Option Block 233: Trickle Down SPX

Trading Block: The market is gaining back some ground after a skittish week. Here we go again with Alcoa earnings after the bell. Uncle Mike updates us on Ford, GLD, SLV and Apple. Is there any love for Facebook at these levels? The market is not loving FB Home apparently. Caribou Coffee pulling out of Chicago. BOX files with the SEC for a jumbo SPDR - 1000 multiplier.

Odd Block: Calls trade in Wisdom Tree India Earnings Fund (EPI), calls trade in Lufkin Industries Inc. (LUFK), puts and stock trade in Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), and calls trade in Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. (GT).

Xpress Block: A mini volume and customer interest update from Alex.

Around the Block: A whole lot of nothing coming out of Alcoa, which kicks off earnings week.

Option Block 232: Crushing Inflation

Trading Block: Facebook goes after Google. Bank of Japan moving a lot today. S&P opened lower than gold for the first time since the flash crash. How high can the interest rate go?

Odd Block: Big calls trade in the S&P 500 VIX Short Term Futures ETN (VXX), more puts trade in Alerian MLP ETF (AMLP), and out month put buy in Bank of America Corp. (BAC)

Xpress Block: Rates, Yen and other Asian markets lit up the OX desk today. Citadel is petitioning the supreme court over the CBOE/ICE/SXP case.

Strategy Block: Tosaw clarifies the difference between market timing and risk management.

Around the Block: Non-Farm payrolls come out in the morning. Rates will be a main focus.

Option Block 231: April Fool Joke from Tesla?

Interview Block: RCM’s Matt Bradbard talks about interest rates. When might they reverse course and head upwards? What is the Eurodollar?

Trading Block: We actually saw a rise in VIX today. Tesla was today's big news: they made a profit for the first time this quarter! Apple bouncing off the lows.

Odd Block: Calls trade in North American Palladium Ltd. (PAL), large put block trades in Health Care Select Sector SPDR (XLV), and calls trade in Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO).

Xpress Block: Tesla and Apple were both lighting up the desk at OX today. The first returns on the weeklies on futures options show that they are a resounding success. How are the Minis doing?

Around the Block: Looking forward to a somewhat quiet week ahead.

Option Block 230: The Psychology of Options Trading

Interview Block: Today's guest is Benjamin Lee, founder of Think|Trade|Think. He talks about the psychology of trading, and gives us a preview of his upcoming RCM webinar.

Trading Block: There was a bit of a selloff, as concerns about Cyprus crept back into the market. Which way are we heading from here?

Odd Block: Puts trade in DaVita Healthcare Partners Inc. (DVA), more calls make news in Thomson Reuters Corp. USA (TRI), and Globe Specialty Metal (GSM) trading puts.

Xpress Block: OX customers give feedback on the Minis.

Around the Block: Keeping an eye on the TLT and iron condors. Blackberry earnings are on 3/28 before the bell.

Option Block 229: The Death Hedge

Trading Block: Most indexes closed down by the end of the day. Juice comes back into the VIX. Cypress: is it the new Greece? GLD, SLV and other metals up on the day. Lululemon recalls "see-through" yoga pants.

Odd Block: Calls spread trades in the VIX, put buying in Citigroup Inc. (C), and big trades in Constellation Brands Inc. (STZ).

Xpress Block: Two names stood out on the desk: General Motors and Dell.

Strategy Block: Mike Tosaw gets his very own rant about busting the myths of annuities. Go, Mike, go!

Around the Block: Keeping an eye on Cypress. We're close to all-time highs in the market.

Option Block 228: Mini Mania

Interview Block: Today's Guest: Kevin Davitt, Global Execution & Futures Broker at RCM. RCM will be hosting a webinar this Thursday night.

Trading Block: There was a bit of a selloff in the market due to news coming out of Cypress, which is rekindling fears of a Europe crisis. Today is the day: Mini contracts begin trading today. What is the OX procedure and policy for Minis?

Odd Block: Ratio strangle trades in Neonode, Inc. (NEON), put buyers active in Globe Specialty Metals, Inc. (GSM), puts trade in Reality Income Corp. (O), and calls trade in Swift Transportation Co. (SWFT).

Xpress Block: Cypress, Minis and Gold were all popular topics today at OX. When will we see Minis in the Idea Hub?

Around the Block: Watching a silent rally in Apple. VIX cash creeping up. Cypress still making headlines. Minis and their affect.

Option Block 227: When Options Make an $800,000,000 Profit

Trading Block: The S&P's are right up against their all-time highs. Citadel exited their E-Trade position, which is down 75% from when they bought it, and still turned an $800M profit with hedging and options. Minis begin trading Monday, March 18.

Odd Block: It was a hard luck day for E-Trade (ETRA), running of the bulls in KBW Regional Bank ETF (KRE), and an incredible purchase in Heckmann Corp (HEK).

Xpress Block: What's new in the Ides Hub? Blackberry is back in the news.

Strategy Block: Making adjustments on a simulated index concept strategy.

Around the Block: How high will the S&P 500 reach? Gold & Silver. Mini options.

Option Block 226: Up, Up and Away

Interview Block: Today's guest is Joe Garcia-Rios, Founder of Rios Quantitative & President and Chief Portfolio Manager of Advanz Analytics Group.

Trading Block: There is no sign of the end to the rally. VIX has an 11-handle for the first time since 2007. Minis launch next week! ISE will launch their second exchange -- the Topaz Exchange.

The Odd Block: March 13.5 calls trade in Ford.

Around the Block: Keeping an eye on the VIX, Apple and Google.

Option Block 225: Spreads with Benefits

Trading Block: The market is apparently shrugging off the Sequester with a mild rally as of mid-day. Implied and realized volatility cross, which is a very rare occurrence. Google feeling the love and broke the 800 level, while Apple feeling the heat falling well south of $450. Groupon is showing some signs of life bouncing dramatically off lows around $4.25.

Odd Block: Risk reversals trade in Bridgepoint Education Inc. (BPI), call buyers in Zhongpin Inc. (HOGS), calls trade in Tronox ltd. (TROX), and more calls trade in Mitek Systems Inc (MITK).

Xpress Block: Alex Jacobson discusses more ideas from the Idea Hub, new OX products, and new OX order types.

Strategy Block: Mike Tosaw discusses the "credit spread with benefits."

Around the Block: Seems like more bears are coming out of the woodwork making dire predictions for the market going forward. Sequester, sequester, sequester! What else on the horizon could generate some vol?

Option Block 224: No Watered Down Options Information

Trading Block: Downward movement across the market, making a late reversal. Not a ton of movement in our favorite fruit company. VIX had a big turnaround during the day. Facebook sells off. AB allegedly watering down their beer - stock unaffected.

Odd Block: Fresh call buyers in TD Ameritrade Holding Corp. (AMTD), profit taking via Bank of America Corp. (BAC), puts trade in Cablevision Systems Corp. (CVC) after earnings, and call trading activity in DigitalGlobe Inc. (DGI).

Xpress Block: A relatively quiet day at the OX desk today.

Mail Block: FB question from listener: I listen to your podcast and really enjoy it. I heard a while back that Uncle Mike was short the 26 put on Facebook. I had a 25 put assigned to me, and I rode it down to 18 and back up to 28.68, where I sold my shares. I now have the April 23 short put. I am enclosing a chart that I would like to comment on. It is the reason why I chose the April 23 put.

Around the Block: Sequester, Sequester, Sequester! The big cutting day is almost here.