Option Block 192: Earnings Palooza

Trading Block: GOOG earnings announced early, although no one is sure why. Today is an earnings-palooza: AMD, LUV, MSFT, NOK, VZ all after the bell.

Odd Block: Is McGraw-Hill Topped Out? (MHP); puts rolled on Sprint Nextel (S); volatility purchased on Hertz Global (HTZ).

The Mail Block: You ask. We answer.

• EMAIL FROM TED, WASHINGTON: “I know you guys have touched on this a long time ago, but I can’t find the episode and I’m not sure if there was ever an answer. My question is - how do you execute a ratio spread using Xtend? I’ve been trying all morning to execute a simple 1x2 put spread (buy 1, sell 2) all morning, yet when i select put spread from the Xtend dropdown menu in the order ticket, it defaults to having the legs be the same size. Whenever I try to change the size of one leg, it automatically adjusts the other. None of the other selections in the dropdown seem to work and I don’t see a selection for “ratio spread.” Is there a way to do this? If not, can ox please add a dropdown for ratio spreads in Xtend. Thanks. Been a fan of the show since it launched and an ox customer for about a year, mostly because of this show.

• RELATED EMAIL QUESTION FROM FINN: I know Mark L. loves iron butterflies. How do I trade those using Xtend? I don’t see an option for those in the trade ticket?

• EMAIL FROM Todd in MN: Hi guys, love you, love the show... A question for the listener mail segment-- I'd be honored if you read it. What's the most effective way for a retail investor to hedge an x% decline in the overall market? Some guesses:

1. - buy a back month vertical put spread or single long put on $SPY and let simmer?
2. - buy a vertical call spread on $VIX and manage it closely?
3. - C) none of the above?

Xpress Block: Trading picks up in VIX. Sebastian pontificates.

Around the Block: Earnings. Earnings. Earnings. FB, NFLX, ZNGA, and AMZN coming up.

Option Block 192: Earnings Palooza

Trading Block: GOOG earnings announced early, although no one is sure why. Today is an earnings-palooza: AMD, LUV, MSFT, NOK, VZ all after the bell.

Odd Block: Is McGraw-Hill Topped Out? (MHP); puts rolled on Sprint Nextel (S); volatility purchased on Hertz Global (HTZ).

The Mail Block: You ask. We answer.

• EMAIL FROM TED, WASHINGTON: “I know you guys have touched on this a long time ago, but I can’t find the episode and I’m not sure if there was ever an answer. My question is - how do you execute a ratio spread using Xtend? I’ve been trying all morning to execute a simple 1x2 put spread (buy 1, sell 2) all morning, yet when i select put spread from the Xtend dropdown menu in the order ticket, it defaults to having the legs be the same size. Whenever I try to change the size of one leg, it automatically adjusts the other. None of the other selections in the dropdown seem to work and I don’t see a selection for “ratio spread.” Is there a way to do this? If not, can ox please add a dropdown for ratio spreads in Xtend. Thanks. Been a fan of the show since it launched and an ox customer for about a year, mostly because of this show.

• RELATED EMAIL QUESTION FROM FINN: I know Mark L. loves iron butterflies. How do I trade those using Xtend? I don’t see an option for those in the trade ticket?

• EMAIL FROM Todd in MN: Hi guys, love you, love the show... A question for the listener mail segment-- I'd be honored if you read it. What's the most effective way for a retail investor to hedge an x% decline in the overall market? Some guesses:

1. - buy a back month vertical put spread or single long put on $SPY and let simmer?
2. - buy a vertical call spread on $VIX and manage it closely?
3. - C) none of the above?

Xpress Block: Trading picks up in VIX. Sebastian pontificates.

Around the Block: Earnings. Earnings. Earnings. FB, NFLX, ZNGA, and AMZN coming up.