The Option Block

This episode kicks off the broadcast week by diving into the financial markets' current state, despite an impending Federal Reserve announcement. The hosts, Mark Longo, "Uncle" Mike Tosaw, and Andrew "The Rock Lobster" Giovinazzi, analyze market movements, with a focus on single-name stocks, VIX, and unusual options activity. The show includes a lively 80s trivia challenge (that quickly veers into 1930s-50s Hollywood trivia), a discussion on the Federal Reserve's potential impact, and a breakdown of trading strategies and market trends. They also touch on the absurdities of the market, such as Elon Musk's stock purchases and the speculative nature of certain "meme stocks."

00:00 Welcome 03:17 The 80s Trivia Challenge 06:16 The Trading Block: Market Analysis 09:59 Fed Speculations and Market Reactions 13:35 Tesla and AI Market Moves 21:12 Options Volume and Hot Trades 26:55 Palantir and SoFi Updates 27:16 Intel's Market Movements 27:45 Amazon and Apple Performance 28:39 Alphabet's Recent Trends 29:14 Open's Market Surge 30:16 Nvidia and Tesla Highlights 31:47 Cracker Barrel and Earnings Season 33:04 Odd Block: Unusual Options Activity 41:44 Rumble Inc. Analysis 47:05 Strategy Block: Fed Week Insights 50:21 Around the Block: Market Watch

On this episode of The Option Block, Mark is joined by Henry Schwartz (Cboe) and Mike Tosaw (St. Charles Wealth Management) as they cover a day of significant market moves, with the S&P 500 hitting new all-time highs despite mixed economic data. The panel discusses the latest news from the Robinhood Summit, including new trading features. They dive into unusual options activity, particularly the explosive trading in meme stock Open, and analyze other notable trades in names like Vimeo, Recursion Pharmaceuticals, and Teck Resources. The show concludes with a look ahead at what to watch in the markets and a nod to the start of fantasy football season.

Timestamps:

• [00:00] Introduction

• [05:22] The Trading Block - Market Overview

• [09:00] The Robinhood Summit

• [16:45] Hot Option Activity

• [22:05] The Odd Block - Open (OPEN)

• [25:50] Odd Block - Vimeo (VMEO) & Recursion Pharma (RXRX)

• [28:40] Odd Block - Teck Resources (TECK)

• [31:05] The Mail Block

• [33:55] Around the Block

• [36:00] Closing Remarks

This episode features a discussion on current market conditions and unusual options activity. The hosts, Mark Longo, Uncle Mike Tosaw (St. Charles Wealth Management), and Andrew Giovinazzi (The Option Pit), analyze the mixed performance of the major indices and the behavior of the VIX. They dive into a number of active stocks, including Alphabet (GOOGL) and Nvidia (NVDA), and touch on the bond and precious metals markets. In the Odd Block segment, they dissect peculiar options trades in Golar LNG Limited (GLNG) and the comically-named ETHZilla Corp (ETHZ). The show also includes an educational segment on managing "wash sales" when trading covered calls.

Time Stamps

• Beginning: Options Insider Radio Network Intro

• 00:03:00: 80s Trivia Challenge

• 00:10:00: The Trading Block - Market Analysis

• 00:30:00: The Odd Block - Unusual Options Activity (GLNG and ETHZ)

• 00:40:00: The Strategy Block - Wash Sale Discussion

• 00:46:00: Around the Block - Market Outlook

On this episode of The Option Block, Mark Longo is joined by Uncle Mike Tosaw from St. Charles Wealth Management and Henry "The Flowmaster" Schwartz from Cboe. They discuss the unexpected and muted reaction to Nvidia's earnings, the current state of the market, and the ideal trading conditions for investors. The panel also breaks down unusual options activity in a few unique single names and dives into a lively Mail Block discussion about the VIX and crypto derivatives.

Time Stamps

(04:54) - The Trading Block

• The panel discusses the surprising lack of volatility following Nvidia's earnings, despite high expectations and a large straddle pricing.

• The S&P 500 is up over 10% year-to-date, but the market feels subdued with low volatility and a steady, upward "trudge". Uncle Mike notes this is his "ideal market": boring and making new all-time highs.

• Technology and energy are the only sectors showing significant movement, with many others "taking the day off."

• The VIX is "hunching" at 14.25, with respectable options volume. SPY and SPX also have decent, though not record-breaking, paper on the tape.

• The hosts review the most active single names, including Snowflake's (SNOW) earnings pop, Retti (RETI), and Palantir (PLTR), which continues its pattern of aggressive early-session sell-offs followed by a late-session rebound.

• A quick recap of earnings moves in names like Best Buy, Burlington, Five Below, and Dell, with many straddles underpricing the actual moves.

(22:38) - The Odd Block

• Onas Holdings (ONDS)

• Braze, Inc. (BRZE)

• Westrock PLC (SW)

(35:54) - The Mail Block

• Audience Polls: Mark shares the results of recent listener polls, revealing that most listeners were not comfortable buying the S&P at its current level and that a large majority would prefer to buy rather than sell the VIX December 15 puts.

• VIX Debate: The show's central question: which level will the VIX hit first, 12 or 20? Both Uncle Mike and the Flowmaster believe the VIX will touch 12 first, driven by the ongoing bull market and low realized volatility, but they both note the high potential for a sudden, unexpected spike.

• Crypto Derivatives: A discussion on the future of crypto contracts, with a poll showing an overwhelming preference for cash-settled contracts over physically settled ones, due to simplicity and a desire to avoid dealing with the underlying assets.

(44:54) - Around the Block

• What to Watch: The hosts share what they'll be watching until the next episode, including the S&P 500's attempt to break 6,500, the post-earnings action in Nvidia and Dell, and the overall macroeconomic picture as traders return from summer vacations.

Host: Mark Longo - The Options Insider Cohosts: Uncle Mike Tosaw - St. Charles Wealth Management and Andrew "The Rock Lobster" Giovinazzi - The Option Pit

On today's episode, during The Trading Block segment, we analyze a trading day marked by low volatility and a pause in major indexes after a "drunken rally" last Friday. We discuss the top options activity in VIX, SPY, and other major indexes, and break down the top 10 most active single-name stocks, including surprising movements in Tesla, Open, and Nvidia. We also look at earnings volatility for the week. The Odd Block segment features unusual options activity in Bentley Systems (BSY) and Transocean (RIG). Finally, in The Strategy Block, Uncle Mike explains a unique collar strategy. We end by sharing what we are watching for the week ahead, including key earnings reports from Nvidia, Dollar General, and more in The Around the Block segment.

Time Stamps

• 5:59: The Trading Block
• 33:57: The Odd Block - Bentley Systems (BSY) & Transocean (RIG)
• 43:55: The Strategy Block
• 49:09 Around the Block

The panel discusses the current state of the market, including a week of "red" for the major indices and a corresponding increase in volatility. The episode features a deep dive into unusual options activity, including a mysterious buyer in Unity Software and a vertical call spread in Select Quote. A conspiracy theory about AI engineers making a fortune in the options market is also debated by the hosts. The show wraps up with a look at upcoming earnings reports and a discussion on whether listeners are comfortable buying and holding the S&P 500 in the current market environment.

• Host: Mark Longo from The Options Insider Media Group

• Co-hosts: "Uncle" Mike Tosaw from St. Charles Wealth Management and Henry "The Flowmaster" Schwartz from Cboe

Time Stamps

• 0:00 Welcome

• 3:02 The Trading Block: The panel discusses the overall market sentiment, a week of "red" for major indices, and a slight uptick in volatility. They analyze volume in VIX, SPY, SPX, and NASDAQ and discuss top-performing single-name stocks, including Nvidia, Tesla, Palantir, and Intel.

• 10:37 The Odd Block: The hosts investigate trades in Unity Software, Blend Labs, and Select Quote, analyzing specific call and put positions and speculating on the motives behind the trades.

• 19:54 The Mail Block: The hosts answer a listener's question about whether they are comfortable buying and holding the SPX in the current market. They also discuss a viral conspiracy theory that suggests top AI engineers are making a fortune through options trading, which is why they are being offered such high salaries.

• 27:46 Around the Block: The panel shares what they will be watching in the market until the next show, including upcoming earnings reports from companies like Intuit, Zoom, and Nvidia. They also give contact information for listeners who want to connect with them.

Mark Longo and Uncle Mike Tosaw from St. Charles Wealth Management cover dense VIX trading activity, recent movements in tech stocks like Apple and Nvidia, and notable option trades in low-priced stocks (Hive, IPA, and IQ). Uncle Mike shares insights on order types and their importance in trading, along with updates on the Triple Income and Strategic Night portfolios. Key discussions also include the impact of geopolitical events and government interventions on the stock market. The episode concludes with an eye on upcoming key events and their potential market impact. 01:07 Meet the Hosts and Show Overview 01:56 Kicking Off the Week with Options Content 04:20 Uncle Mike's Trivia Challenge 06:57 Market Analysis and Trading Block 12:00 Uncle Mike's Strategic Night Portfolio Insights 18:15 VIX and Market Activity Update 27:51 UnitedHealth and Palantir Market Updates 28:49 Open's Market Movements and Leadership Change 31:03 Intel's Washington Pilgrimage and Market Impact 33:34 Nvidia and Big Box Retailers Earnings 34:42 Odd Block: Unusual Options Activity 45:42 Strategy Block: Understanding Order Types 49:59 Around the Block: Market Watch and Upcoming Events

In this episode of The Option Block, the host Mark Longo, along with guests Henry "The FlowMaster" Schwartz from Cboe and "Uncle" Mike Tosaw from St. Charles Wealth Management, delve into current market dynamics influenced by inflation data, Fed rate cuts, and significant movements in stocks like Apple, AMD, and Nvidia. They also explore unusual options activity in stocks like Equinox Gold and Amplitude, revealing intriguing trading strategies and market sentiments. The discussion includes the implications of upcoming geopolitical summits and the ongoing earnings season. The episode wraps up with listener questions on trading strategies and a nostalgic look back at 80s movies such as Rocky IV. 01:05 Meet the Hosts and Show Overview 03:17 Market Analysis and Trading Insights 05:24 Volatility and Market Trends 08:44 Individual Stocks and Market Movers 29:02 Earnings Season Highlights 30:14 Cisco's Market Reaction 30:34 Applied Materials Earnings Preview 31:03 Upcoming Retail Earnings: Target and Walmart 31:39 Seasonal Trading Insights 32:29 Odd Block: Unusual Options Activity 33:15 Equinox Gold Corp Analysis 40:59 Unity Software: Big Call Buyers 44:30 Mail Block: Listener Questions 44:58 Rocky IV and 80s Nostalgia 46:43 Earnings Poll and Market Sentiment 51:44 Around the Block: Market Watch 54:45 Show Wrap-Up and Upcoming Content

In this episode of Options Insider Radio Network, host Mark Longo along with co-hosts Uncle Mike Tosaw and the Rock Lobster Andrew Giovinazzi, discuss various aspects of the options market including unusual activity alerts, market analysis, and strategy overviews. They delve into specific stocks like SoundHound AI, MicroStrategy, and Palantir, and analyze call and put options on stocks like Verastem, Hudson Pacific Properties, and On Holding AG. The episode features trivia on 80s trivia and ends with Uncle Mike's Strategy Block segment discussing the advantages of a deep in the money covered call over a short put. The show also includes insights on upcoming earnings announcements and the strategies to trade them. 03:07 Welcome Back to the Show 03:27 Recap of Recent Events 04:39 80s Trivia Challenge 09:33 Trading Block: Market Analysis and Trends 25:44 ETH Treasury Milestone 26:10 Top 10 Stocks Analysis 29:37 Earnings Season Highlights 32:36 Unusual Options Activity 44:08 Strategy Block: Options Wisdom 47:42 Around the Block: Market Watch 50:21 Closing Remarks and Upcoming Shows