlyPsyched: Is it possible to short-sell a campaign? Or how about an entire state party? Some sort of derivative strategy?
- Question from Nowledg3ispowerl: So turns out you guys are absolutely right. I have a very poor understanding of options. What's the best podcast episode for beginners?
- Comment from the chat room re: TSLA.
- Question from HeyBartenderman: Hi. I have a question for you. If I'm interested in buying options in a stock, what's the best way to go about finding the best strike/expiry?...Basically, if I sold a stock for a nice profit, but then wanted to participate in a move higher should it keep going up (for example $IQ). Or if I've been watching something, and think it's about to break out, but don't know exactly when, which options should I be looking at? Weeklies, monthlies, leaps, etc....When is it better to do one length of option over another, I think is basically the question I have. Thanks.
Around the Block: Will they or won't they re: trade wars.
Option Block 752: The Funky Bunch
The Option Block
10/19/18 • 54 min
Trading Block: What a week - volatility is coming back down, and the crystal ball is looking nice! Dow tumbles 350 points as technology and communication-services stocks tank in midday trading.
Odd Block: Tesla put summary, funky put palooza in General Electric Company (GE), put sale in Activision Blizzard Inc. (ATVI) and call palooza in KeyCorp (KEY).
Mail Block: Options question of the week
Time to break out your crystal balls. Volatility is on everyone's mind these days. Will earnings season add to the growing storm? Or will cooler heads prevail this week? Quite simply - Where will $VIX close this Friday 10/19?
- Here: 19-22
- Higher: > 22
- Lower: 17-18.99
- Even Lower:
Option Block 739: TSLA Is Crazy
The Option Block
08/21/18 • 60 min
Trading Block: Earnings!
- Wednesday - Target, Lowe's, Barnes & Noble
- Thursday - HP, Intuit, Gap
- Friday - Foot Locker
Plus, TSLA has major issues - SEC investigation, drug cartels, etc.
Odd Block: Put roll in QEP Resources Inc (QEP), Roling puts in Flower Foods Inc (FLO), Call palooza in PayPal (PYPL)
Mail Block: Options question of the week
This week we would like to know more about your level of #options expertise. Quite simply - how would you describe yourself at a dinner party?
- 13% - Current/Former Pro
- 18% - Retail Options Wiz
- 47% - Retail Options Dabbler
- 22% - Looking to Get Started
ANOTHER Options question of the week: We're talking about #Crypto #Derivatives at the upcoming @BlockchainVoice Conference (register at http://VoiceOfBlockChain.com ). So this week we want to know which #Crypto product you'd like to see listed on a major venue next. Reply/DM w/others #Bitcoin $XRT $ETH $LTC
- Bitcoin Options
- Ripple Options/Futures
- Ether Options/Futures
- Litecoin Options/Futures
Listener questions and comments:
- Question From Cbade: Looking to sell some Ford weekly 9.50 puts for $.25. My broker says I don't have enough cash in my account to cover a 10 lot. How much money do I need to have to sell 10 puts on a $9 stock?
Around the Block: What's coming up this week?
Option Block 710: You Are All Stupid
The Option Block
04/24/18 • 62 min
Trading Block: VIX down. Vol futures down. Gold vol is very low. 10-year yield at 3%. Metals get the crap kicked out of them.
Earnings: GOOGL - ATM straddle: 54, approx. 5%. More tech earnings to come.
Odd Block: More Jan 2019 50 "catastrophe" puts in Tesla Motors (TSLA). Puts trade in Chicago Bridge & Iron Company (CBI). Calls trade in D. R. Horton Inc. (DHI). Puts trade in CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. (CBL).
Strategy Block: Uncle Mike Tosaw discusses hedging during earnings.
Mail Block: Options question of the week
VIX is back in the mid-teens. Are you buying this Volatility reprieve or is this merely calm before the storm? Quite simply - Where do you think VIX will end the week?
- 24% - Here: 16-18
- 19% - Higher: 18-20
- 18% - Even Higher: 20-25
- 39% - Lower: 14-16
Options Flash Poll: The proposed third exchange from @MIAXexchange will raise the total number of U.S. Options Exchanges to 16. Is this a good thing for the options market? Is it the straw that finally breaks the camel's back? Or are you too busy getting great fills to care?
- 44% - More Exchanges the Better
- 22% - Please Make It Stop
- 34% - Don't Care: I get filled
Listener feedback:
- Question from LNC - SVXY calls suck now. What about selling the puts? Is there any juice in those or have they been drained as well by the bid redo last week?
Around the Block: GOOGL post-earnings. Andrew wants to let it all out. SVXY makes him angry. Will tech earnings produce a higher SPX?
Best of Option Block 614: Unleash the Liberator Puts
The Option Block
08/27/18 • 61 min
This episode was originally posted on April 25th, 2017
Trading Block: Earnings today
- Alcoa: $33, ATM Straddle $2 - approx. 6%
- Chipotle: ATM Straddle $25.25, approx. 5.4%
- VIX 'fear' gauge plummets as French election results spark global relief rally.
Odd Block: Calls and puts trade in GGP Inc. (GGP), puts trade in Exelon Corp. (EXC) and calls trade in MGM Resorts Intl. (MGM).
Mail Block: Question of the Week:
Earnings Season is upon us. Big names are reporting soon. Which is your pick for the largest % move post-earnings?
- $AMZN
- $GOOGL
- $CMG
- $MSFT
Listener questions and comments:
- Follow-up comments from GameDay Dog:
You nailed it. I was assigned on 2 of the options. I knew that, but the (-) in my margin account was "alarming". My main thought was losing more than my spread safety net. The math did not make sense immediately. Glad to ask a question that made others ask questions. My bad...just heard episode 608...Yeah, I got assigned 2 of 3 my put spread. Way too early! I will get into better detail next time. Episode 208 had an excellent answer. That big negative number was stupid scary! I closed all the positions & sold the stock. The 1 short put & 3 long puts made it a back ratio spread when I closed it. It's funny now! PS - thanks for managing to get my questions on air. Once I closed the positions, I was able to sleep that night!!! Feels like I lost more than $300 though. By getting assigned the shares, it felt like I had more at risk and loss was influenced by the price of the underlying instead of the option. If that makes sense. Seeing the large margin number was not pleasant. My credit spread had a 30% chance of being ITM when I sold it too! Hahaha.
- Question from Lesnod -How do you get out of the straddles? One side of a straddle is always a loss correct?
Around the Block/This Week in the Market
- Apr 25: New Home Sales, Consumer Confidence
- Apr 27: Jobless Claims, International Trade, Pending Home Sales
- Apr 28: GDP, Consumer Sentiment
10/23/18 • 59 min
Trading Block: Economic Calendar - Top 5 Things to Watch This Week and U.S. midterms a mere blip on equity options traders' radar.
Odd Block: Call sale in EnLink Midstream Partners LP (ENLK), puts trade in Mellanox Technologies, Ltd. (MLNX), and risk reversal/collar in Harley-Davidson Inc (HOG)
Mail Block: Options question of the week
Earnings are back with big tech names on the docket. Which of the following will be lighting up your options trading this week? Bonus points for your preferred strategies - e.g. call vertical, straddle, etc.
- Microsoft MSFT
- Amazon AMZN
- Alphabet GOOGL
- Twitter TWTR
Listener questions and comments:
- Comment from Kelly Lef - Thought the user tip to exercise deep ITM calls to save on the spread was a good one. So I checked a few of my stock replacement positions that had gone ITM. Turned out the spreads were fairly similar to the spread on the underlying stock index so the any savings were pretty small. Not really worth the hassle to go through the exercise process. Maybe I'm just trading a more liquid index than that listener or am I missing something?
Around the Block/This Week in the Markets
- Oct 24 - New Home Sales, Beige Book
- Oct 25 - Durable Goods, International Trade, Jobless Claims
- Oct 26 - GDP, Consumer Sentiment
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FAQ
How many episodes does The Option Block have?
The Option Block currently has 1356 episodes available.
What topics does The Option Block cover?
The podcast is about Strategies, Investing, Podcasts, Education, Trading, Business and Options.
What is the most popular episode on The Option Block?
The episode title 'The Option Block 1280: Sneaky Super Important Stealth Pick' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on The Option Block?
The average episode length on The Option Block is 59 minutes.
How often are episodes of The Option Block released?
Episodes of The Option Block are typically released every 3 days, 20 hours.
When was the first episode of The Option Block?
The first episode of The Option Block was released on Sep 16, 2010.
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