The Option Block

We're kicking off the week with drones, drunkards and plenty of unusual options action on this episode of The Option Block.

Mark Longo is joined by Andrew "The Rock Lobster" Giovinazzi from Option Pit and "Uncle" Mike Tosaw from St. Charles Wealth Management to break down the latest moves across the options markets.

On this episode, we discuss:

• A red start to the week and what the VIX is telling us
• The latest action in Tesla, NVIDIA, Apple, Micron and other heavily traded names
• Some surprising activity in small-cap options
• A wild surge in Draganfly (DPRO) calls as drone stocks light up the tape
• Aggressive put buying in Revolve Group (RVLV)
• The upcoming earnings volatility picture for Dell, Ollie's Bargain Outlet, Five Below, Snowflake and Lululemon
• Using index puts to hedge a stock portfolio
• Whether low volatility and stocks near their highs make this an attractive time to consider portfolio protection
• What the crew is watching as we move beyond the dog days of summer
• Plus, W.C. Fields, Dean Martin, Johnny Carson and a surprisingly difficult round of legendary-drunkard trivia

It's another packed episode of options activity, strategy, market analysis and questionable humor on The Option Block.

Nvidia delivers and the options market responds! On this episode of The Option Block, Mark Longo, Uncle Mike Tosaw and Henry "The Flowmaster" Schwartz from Cboe break down the latest action across the options markets.

The crew digs into Nvidia's big post-earnings move and what it means for the broader AI trade, while VIX slides back below 15 and volatility continues to get crushed. They also explore whether historically inexpensive optionality makes this an interesting time to hedge portfolios.

Then it's off to the unusual options activity, including some intriguing flow in nuclear reactor play X-energy (XE), speculative activity in Richtech Robotics (RR), and longer-dated call action in AvePoint (AVPT). The crew also examines heavy VIX call activity, a massive PCG options roll, and plenty more from across the market.

Plus, the show pays tribute—with a little Option Block humor—to the voice behind Optimus Prime.

On this episode of The Option Block, we're feeling the HYPE as we break down the latest action across the options markets.

We discuss the renewed surge in crypto and HYPE, what the market is watching ahead of NVIDIA earnings, and some unusual upside activity in VIX options. Then we head into the Odd Block for a radioactive blast from the past as Denison Mines (DNN) returns to the spotlight amid renewed interest in uranium and nuclear stocks. Is aggressive call buying a sign that the uranium bulls are getting ready for another run?

Uncle Mike also explores potential options-based alternatives for the conservative portion of a portfolio, including protective puts and collars, before we wrap things up with what the panel is watching for the rest of the week.

Plus: Bitcoin, MSTR, SMR, earnings volatility, fixed income alternatives, geopolitical uncertainty…and, naturally, yurts.

Featuring: Mark Longo, Mike Tosaw and Andrew Giovinazzi.

On this episode of The Option Block, we dig into the wild action in Moderna (MRNA) following its massive biotech-fueled surge and ask the question on every options trader's mind: Was there any unusual options activity ahead of the big news?

The Flowmaster goes back through the MRNA tape looking for clues and weighs in on whether there was any suspiciously well-timed options activity before the stock exploded higher.

We also break down the latest action in SPX, VIX, IWM and the broader options market, including a massive VIX upside trade, heavy put activity in the small caps, Walmart's post-earnings selloff, and the latest moves in Micron, Strategy, Tesla, NVIDIA and SpaceX.

Plus, we venture into the Odd Block for unusual options activity in Webull (BULL) and biotech name Precigen (PGEN), discuss the renewed strength in gold, silver and crypto, and debate what is really driving the markets right now — AI spending, rates, geopolitics or the looming midterm elections.

Featuring Mark Longo, Henry "The Flowmaster" Schwartz from Cboe and Uncle Mike Tosaw from St. Charles Wealth Management.

On this episode of The Option Block, Mark Longo is joined by Uncle Mike Tosaw of St. Charles Wealth Management and Andrew "The Rock Lobster" Giovinazzi of Option Pit.

The crew kicks things off with a little Lusitania-inspired trivia before diving into a market caught between AI enthusiasm, geopolitical uncertainty, rising rates and the latest signals from the Fed.

On the show:

• Why interest rates may still have room to move higher
• The increasingly tangled web of AI and NVIDIA financing
• What stubbornly elevated VVIX may be telling us
• A massive VIX options trade targeting September upside
• The latest options activity in NVIDIA, Tesla, Micron, SpaceX, Apple, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Intel and AMD
• What the options market is pricing in for another busy week of retail earnings
• Unusual options activity in Kingsoft Cloud Holdings (KC) and Comstock (LODE)
• Using covered calls to help manage sequence-of-return risk in retirement
• A September VIX trade from the Rock Lobster
• What the crew is watching next in the S&P 500, bonds, rates and volatility

Plus, the latest installment of the Option Block trivia battle and plenty more options talk along the way.

On this episode of The Option Block, host Mark Longo is joined by Mike Tosaw of St. Charles Wealth Management and Henry "The Flowmaster" Schwartz from Cboe for another deep dive into the latest action across the options market.

The markets are pushing toward fresh highs while volatility continues to retreat, but is everything really as calm as it seems? The crew examines VIX slipping below 15, persistent strength in VVIX, the explosion in options volume, and how the growing supply of volatility from yield products and defined-outcome ETFs may be changing market dynamics.

Then it's time to release the SHAZ! The Odd Block uncovers unusual options activity in Sharon AI Holdings (SHAZ), a wildly volatile name with some intriguing bullish call spread activity. The crew also investigates notable options trades in On Holding (ONON) and MGM Resorts (MGM).

Plus, we break down the latest options activity in NVIDIA, Tesla, SpaceX, Micron, Intel, Apple, Amazon and more; examine what the latest earnings data is really telling us; and discuss what traders should be watching as markets hover near all-time highs with volatility near the lows.

In this episode:

• VIX falls below 15 as stocks push toward record territory
• Why VVIX may be sending a different signal
• How structured products and volatility supply could be affecting the market
• The latest SPX, SPY, QQQ and IWM options activity
• NVIDIA, Tesla and SpaceX lead the single-stock options leaderboard
• SHAZ unleashes some truly unusual options activity
• Bullish call spreads surface in SHAZ
• A potentially significant put sale in ONON
• Bullish options activity in MGM
• What the latest earnings data says about the broader earnings season
• Rates, bonds, geopolitical risk and what to watch next

What's the deal with this market?

On this episode, Mark Longo is joined by Mike Tosaw of St. Charles Wealth Management and Andrew Giovinazzi of Option Pit.

We break down a relatively quiet day for the major indexes while individual stocks and options activity continue to make plenty of noise.

The crew discusses the latest moves in SpaceX, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Palantir, Apple, Tesla and more, along with what the latest economic data and geopolitical uncertainty could mean for volatility and the broader market.

Then it's off to The Odd Block for unusual options activity in Borr Drilling (BORR), Lloyds Banking Group (LYG) and Archer Aviation (ACHR), including the intriguing options action surrounding Archer's latest deal with Boeing.

Plus, Uncle Mike breaks down why investors who want to buy near market highs may want to consider a married put rather than simply selling puts to establish a position.

On this episode of The Option Block, we break down the latest action in the options market, including what's driving the major indices, the latest moves in VIX, another big month for options volume, and activity in some of the market's most-watched names.

Then it's time to get weird in the Odd Block with unusual options activity in Compass Pathways (CMPS), Hinge Health (HNGE), and POET Technologies (POET). We dig into psychedelic options flow, a Hinge trade that wasn't quite what it first appeared to be, and a sea of short-dated POET calls lighting up the tape. Plus, we revisit a previous Chime (CHYM) trade after the stock's huge earnings move.

We also discuss the latest action in AMD, AMZN, PLTR, INTC, MSFT, MU, TSLA, AAPL, SpaceX, NVDA and more.

Featuring: Mark Longo, Henry "The Flowmaster" Schwartz and "Uncle" Mike Tosaw.

Markets roared back to start the week as earnings optimism, cooling oil prices, and renewed geopolitical hopes sent stocks sharply higher while volatility took another hit.

On this episode of The Option Block, Mark Longo is joined by Uncle Mike Tosaw and Andrew "The Rock Lobster" Giovinazzi to break down the biggest stories shaping the options market.

This episode includes:

• A rally fueled by Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet and the broader AI trade
• Is the "Lag Seven" becoming the "Mag Seven" again?
• Why VIX plunged back into the 15-handle
• What traders should watch ahead of SpaceX's first earnings report
• The latest unusual options activity in Hartford Financial (HIG)
• Speculative call buying returns to Virgin Galactic (SPCE)
• Strategy Block: Momentum trading versus buying the dip—which style fits you?
• Around the Block: SpaceX earnings, AI spending, rates and what could drive markets next

Plus, the panel debates AI capital spending, volatility, market leadership, and whether investors are simply "putting lipstick on SPCE pigs."

Markets are whipsawing, tech stocks are making monster moves, and The Option Block crew is back to break down all the action.

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 — fresh from giving blood at Grand Central — to discuss another wild stretch for the options market.

The crew breaks down the sharp post-Fed reversal, the market's ongoing battle around key levels, elevated dispersion across stocks and sectors, and the incredible post-earnings surge in Microsoft. They also dig into the latest options activity in NVIDIA, Micron, Meta, Tesla, AMD, Intel, Apple and more.

Then it's time to get weird in the Odd Block as Henry highlights unusual options activity in Firefly Aerospace (FLY), Bit Digital (BTBT) and T1 Energy (TE), including some intriguing upside call activity and a few trades that leave the crew wondering why traders didn't just buy the stock.

Plus, we look ahead to Apple and Amazon earnings, discuss the latest action in VIX and the major index ETFs, and explore what could shake up the markets next.

It's another packed episode of The Option Block — with a little blood donation and dollar scalping thrown in for good measure.