Trading Block: OCC cleared contract volume up 8.7% in September. Total cleared volume up 18.6% year-to-date. Equity options volume up 14.3% in September and up 21.7 percent year-to-date.

Odd Block: Call sale in Glu Mobile Inc. (GLUU), Puts trade in AMETEK, Inc. (AME), and Call-palooza in Delta Air Lines, Inc. (DAL)

Mail Block: Volatility flash poll, plus live questions from Duke University

VIX has soared to 18.50 & $VVIX hit 120. Is this the new normal or a quick blip? Let's put that to the test starting with this week. Quite simply - Where do you think VIX will close this Friday?

• Here: 18-19.5
• Higher: > 19.5
• Lower: 16 - 17.99
• Lowest: < 16

Around the Block: What's on the radar going into the weekend?