Option Block 341: Weird Activity In Colgate-Palmolive

Trading Block: A surprising VIX given the upcoming holiday weekend. Record low levels in some beloved Option Block names. We saw a massive upside call going up in VIX early this week. The U.S. options exchanges are working jointly toward the development of a uniform obvious error rule to nullify or adjust transactions that meet the definition of an obvious or catastrophic error. OCC and US Options Exchange adopt pre and post-trading risk control principles.

Odd Block:

• Closing puts buyers trade in HMS Holdings Corp. (HMSY)
• Puts sellers trade in Big Lots, Inc (BIG)
• Call sellers trade in Colgate-Palmolive Co. (CL)
• Closing put sale in US Steel Corp (X)

Xpress/Mail Block: XpressMail….get it?

OX questions this week:

• Comment from CBarles - I agree with Mark and the Viceroy - OX needs a "caps lock" detector on the website login page. I am always forgetting that and having to log in twice - very annoying. Please save me from myself.
• Comments/Questions from Kaiser Dog - Mark, First let me thank you for using my post in the Mail Call. Made my day yesterday. If you liked that? I have a lot more where that came from. Just got done listening to "Talking Volatility" and enjoyed the show. I must confess I am not an "Option Pit" guy. Just a retail investor who has a big hunger for anything option related and A fan of the "MeatBall" and the Show in general. I bought Flash Boys the day it was released and have read it about 5 times. Thank you for your work on this front as well. Kudos to your unbiased reports. Please keep them coming. My question for the panel today is as follows: There has been allot of talk about Bubbles. I thought Hubba Bubba and Big League Chew were filling for IPO's there has been so much chatter on CNBC and other media sites. lol. The element that seems to be missing? Undue euphoria and enthusiasm. I do not see it. I do not see Retail participating in any big way. Volume is anemic and artificial (HFT) in my opinion. I would love to hear the panel's take on the topic of A Market Bubble. In addition I would like to hear every ones take on the "State" of the "Retail" investor. Thanks again! Cheers.

Around the Block: Initial Jobless Claims Data and Homes Sales Report on Thursday -- Claims are expected to be higher. Notes from the FOMC meeting.