Trading Block: Earnings today: AMC Networks, HH Gregg, Icahn Enterprises, MGM Resorts International, Nokia Corporation, Starwood Property Trust, Time Inc. (before); Activision Blizzard, Almo Group, Bats Global Markets, LinkedIn Corporation, Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation, Weight Watchers International, Zillow (after). ATVI at $40.84, approx. 7%. Takeover rumor sparks busy day in Twitter options.

Odd Block: Aug call buyers in Comcast Corp (CMCSA), selling calls in Noble Corporation PLC (NE), and put buying in Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX).

Mail Block/Options Question of the Week: Twitter poll AND listener questions and comments

What is most important to you when choosing an options broker?

1. Commissions
2. Platform Features
3. Support/Service
4. Educational Offerings

• Question from Grasshopper: I have heard options strategies may be vulnerable to "dump like an elephant" concerns criticism. Are the losses big, are high win rate strategies a cause for suspicion?
• Question from Fred: Would trading options change that way I look at/trade futures?
• Question from Anthony Cioffi: I have got a somewhat off-topic question from the show. I know Mark is a fight fan. What does he think of the recent sale of the UFC for $4.2 billion?Good deal, or did they dramatically over pay? What are the odds that the UFC will eventually go public as a result of this deal? It would be fun to trade options on that name. They would probably be very volatile heading into big fight cards.

Around the Block: Earnings on Friday:Virgin America.

This Week in the Market:

• Aug 4: Jobless Claims, Factory Orders
• Aug 5: Non-Farm Payrolls, International Trade