Trading Block: VIX down. Vol futures down. Gold vol is very low. 10-year yield at 3%. Metals get the crap kicked out of them.

Earnings: GOOGL - ATM straddle: 54, approx. 5%. More tech earnings to come.

Odd Block: More Jan 2019 50 "catastrophe" puts in Tesla Motors (TSLA). Puts trade in Chicago Bridge & Iron Company (CBI). Calls trade in D. R. Horton Inc. (DHI). Puts trade in CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. (CBL).

Strategy Block: Uncle Mike Tosaw discusses hedging during earnings.

Mail Block: Options question of the week

VIX is back in the mid-teens. Are you buying this Volatility reprieve or is this merely calm before the storm? Quite simply - Where do you think VIX will end the week?

• 24% - Here: 16-18
• 19% - Higher: 18-20
• 18% - Even Higher: 20-25
• 39% - Lower: 14-16

Options Flash Poll: The proposed third exchange from @MIAXexchange will raise the total number of U.S. Options Exchanges to 16. Is this a good thing for the options market? Is it the straw that finally breaks the camel's back? Or are you too busy getting great fills to care?

• 44% - More Exchanges the Better
• 22% - Please Make It Stop
• 34% - Don't Care: I get filled

Listener feedback:

• Question from LNC - SVXY calls suck now. What about selling the puts? Is there any juice in those or have they been drained as well by the bid redo last week?

Around the Block: GOOGL post-earnings. Andrew wants to let it all out. SVXY makes him angry. Will tech earnings produce a higher SPX?