Podcast
The Option Block
Hosted by The Options Insider Radio Network · EN
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.
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The Option Block 1441: The Super Sexy Worlds of Silver and Substrates
Feb 200:58:36Tap to summarizeThe silver market just faced a massive "annihilation," and the Option Block panel is here to pick up the pieces. Join Mark Longo, Andrew "The Rock Lobster" Giovinazzi (Option Pit), and "Uncle" Mike Tosaw (St. Charles Wealth Management) as they break down a wild start to February. From a 30% single-day drop in Silver (SLV) to unusual activity in "non-woven substrates," this episode covers the high-stakes world of volatility and metal meltdowns. In this episode, the panel dives into: The Trading Block: A look at the market rally toward all-time highs despite the "metals apocalypse." The team discusses whether the silver squeeze is finally unwinding and what the new Fed Chair means for interest rate stabilization. The Odd Block: Unusual activity in some truly unique names, including Magna Corp (MAGN)—a leader in the "sexy" world of substrates—and defensive put buying in Hercules Capital (HTGC). Strategy Block: Uncle Mike breaks down the power of diversification in covered call strategies. Learn why individual stock selection often yields better premiums than broad index ETFs like SPY. Around the Block: Predictions for the upcoming earnings gauntlet, featuring Alphabet (Google), Amazon, Disney, and the "AI bellwether" movement.
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The Option Block 1440: MSFT vs META vs TSLA vs The WULF!!!!
Jan 2900:58:56Tap to summarizeThe markets are seeing red as a wild earnings week takes center stage. From the "Tale of Two Techs" (Microsoft vs. Meta) to a massive volatility spike, the All-Star Panel breaks down the trades, the trends, and the unusual activity lighting up the tape. Plus, we dive into the "other" Wolf and an Argentinian oil play. The All-Star Panel Mark Longo: CEO and Founder of the Options Insider Media Group. Henry "The Flowmaster" Schwartz: Vice President of Institutional Derivatives at Cboe Global Markets. "Uncle" Mike Tosaw: Wealth Manager at St. Charles Wealth Management. Trading Block: A Sea of Red and Earnings Chaos The panel discusses a volatile Thursday session with the S&P 500 seeing a 100-handle range. While tech takes a hit, other sectors like energy and financials are showing resilience. The Tale of Two Ms: Comparing the diametrically opposite reactions to Meta (META) and Microsoft (MSFT) earnings. META: Stock up ~10%; those who bought the 700-strike calls for $11 are seeing massive wins. MSFT: Stock down ~12% (a $58 drop); the same call-buying strategy was a total wipeout. Tesla (TSLA) Tumbles: Down over 2% as the market reacts to a shift in focus toward robotics and AI over traditional EV growth. Small Cap Update: Henry Schwartz notes that while the Russell 2000 (IWM) is outperforming YTD (up 6%), historically, this "value over growth" rotation rarely sticks. VIX Volatility: VIX flirting with an 18 handle. Notable paper includes a massive 50,000 lot of the April 80 calls trading for $0.36. The Odd Block: Unusual Activity in WULF and YPF The Flowmaster identifies massive directional bets in two very different names. 1. TeraWulf (WULF) A Bitcoin-related name seeing a $3 million directional bet. The Trade: Buyer of 36,000 Feb 16 Calls (Average price: $0.82). Context: This is a massive sweep that creates the largest regular listed position in the name, likely betting on M&A rumors or a Bitcoin rebound. 2. YPF Sociedad Anonima (YPF) An Argentinian energy ADR seeing unusual size. The Trade: Buyer of 9,999 April 43 Calls. The "Conspiracy": Why 9,999 instead of 10,000? Henry suggests it might be to dodge block scanners set for five-digit minimums. Mail Block: Listener Perspectives Question of the Week: How are you trading this earnings week? Current Results: 44% are selling premium to "live the dream," while the rest are split between buying "juice," trading 0DTE, or staying on the sidelines. VIX Poll: 75% of listeners would rather sell the April 80 calls for $0.36 than buy them. Around the Block: What to Watch Apple (AAPL) Earnings: Reporting after the bell. The market is pricing in a 4% move—roughly double its historical average. Sector Rotations: Watching if the energy (XLE) and industrial (CAT) strength can offset the tech drag. Silver (SLV): Uncle Mike highlights silver's insane run, outperforming the S&P by 8x last year and up 60% this year.
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Option Block 640: Leprechauns v. Trolls v. Apple
Aug 1, 2017Tap to summarizeTrading Block: AAPL earnings after the bell on Tuesday. ATM straddle $6, or approximately 4%. Options Earnings Poll: $AAPL earnings on Tuesday. The market is pricing a 4% move, which is approximately $6. Do you think $AAPL can do it? $6 is Cheap- Buy Straddle $6 is Rich- Sell Straddle $6 Seems Fair Can't Stand $AAPL Odd Block: Puts trade in Altria Group Inc (MO), puts trade in Pantheon NV (PTHN) Mail Block: Listener Questions and Comments Comment from Shawn St.Peter - I think someone would buy those puts like a life insurance policy if for any reason something happened to Elon Musk, Tesla could drop like a stone. Elon is the reason they are successful and without him I'm not sure they could make it! Comment from Brian Collamer - I see 950 of the JAN19 50 puts go up @ $1.10 marked "spread". Market was 1.03x1.25. OI 28783 - FROM JULY 26 Question from Matthew Therrien: I would be interested to see the guys discuss this strategy. Question from Richard D: Mark and the Option Crusaders (last time I called you Option Luminaries so I'm going to keep inventing new titles until one sticks!), I'm on a roll and got my questioned answered Tuesday, and I figured I'd try my luck with two more. I also included a 3rd less serious question! Often on segments like the odd block or similar segments on your other shows you talk about someone going bullish or bearish on certain contracts. For example let's take the Tesla way OTM puts you have mentioned. You talk about someone wanting to be long those catastrophic Tesla puts, but for each trade there is some party taking the other side. Since there is always another party in these trades why isn't it the inverse analysis - in this case for example that someone really wants to sell way OTM TSLA puts? Thanks! Around the Block: Earning this week: Tuesday - Apple, Lumber Liquidators, Herbalife Wednesday - Tesla, Groupon, Fitbit Thursday - Weight Watchers Friday - CBOE This week in the market: Aug 1: Personal Income, Construction Spending Aug 3: Jobless Claims, Factory Orders Aug 4: Unemployment, International Trade
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Option Block 350: TWTR Risk Reversal Rundown
Jun 27, 2014Tap to summarizeOption Block 350: TWTR Risk Reversal Rundown Trading Block: Interesting intra-day activity, but ended up closing basically unchanged. VIX cash back in the 11 handle range. A resurgence in Twitter. A banner day for Valero. Odd Block: Calls trade in PowerSecure International, Inc (POWR), calls roll in Ashland Inc. (ASH), puts trade in SM Energy Co. (SM), put spreads roll in Tractor Supply Co. (TSCO), puts trade in MagicJack Volactec ltd. (CALL). Mail Block: Listener questions and comments Question from JG - Hi guys! Love the show(s), I like really really love the show(s). Last Option Block you mentioned us providing our trades and you dissecting them. Just happens to be a very opportune time because I am currently in a trade and I'll provide my analysis and would like to hear you guys discuss. Question from Roger Edwards - Hi. Unusual options activity has drawn my attention to company A, which led me to discover that it's a takeover target by company B. Of course takeover timing is the big challenge. I know that company A has an upcoming ex-div date. Is an ex-div date relevant (factored into takeover timing) at all? Is there any advantage in company B timing its takeover of company A before or after the ex-div date? I'm just trying to use whatever information I can to select the right option expiration. Thanks so much. Question from Kaiserdog76 • - "The Dumbest Investor In the World" - Made good money on UA stupids and FB. Played for a bounce in IWM using options. As that one looks like it has the most room to run. Decent jobs numbers and the "Goldilocks" rally continues. - P.S. Rock Lobster would be proud of me. I even traded a couple Apple calls for a nice pop….Oh, Bita,bita,bita,bita........ Gotta love those China Tech stocks that Retail usually has no clue about. Excellent heads up. Maybe I will look for a bottom and get long again. I had bought 100 shares back when it was trading at $30. In less than a week I was up $600 and figured it could go down just as fast as it went up. Sold and never looked back. I might be breaking some rules here but I like to circle back to winning trades after I feel enough time has passed. Is that a bad habit? I do not have % stats or anything but I know that many have worked more than once. Thanks for refreshing my memory on BITA! Around the Block: Andrew is amazed. Short trading week next week. Not expecting too much activity. Look out for early cash-settled indexes. Be prepared.
Transcribe →Option Block 162: Risk Reversal Hour
Jun 26, 2012Tap to summarizeOption Block 162: Risk Reversal Hour Trading Block: Midday selloff continues following post-weekend/selloff vol pop. EU summit concerns with Spain requesting EU aid for their banks, and Cyprus requesting an EU bailout. Last week most active ever for VIX futures. New home sales hit a two-year high last month - 369,000 new homes vs, 346,000 expected. Oil continues to fall, right into the teeth of summer driving season. Everyone waiting on Supreme Court healthcare vote. Odd Block: Unusual and interesting activity in Men's Warehouse (MW) and Motorola Solutions (MSI). Xpress Block: John Grigus sits down and discusses the news that Amex will be bringing back their binary options. Higher corn and grain prices due to a lack of rain in the midwest. Listener Mail: Email from George K: I loved Mark's rants from the past few shows. He hit the nail on the head with both Morningstar and the "Wall Street" sequel. I'm a Morningstar subscriber but their options offerings are a complete joke. I agree with his comments that it's 1983 from Morningstar's options perspective. They pretend that they don't exist. Hopefully you guys can fix that. As for the "Wall Street" sequel, Mark left out my favorite part - the Budd Foxx/Charlie Sheen cameo. That bad was so bad that I turned off my TV in disgust. It took me about another month to get around to actually finishing the movie. In all seriousness, thank you Mark for making the Options Insider radio network and providing so much great content like the Option Block. There truly is nothing else like this network, or this show anywhere else. You've created a great home for options traders and we appreciate it. Around the Block: Keeping an eye on the Supreme Court healthcare vote and the EU meeting later this week.
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