Trading Block: What a week - volatility is coming back down, and the crystal ball is looking nice! Dow tumbles 350 points as technology and communication-services stocks tank in midday trading.

Odd Block: Tesla put summary, funky put palooza in General Electric Company (GE), put sale in Activision Blizzard Inc. (ATVI) and call palooza in KeyCorp (KEY).

Mail Block: Options question of the week

Time to break out your crystal balls. Volatility is on everyone's mind these days. Will earnings season add to the growing storm? Or will cooler heads prevail this week? Quite simply - Where will $VIX close this Friday 10/19?

• Here: 19-22
• Higher: > 22
• Lower: 17-18.99
• Even Lower:

Listener questions and comments:

• Question from N45 - When is it not worth closing out losing long options positions and just keep them on as lottery ticket flyers? Is it a nickel?
• Comment from Mark Brant - SPX -4d/-6d/+8d Calendar Ratio Straddle div +35% PREMIUM! Easily getting filled at the mid-point. Also sold SNAP 41d $7 Puts 0.81! Just get the crash over with. Why drag it out for years? Also bought June 2020 TSLA $10 puts for a buck!

Around the Block/This Week in the Markets:

• Oct 19: Existing Home Sales