Jul 31, 2012
Option Block 171: Another Raucous Live Show
Live and unscripted, this episode doesn’t follow the normal Option Block layout, but it’s spectacular nevertheless.
Most major indices closed relatively unchanged on the day. Despite that, it was still a pretty busy day on the desk. Crop report. Unusual put buying in...
Jul 27, 2012
Option Block 170: Options for Earnings
Trading Block: A broad rally in most names, yet Ford, EA and others getting clobbered. Where's the love? Facebook after the bell, hovering down a bit. Zynga disappoints again. Apple knocks it out of the park, but it’s not good enough. This is the way to "miss" earnings. Amazon...
Jul 24, 2012
Option Block 169: Synthetic Puts and the Fudge Factor
Trading Block: A selloff across the major indices today, amid concerns about financing in Spain. IMF is about to stop payments to Greece, thus increasing the odds of insolvency by September. VIX gets weekend back and then some. Even McDonald's can't make money in...
Jul 20, 2012
Option Block 168: Scalping GOOG Time Spreads
Trading Block: Lots of earnings after the bell - Google up, Microsoft meh, and Chipotle earnings down. Is this the rise of Qdoba? A mild rally across the board, accompanied by a mild vol sell-off. A bit of a rally in Ford.
Odd Block: A straddle swap in USL, plus...
Jul 17, 2012