The Option Block

The Trading Block: SQ and QCOM dominating the options charts today. Looks like QCOM activity is actually a dividend play. Light on earnings this week. Goldman execs cash out decade-old options just days before they expire. The Odd Block: TSLA tracker; Weird house-money put roll in WDC; Tons of Dec 26 puts in DKS; Size near-term call love in NEM. The Mail Block: Options question of the week SPY always dominates the #options volume charts. But what do you think people are actually trading in SPY? Take a guess at the top OI position in SPY right now. No cheating (or checking with your broker) - use your grey matter and your "gut" to pick the right one. Jan 262 call Dec 2019 150 put Dec 280 call Jan 240 put Listener questions and comments Question from PBiggers‏: how will the market react if the tax bill fails to pass in the senate on Thursday? Bullish, modest correction or major correction? Comment from Robert Baker: in response to your questions regarding TSLA catastrophe puts Jan 19 $50; I believe that they are insurance policies for model 3 depositors to recover their $5000 deposit in the event that Tesla goes bankrupt. After all, it's the cheapest form of insurance because the $50 put will be worth $5000 if TSLA goes to zero. Keep up with your show - it's fun.

What better way to celebrate the options "Day of Days" than to look back on the inaugural episode of The Crypto Rundown? Enjoy!

Best Of The Option Block: Back To The Beginning The markets are closed for President's day so the All-Star Panel gets a day off. But that doesn't mean you don't get a show! Join us for a trip down memory lane to the very first "sneak preview" episode of The Option Block from September 2010. Enjoy!

HOST: Mark Longo, The Options Insider Media Group CO-HOST: Andrew Giovinazzi, The Option  Pit CO-HOST: Mike Tosaw, St. Charles Wealth Management In this episode of The Option Block, host Mark Longo and his co-hosts discuss the current market rally and the impact of AI announcements, especially Qualcomm's recent surge. The team dives into unusual options activity, focusing on stocks like Huntsman Corp and the new Bitcoin treasury name, Strive Inc. They also analyze the role of volatility and discuss strategic adjustments made due to recent market conditions. The episode wraps up with a look at what to expect in the coming trading week, including key tech earnings and potential market movements.    

HOST: Mark Longo, The Options Insider Media Group CO-HOST: Henry Schwartz, Cboe Global Markets CO-HOST: Mike Tosaw, St. Charles Wealth Management   In this episode, host Mark Longo and his co-hosts, including "Uncle" Mike Tosaw and Henry "The Flowmaster" Schwartz explore the latest trends and trades in the options market. The show covers everything from the performance of VIX and SPX to notable unusual activities in names like Beyond Meat, Energy Fuels Inc., and Stone Co. Limited. The team also dives into broader market themes, such as potential impacts of government shutdowns, macroeconomic factors, and the Fed's role in economic independence. Listener engagement features include an audience poll on Fed independence and a lively discussion on fantasy football. 

Host: Mark Longo, The Options Insider Media Group Co-Host: "Uncle" Mike Tosaw, St. Charles Wealth Management Co-Host: Andrew "The Rock Lobster" Giovinazzi, The Option Pit   This episode covers various options trading strategies, including discussions on unusual options activity in stocks like Canan Inc. and American Battery Technology Company. The hosts explore the market dynamics, including the impact of current events on volatility and stock performance. They also share insights on rebalancing portfolios, the importance of covered calls, and offer personal anecdotes, including Uncle Mike's unique healthcare sharing arrangement. With an engaging trivia challenge and discussions on maintaining the independence of the Federal Reserve, this episode blends financial education with lively commentary.  

Host: Mark Longo, The Options Insider Media Group Co-Host: Henry Schwartz, Cboe Global Markets Co-Host: Mike Tosaw, St. Charles Wealth Management   This episode discusses the upsurge in options trading volume driven by current market volatility and significant movements in metals like silver and gold. The hosts analyze unusual options activity in AMD and Flagstar Financial, with noted trends of increased put buying. They also touch on the ongoing earnings season, focusing on financial sector reports and their impact on the market. The episode wraps up with a live poll discussing current VIX trades and a reminder for traders to stay cautious in these volatile times.  

Host: Mark Longo, The Options Insider Media Group Co-Host: Andrew Giovinazzi, The Option Pit Co-Host: Mike Tosaw, St. Charles Wealth Management In this episode of the Option Block, we break down the market's latest moves on a 'manic Monday.' We provide analysis on today's market activity including bond market closures, unusual options activity, and the ongoing impact of political events such as tariff tweets and the government shutdown. Uncle Mike Tosaw shares an update on a long-promised silver collar strategy, while Andrew "The Rock Lobster" provides insights on tech stocks and future implications of current market dynamics. Additionally, the show discusses Beyond Meat's stock decline, the intriguing flow in Yelp, and anticipates the upcoming bank earnings season.  

Host: Mark Longo, The Options Insider Radio Network Co-Hosts: Henry Schwartz, Cboe Global Markets & Mike Tosaw, St. Charles Wealth Management   In this episode of The Option Block, the hosts delve into the latest trends and unusual activities in the options market. The show starts by discussing key market movements, analyzing the impact of the government shutdown on trading activities, and providing insights on speculative trades and strategies. The segment also highlights unusual call buying activity in Sweetgreen and Weave Communications, and how they're impacting their respective stocks. Additionally, the hosts touch on current events and their potential impact on the market, including geopolitical dynamics and upcoming earnings reports. The episode wraps up with listener engagement, addressing questions about the shutdown duration and market sentiment.  

HOST: Mark Longo, The Options Insider Media Group CO-HOSTS: Andrew Giovinazzi, The Option Pit & Mike Tosaw, St. Charles Wealth Management   In this episode, the team breaks down the options market, including unusual activity alerts, market analysis, trading strategies, and listener questions. They discuss the latest on tech stocks like AMD, Oracle, and OpenAI, current market trends, and the ongoing government shutdown's impact. The episode also covers the significance of having contingency plans for unexpected trading issues and highlights some interesting trades such as bullish calls in Weyerhaeuser and Gain Therapeutics.   00:00 Introduction and Welcome 07:05 Trading Block: Market Analysis 34:01 Odd Block: Unusual Options Activity (WY, GANX) 47:27 Strategy Block: Planning for the Unexpected 50:30 Around the Block: Market Watch 53:07 Show Wrap-Up and Announcements  

Host: Mark Longo, The Options Insider Radio Network Co-Hosts: Henry Schwartz, Cboe & Mike Tosaw, St. Charles Wealth Management   In this episode, the hosts discuss the latest happenings in the options market amid the government's second day of shutdown. The highlights include a record-breaking September with 1.4 billion contracts traded, marking a 45% increase year-over-year. The show features insights covering topics from unusual options activities in companies like ARCC and USAR to the soaring volumes in household index options. Attention also turns to the persistent rally of NVIDIA and AMD and the rebirth of stocks like WOLF, who went from potential bankruptcy to making significant gains. Additionally, the hosts discuss the relevance of VIX and gold as gauges of market sentiment in the current trading environment. 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 03:14 Market Analysis and Trading Block 06:16 Government Shutdown and Market Reactions 10:27 Precious Metals and Market Trends 16:28 Retail Trading and Market Volume 30:07 Apple's Post-iPhone Launch Performance 30:30 Rocket Companies' Struggles 30:46 Intel's Steady Climb 31:13 AMD's Hot Day 31:24 Nvidia's New All-Time High 31:44 Tesla's Volatile Week 32:45 Unusual Options Activity: The Odd Block 33:35 The Wolf's Astonishing Comeback 37:50 Aries Capital Corp's Tumultuous Year 41:32 USA Rare Earth Inc's Surge 47:08 Market Sentiment: VIX vs. Gold 50:45 Upcoming Events and Final Thoughts

In this episode, Mark along with "Uncle" Mike Tosaw from St. Charles Wealth Management, and Henry "The Flowmaster" Schwartz from Cboe discuss the latest trends and trading activity in the options market. Key topics include the options activity in VIX, SPX, and individual stocks like Oracle and AMD. The episode also delves into unusual options trades in Lithium Americas Corp and Bit Digital Inc, alongside notable earnings reports. A significant discussion point is the ongoing debate about changing the corporate earnings cycle from quarterly to biennial reports.    03:15 Thursday Edition Kickoff 04:17 Market Updates 06:53 Market Analysis and Trading Block 28:32 Unusual Options Activity 29:15 Lithium America's Corp: A Newcomer on the Ris33:38 Bit Digital Inc: A Rollercoaster Year 37:52 Goodyear Tire: A Tumultuous Year 41:55 Cemex SAB: The Mexican Cement Giant 45:40 Quarterly vs. Bi-Annual Earnings: A Debate 52:38 Around the Block: Market Trends and Predictions  

In this episode, Mark Longo, along with "Uncle" Mike Tosaw and Andrew "The Rock Lobster" Giovinazzi, delves into various aspects of the options market. The episode covers unusual activity in stocks like Goodyear and Smurfit, NVDA's surprising market moves despite heavy spending, and broader market dynamics including all-time highs in S&P and precious metals. Uncle Mike provides valuable insights on maintaining trading discipline and navigating market pitfalls. The show includes a discussion on the potential shift in earnings seasons and its implications for traders.   00:00 Introduction and Welcome 03:01 Fantasy Football and Trivia Challenge 07:40 Market Trends and Trading Block 12:57 Tech Stocks and AI Investments 19:31 Precious Metals and Market Concerns 29:16 Intel and Open Stock Analysis 29:52 Tesla's Wild Ride 30:52 Apple's Market Movements 31:58 Nvidia's Impressive Performance 33:08 Earnings Season Debate 33:52 Unusual Options Activity: Goodyear Tires 40:41 Smurfit's Corrugated Paper Packaging 45:03 Options Trading Strategies 49:48 Market Trends and Predictions

In this episode, Mark Longo along with co-hosts "Uncle" Mike Tosaw (St. Charles Wealth Management) and Henry "The Flow Master" Schwartz (Cboe), dive deep into recent market trends and unusual options activity. They discusses significant topics such as the recent Fed rate cut, its market implications, and notable trades in companies like Krispy Kreme, Intel, and Grab Holdings. They also explore the dynamics affecting market sentiment, including the role of flex options and recent regulatory changes.    00:00 Introduction 02:37 Market Analysis and Recent Activities 05:15 Trading Block: Current Market Trends incl Fed Announcement and Market Reactions & Stock Highlights and Trading Insights 29:44 Odd Block Introduction 30:41 Krispy Kreme Options Activity 34:21 Intel's Interesting Swings 37:41 Grab Holdings Call Buyers 44:53 Mail Block: Listener Questions 51:13 Around the Block: Market Watch  

This episode kicks off the broadcast week by diving into the financial markets' current state, despite an impending Federal Reserve announcement. The hosts, Mark Longo, "Uncle" Mike Tosaw, and Andrew "The Rock Lobster" Giovinazzi, analyze market movements, with a focus on single-name stocks, VIX, and unusual options activity. The show includes a lively 80s trivia challenge (that quickly veers into 1930s-50s Hollywood trivia), a discussion on the Federal Reserve's potential impact, and a breakdown of trading strategies and market trends. They also touch on the absurdities of the market, such as Elon Musk's stock purchases and the speculative nature of certain "meme stocks." 00:00 Welcome 03:17 The 80s Trivia Challenge 06:16 The Trading Block: Market Analysis 09:59 Fed Speculations and Market Reactions 13:35 Tesla and AI Market Moves 21:12 Options Volume and Hot Trades 26:55 Palantir and SoFi Updates 27:16 Intel's Market Movements 27:45 Amazon and Apple Performance 28:39 Alphabet's Recent Trends 29:14 Open's Market Surge 30:16 Nvidia and Tesla Highlights 31:47 Cracker Barrel and Earnings Season 33:04 Odd Block: Unusual Options Activity 41:44 Rumble Inc. Analysis 47:05 Strategy Block: Fed Week Insights 50:21 Around the Block: Market Watch  

On this episode of The Option Block, Mark is joined by Henry Schwartz (Cboe) and Mike Tosaw (St. Charles Wealth Management) as they cover a day of significant market moves, with the S&P 500 hitting new all-time highs despite mixed economic data. The panel discusses the latest news from the Robinhood Summit, including new trading features. They dive into unusual options activity, particularly the explosive trading in meme stock Open, and analyze other notable trades in names like Vimeo, Recursion Pharmaceuticals, and Teck Resources. The show concludes with a look ahead at what to watch in the markets and a nod to the start of fantasy football season. Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction [05:22] The Trading Block - Market Overview [09:00] The Robinhood Summit [16:45] Hot Option Activity [22:05] The Odd Block - Open (OPEN) [25:50] Odd Block - Vimeo (VMEO) & Recursion Pharma (RXRX) [28:40] Odd Block - Teck Resources (TECK) [31:05] The Mail Block [33:55] Around the Block [36:00] Closing Remarks 

This episode features a discussion on current market conditions and unusual options activity. The hosts, Mark Longo, Uncle Mike Tosaw (St. Charles Wealth Management), and Andrew Giovinazzi (The Option Pit), analyze the mixed performance of the major indices and the behavior of the VIX. They dive into a number of active stocks, including Alphabet (GOOGL) and Nvidia (NVDA), and touch on the bond and precious metals markets. In the Odd Block segment, they dissect peculiar options trades in Golar LNG Limited (GLNG) and the comically-named ETHZilla Corp (ETHZ). The show also includes an educational segment on managing "wash sales" when trading covered calls. Time Stamps Beginning: Options Insider Radio Network Intro 00:03:00: 80s Trivia Challenge 00:10:00: The Trading Block - Market Analysis 00:30:00: The Odd Block - Unusual Options Activity (GLNG and ETHZ) 00:40:00: The Strategy Block - Wash Sale Discussion 00:46:00: Around the Block - Market Outlook

On this episode of The Option Block, Mark Longo is joined by Uncle Mike Tosaw from St. Charles Wealth Management and Henry "The Flowmaster" Schwartz from Cboe. They discuss the unexpected and muted reaction to Nvidia's earnings, the current state of the market, and the ideal trading conditions for investors. The panel also breaks down unusual options activity in a few unique single names and dives into a lively Mail Block discussion about the VIX and crypto derivatives. Time Stamps (04:54) - The Trading Block The panel discusses the surprising lack of volatility following Nvidia's earnings, despite high expectations and a large straddle pricing. The S&P 500 is up over 10% year-to-date, but the market feels subdued with low volatility and a steady, upward "trudge". Uncle Mike notes this is his "ideal market": boring and making new all-time highs. Technology and energy are the only sectors showing significant movement, with many others "taking the day off." The VIX is "hunching" at 14.25, with respectable options volume. SPY and SPX also have decent, though not record-breaking, paper on the tape. The hosts review the most active single names, including Snowflake's (SNOW) earnings pop, Retti (RETI), and Palantir (PLTR), which continues its pattern of aggressive early-session sell-offs followed by a late-session rebound. A quick recap of earnings moves in names like Best Buy, Burlington, Five Below, and Dell, with many straddles underpricing the actual moves. (22:38) - The Odd Block Onas Holdings (ONDS) Braze, Inc. (BRZE) Westrock PLC (SW) (35:54) - The Mail Block Audience Polls: Mark shares the results of recent listener polls, revealing that most listeners were not comfortable buying the S&P at its current level and that a large majority would prefer to buy rather than sell the VIX December 15 puts. VIX Debate: The show's central question: which level will the VIX hit first, 12 or 20? Both Uncle Mike and the Flowmaster believe the VIX will touch 12 first, driven by the ongoing bull market and low realized volatility, but they both note the high potential for a sudden, unexpected spike. Crypto Derivatives: A discussion on the future of crypto contracts, with a poll showing an overwhelming preference for cash-settled contracts over physically settled ones, due to simplicity and a desire to avoid dealing with the underlying assets. (44:54) - Around the Block  What to Watch: The hosts share what they'll be watching until the next episode, including the S&P 500's attempt to break 6,500, the post-earnings action in Nvidia and Dell, and the overall macroeconomic picture as traders return from summer vacations.        

Host: Mark Longo - The Options Insider Cohosts: Uncle Mike Tosaw - St. Charles Wealth Management and Andrew "The Rock Lobster" Giovinazzi - The Option Pit On today's episode, during The Trading Block segment, we analyze a trading day marked by low volatility and a pause in major indexes after a "drunken rally" last Friday. We discuss the top options activity in VIX, SPY, and other major indexes, and break down the top 10 most active single-name stocks, including surprising movements in Tesla, Open, and Nvidia. We also look at earnings volatility for the week. The Odd Block segment features unusual options activity in Bentley Systems (BSY) and Transocean (RIG). Finally, in The Strategy Block, Uncle Mike explains a unique collar strategy. We end by sharing what we are watching for the week ahead, including key earnings reports from Nvidia, Dollar General, and more in The Around the Block segment. Time Stamps 5:59: The Trading Block 33:57: The Odd Block - Bentley Systems (BSY) & Transocean (RIG) 43:55: The Strategy Block 49:09 Around the Block