The Option Block

This episode of the Option Block dives into the latest developments in the options market, driven by the news of a potential detente on the US-China trade war front. The host Mark Longo and co-hosts Andrew Giovinazzi (The Option Pit) and Mike Tosaw (St. Charles Wealth Management) discuss the impact of this news on various market indices, individual stock movements, and volatility instruments like VIX. Key topics include substantial spikes in major tech stocks such as Amazon, Facebook (Meta), and Nvidia. The episode also explores unusual options trades in stocks like Kosmos Energy, Commscope Holding, and Centrus Energy, and features a reflection on the late Alex "The Viceroy" Jacobson's impact on the options education landscape. The show wraps up with Uncle Mike Tosaw's Strategy Block focusing on the year of the collar and what to watch for in the markets towards the end of the week. 01:27 Meet the Hosts and Co-Hosts 01:54 Kicking Off with 80s Trivia Challenge 06:42 Trading Block: Market Analysis and Trends 26:31 Unusual Options Activity: The Odd Block 27:25 Remembering Alex "The Viceroy" Jacobson 27:55 Kosmos Energy Trade Analysis 34:32 Commscope Holding Company Insights 37:11 Centrist Energy Corp. Trade Discussion 40:19 Uncle Mike Tosaw's Strategy Block: The Year of the Collar 46:04 Around the Block: What to Watch Until Next Episode 51:58 Closing Remarks and Upcoming Shows

This episode of The Option Block hosted by Mark Longo and featuring Henry Schwartz from Cboe Global Markets and Mike Tosaw from St. Charles Wealth Management discusses the latest in the options market. Key segments include an analysis of unusual options activity, the impact of SEC regulations, and Biden's economic directives. The hosts reflect on the contributions of Alex Jacobson to options education. The show also highlights intriguing activity in stocks like Venture Global, Vivid Seats, and First Majestic Silver Corp, and delves into the nuances of market-making and trading strategies. 03:16 Live from the Options Industry Conference 05:38 Market Analysis and Trading Insights 10:09 Retail Trading Trends and Zero-Day Options 23:46 Earnings Reports and Market Movers 30:24 Unusual Options Activity 34:13 Analyzing Vivid Seats Stock Performance 34:59 Exploring a Recent Trade in Vivid Seats 35:40 Arbitrage and Ticket Reselling Insights 37:04 First Majestic Silver Corp Stock Analysis 38:30 Call Palooza in First Majestic Silver Corp 42:28 Mail Block: Answering Listener Questions 44:08 Remembering Alex Jacobson, The Viceroy 50:45 Around the Block: Market Watch and Predictions 57:31 Upcoming Events and Final Thoughts

This episode of The Option Block with Mark Longo and Mike Tosaw (St. Charles Wealth Management) covers a wide range of topics including an analysis of the current options market, significant earnings reports, and detailed breakdowns of specific trading activities. The hosts discuss various trades in companies like Cinemark and Gray Media, debating the merits and risks involved. The episode also features an emotional tribute to Alex Jacobson, a key figure in the options community, who recently passed away. The tribute includes personal anecdotes and memories of Alex's contributions to the industry and the Options Insider community. 01:54 Host Introduction and Upcoming Events 03:12 Technical Challenges and Co-Host Banter 04:07 80s Trivia Challenge 07:43 Pro Trading Crate Giveaway 08:50 Market Analysis and Trends 15:15 VIX and SPY Options Breakdown 19:43 Small Caps and Qs Analysis 25:16 Top 10 Most Active Options 27:34 Stock Performance Overview 28:06 Earnings and Options Activity 29:33 Top 10 Stocks Countdown 36:49 Cinema Mark's Recovery 41:03 Gray Media's Volatility 44:21 Tribute to Alex Jacobson 53:49 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of The Option Block, host Mark Longo and co-hosts Henry Schwartz (Cboe) and Mike Tosaw (St. Charles Wealth Management) delve into an eventful week marked by significant tech earnings reports from giants like Microsoft, Meta, Apple, and Amazon. The episode explores the impact of these earnings on the market, including dramatic price movements and volatility discrepancies between near-term and longer-term options. Henry Schwartz provides insights on unusual options activity, including aggressive call buying in Bumble ahead of earnings and speculative trades in Finger Motion Inc. The episode also touches on the upcoming employment report and its potential market impact, offering listeners a comprehensive look at the rapidly evolving options landscape. 01:05 Meet the Hosts 03:16 Thursday Edition Kickoff 05:53 Market Recap and Trading Block 10:03 Earnings Highlights and Market Sentiment 12:48 Listener Engagement and VIX Activity 18:39 Single Stock Movers and Earnings Season 29:31 Market Movers: UPS, JetBlue, and More 29:53 Tech Giants and Earnings Reports 30:54 Earnings Volatility Insights 34:38 Odd Block: Unusual Options Activity 35:18 Bumble and Match Group Analysis 41:48 Finger Motion Inc. and Market Speculations 48:06 Listener Questions and Market Insights 54:18 Around the Block: Market Watch

This episode covers a range of financial topics and notable options trades. Hosts Mark Longo, Andrew Giovinazzi (The Option Pit) and Mike Tosaw (St. Charles Wealth Management) discuss trading strategies. Key market events influencing the week are reviewed, including earnings expectations for major tech companies like Microsoft and Amazon. Episode highlights include a brief trivia challenge where Uncle Mike faces off against the Rock Lobster, analysis of significant options trades such as heavy activity in Stone Co (STNE), and market outlooks. The Strategy Block segment focuses on index options and protection strategies for assets. 00:00 Introduction to Options Insider Radio Network 04:12 80s Trivia Challenge 07:12 Market Analysis and Trends 16:37 Earnings and Economic Insights 25:34 VIX and SPY Activity 28:24 Market Overview and Single Names 28:58 Top 10 Contracts: Meta and Amazon 30:11 Tech Giants and Market Trends 31:38 Intel and Palantir Analysis 33:48 Nvidia and Tesla Insights 35:44 Earnings Reports and Market Predictions 37:48 Odd Block: Unusual Options Activity 47:22 Strategy Block: Market Protection Tips 51:25 Around the Block: Upcoming Market Events

In this episode of The Option Block, host Mark Longo is joined by Henry Schwartz from Cboe and Uncle Mike Tosaw from St. Charles Wealth Management, to dive into various aspects of the options market. The episode covers significant recent events, including options activity in VIX, SPX, IWM, and single names like Funko and SoFi. The discussion also explores the impact of large trades on the market and answers listener questions. Tune in to get insights on market trends, strategy overviews, and expert analysis on the latest developments in the options market. 03:08 Kicking Off the Option Block Show 03:23 Market Recap and Trading Insights 06:01 Trading Block: Latest Market Trends 06:56 Volatility and Market Movements 13:24 Individual Stock Performances 27:10 Earnings Reports and Market Reactions 28:07 Odd Block: Unusual Options Activity 28:53 SoFi Stock Analysis and Market Trends 29:58 Unusual Options Activity in SoFi 33:02 Cemex: Mexican Ready-Mix Concrete 38:30 Funko's Financial Rollercoaster 43:18 Mail Block: Listener Questions and Polls 46:40 Around the Block: Market Predictions

In this episode, Mark Longo, Henry Schwartz (Cboe) and Mike Tosaw (St. Charles Wealth Management) hosts delve into current market trends, unusual options activity, and listener questions. They discuss VIX movement, the resurgence of gold, and controversial trades ahead of the tariff announcement. New options products, such as the S&P Equal Weighted 500 Index options, are introduced, and there's an examination of activity in Vertex Pharmaceuticals, NeoGenomics, Eldorado Gold Corp, and Dynatrace. The hosts also review audience poll results on zero-day options trading and the viability of certain puts in Apple and Nvidia. 00:00 Introduction to Options Insider Radio Network 01:18 Meet the Hosts and Sponsors 03:16 Market Overview and Trading Block 05:41 Volatility and Market Trends 13:13 Gold and Precious Metals Discussion 15:43 Options Market Activity 30:55 Unusual Options Activity in Vertex Pharmaceuticals 33:48 Biotech and Option Flow Insights 34:51 NeoGenomics Inc: A Rough Year 37:21 Gold's Impressive Run 43:13 Dynatrace Inc: Tech Observability 47:01 Mail Block: Listener Questions 57:56 Around the Block: Market Watch

Mark Longo, Uncle Mike Tosaw, and Andrew 'The Rock Lobster' Giovinazzi analyze large movements in the S&P, trading strategies in volatile markets, a breakdown of options on smaller stocks like ONDS and BYRN, and audience engagement through flash polls and Q&A. Uncle Mike delivers a Strategy Block focusing on protective puts and risk management. The show wraps up with insights into the upcoming trading week and how to stay informed. 01:25 Meet the Hosts and Kickoff 03:02 80s Trivia Challenge 06:29 Market Analysis and Trading Block 11:29 Insights on Tariffs and Market Reactions 18:29 Hedged Equity and Bond Market Observations 23:55 Options Market Volume and Trends 29:52 Antitrust Case and Meta's Future 30:13 Tech Stocks Performance 30:52 Palantir's Wild Ride 31:23 Apple's Market Moves 33:19 Tesla's Market Trends 34:00 Nvidia's Dominance 34:17 Earnings Season Overview 35:38 Unusual Options Activity (ONDS and BYRN) 46:12 Protective Puts in a Volatile Market 50:30 Market Trends and Predictions 55:24 Conclusion and Upcoming Events

In this episode, Mark Longo, Henry Schwartz (Cboe) and Mike Tosaw (St. Charles Wealth Management) delve into the historic and highly volatile recent market swings, including the massive rally and subsequent sell-off. Key topics include the unprecedented trading volumes, driven in part by zero day options, and how traders are navigating the current landscape. Detailed insights are provided on VIX movements, SPX trading trends, and specific stock analyses such as American Airlines, Sigma Lithium, and Biomarin Pharmaceuticals. Listener polls reveal hesitance towards zero day options amidst the uncertainty. The episode wraps up with predictions on upcoming earnings and market movements, emphasizing the importance of strategic thinking in these times. 01:05 Meet the Hosts and Co-Hosts 01:40 Cboe's SPX and Mini S&P 500 Options 02:16 Market Risks and Disclaimers 03:08 Kicking Off the Show 03:23 Market Madness and Historic Swings 05:15 Wild Times in the Options Market 06:42 Unprecedented Market Activity 11:19 Zero Day Options and Volatility 15:10 Volume Records and Market Trends 21:33 SPX and VIX Analysis 28:46 Meta's Market Movement 29:13 Tech Stocks Performance 32:14 Financials and Market Uncertainty 32:55 Odd Block: Unusual Options Activity 33:47 American Airlines Analysis 39:27 Lithium (SGML) and Biomarin Pharmaceutical (BMRN) Insights 46:12 Mail Block: Listener Questions 48:31 Market Sentiment and Predictions 50:28 Around the Block: Upcoming Market Events 52:40 Conclusion and Resources

In this episode of the Option Block, host Mark Longo is joined by Uncle Mike Tosaw from St. Charles Wealth Management and the Rock Lobster, Andrew Giovinazzi from The Option Pit. They analyze the unprecedented market moves and volatility driven by the global trade war and other economic factors. Discussions include the record-breaking options volumes, unusual options activity in United Wholesale Mortgage and Primo Brands Corp, and active and passive hedging strategies. Listeners also get to enjoy some fun segments like the 80s trivia challenge and a deep dive into trading activity with time-sensitive examples of strikes and premiums. 00:00 Introduction to Options Insider Radio Network 01:07 Welcome to the Option Block 01:55 Market Madness and Weekend Recap 03:49 80s Trivia Challenge 06:28 Trading Block: Market Analysis and Trends 12:58 Wild Times in the Options Market 28:47 Market Sentiment and Alphabet's Wild Day 29:54 Intel's Rollercoaster Week 30:47 Alibaba and the Impact of Tariffs 31:26 AMD's Volatile Performance 32:04 Palantir's Surprising Upswing 33:08 Bitcoin and the Monster's Market Madness 33:32 Amazon and Apple Under Pressure 35:14 Tesla's Turbulent Times 36:04 Nvidia's Market Dominance 37:43 Odd Block: Unusual Options Activity in UWMC and PRMB 46:20 Strategy Block: Hedging Techniques 51:14 Around the Block: Market Watch