Option Block 333: AAPL, AMZN Earnings Roundup

Trading Block:

A mild rally on the street today. Apple earnings play-by-play with Uncle Mike Tosaw. A very boring Apple earnings - will this become the next Microsoft? What is the future for Apple? What is the future of the Minis? Will 7 to 1 be the death nail?

Odd Block:

Strangles, calls and puts trade in Eagle Rock Energy Partners LP (EROC), closing call buys trade in SandRidge Energy Inc (SD), closing call buys in iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ), and put buyers trade in AmerisourceBergen Corp. (ABC)

Xpress Block:

A very busy day at OX, but one that is not represented in the numbers. A lot of paper in FB and APPL going into earning.

Mail Block:

Question from Nick Snow - Hey Mark. Second time writer here. I was recently scanning brokers out there and have listened to almost everything on options insider. I found one that is highly regarded by barons and some there's for price and technology recently. One of their "proprietary scanning" functions is meant for spread traders. I opened a virtual trade account and played with it and it is all out of the money low Vol 2 standard deviations debit spreads. Is this not a complete love your broker trade? Is there something more that they can build in a spread debit trade that I do not know?

Question from George - You posted a chart recently on Options Insider and unfortunately I do not know what "P/C" mean. Would you please explain it for me? Many thanks. Your site is very interesting and readable.

Question from A. Berger - When are futures options going live in Idea Hub? Thanks and I love the show. P.S. - Can OX add a caps lock indicator to the website like they have in iTunes? It would make it easier to log on since I am always forgetting about my caps lock.

Question from Doc Phil - Why do so many options traders fall to the “dark side?” You do not see many short sellers in equities. Is premium selling just more attractive or is there something about options traders?

Around the Block:

A final look at MSFT, AMZN and APPL after the bell.

More earning on the horizon: MAR - 4/29, NOK - 4/29, TWTR - 4/29, LNKD - 5/1 & CME - 5/1.