In this discussion, Tom and Chris analyze current market trends, emphasizing the recent performance of small caps and the mixed activity in tech stocks like Nvidia (NVDA). They note low trading volumes and high volatility conditions following earnings reports. With September approaching, they discuss potential opportunities in commodities, particularly gold (GC) and silver (SI), while expressing caution about equities. They conclude that the market might be leaning towards the downside, with a possible short position being favorable this week.
Tom and Chris discuss the fluctuating market conditions as they anticipate a quiet opening. They highlight Friday's mixed trading, characterized by low volatility and high options volume, particularly in the S&P 500. Despite the uncertainty, they expect the upcoming expiration cycle in September to be active. Key earnings reports from retail stocks are on the horizon, yet they remain skeptical about immediate movements. The duo emphasizes the importance of monitoring implied volatility and market sentiment as they navigate their positions in bonds and equities.
In this episode of Engineering the Trade, hosts Jermal Chandler and guest Errol Coleman discuss various trading strategies and positions. Errol shares his focus on recent NASDAQ-centric (QQQ). Jermal talks about a zebra spread on UnitedHealth Group (UNH). Jermal then spends time analyzing the UPS (UPS) position, highlighting potential dividend impacts and the importance of managing portfolio risk. The conversation shifts to market volatility, with insights on trading currencies like the Euro (6E) and the dynamics affecting options trading strategies.
In today's From Theory to Practice, Dr. Jim had to rush back to the Chicago studio after having spent the morning at Tom and Tony's live trading event at Thalia Hall. But, once the show started, he was able to put on several new trades. These included a Long Call Spread in CAT and a Poor Man's Covered Put in MSFT, where the CAT trade gave him bullish delta and the MSFT trade gave him bearish delta. Also, he took off the Short Call portion of his Investment Style CC in SBUX, since it had already profited $0.30 in just one day.
In this episode of the Liz and Jenny Show, the hosts discuss various trading strategies, including the "ratchet" method for managing Zebra trades, particularly focusing on Intel (INTC). They explain how to adjust positions to reduce risk while maintaining profit potential. The conversation highlights the importance of individualized trading styles among viewers and incorporates live tweets from event attendees. The hosts emphasize the benefits of combining synthetic stock strategies with options, particularly in the context of a volatile market.
TLT and bond premium selling shows improved metrics in 2025 compared to the past decade, despite historically low implied volatility. While bond ETFs typically trade at a volatility discount to the S&P 500, this year's TLT environment has yielded better results for premium sellers. Data shows 2025 bond trading has delivered triple the average profit, 13% higher premium relative to buying power, and significantly reduced maximum losses compared to the 10-year historical average. Price volatility has decreased dramatically to just 2% in 2025 versus the 10-year average of 21%. Despite these improvements, traders may still prefer alternative strategies like diagonal spreads or zebras due to capital efficiency concerns when dealing with TLT's relatively low implied volatility (currently around 12-13% with an IVR of 4).
Nick, Mikey and Jermal discuss current market trends, focusing on the E-minis (ES) and the NASDAQ (NQ), which are experiencing fluctuations. Key topics include Roblox (RBLX) and UnitedHealth Group (UNH), with Jermal noting the recent volatility and potential for further movement in UNH due to buys by major investors like Warren Buffett. They also highlight a high percentage of market speculation regarding rate cuts despite rising inflation. The conversation wraps up with insights on the IPO market and potential trading strategies amidst low volatility.
Will stocks turn back from record highs if tariff inflation breaks the consumption engine powering the US economy? tastylive's Head of Global Macro Ilya Spivak breaks down PPI data showing tariff price hikes are filtering into overall inflation, then previews key retail sales and consumer sentiment data.
The discussion focuses on the recent Producer Price Index (PPI) report, indicating ongoing inflation trends and market reactions. Jermal is cautious about trading, holding cash while seeking opportunities. Jermal then delves into specific stock analysis, including Oracle (ORCL), UnitedHealth Group (UNH), and Eli Lilly (LLY), suggesting various options strategies like calendar call spreads and zebra trades. The conversation also touches on gold (GLD) and silver (SLV) performance amid a strengthening dollar and explores potential trades in other sectors, including UPS.
In today's From Theory to Practice, despite a significant drop when PPI numbers were released, markets quickly recovered, demonstrating remarkable resilience. The S&P futures ended just slightly down, while NASDAQ futures turned green, highlighting the market's ability to absorb economic data without meaningful pullbacks. Dr. Jim Schultz reviewed several portfolio positions, closing out both winning and losing trades. His Amazon short put delivered over 50% max profit, while his Cisco strangle also provided a win following earnings. Conversely, his gold trade and Cava butterfly failed to perform, with Dr. Jim accepting the latter as a directional play that simply went the wrong way. For Starbucks, he demonstrated an investment-style covered call approach by selling the 100 strike call, providing additional premium income while maintaining upside potential on his long-term stock position.