The Option Block

On this episode of The Option Block, Mark Longo is joined by "Uncle" Mike Tosaw (St. Charles Wealth Management) and Henry "The Flowmaster" Schwartz (Cboe) for a lively discussion covering the biggest stories driving the options world.

This episode dives into:

• Why SPCX could rock the options market
• The enormous anticipation surrounding the SpaceX listing and its upcoming options launch
• Whether selling volatility after hot IPOs is actually a winning strategy
• Massive SPX intraday swings and what they mean in historical context
• VIX hovering above 20 and what elevated volatility means for traders
• Record-breaking options volume across SPY, SPX and QQQ
• Oracle's post-earnings collapse and continued AI spending concerns
• Big moves in Apple, Nvidia, Intel and Micron
• Unusual options activity in UNIT and LifeZone Metals
• Cboe's upcoming XSP binary options launch
• Plus plenty of classic Option Block banter, market insights and listener questions.

By the power of volatility! The markets unleashed their inner Skeletor this week as traders grappled with a sharp Friday selloff, renewed Middle East tensions, surging volatility, and another furious round of AI-fueled stock action.

Host Mark Longo welcomes Mike Tosaw (St. Charles Wealth Management) and Andrew Giovinazzi (The Option Pit) for a wide-ranging discussion covering everything from He-Man trivia and Masters of the Universe nostalgia to Broadcom, Micron, Nvidia, Intel, Apple, SpaceX, VIX, and the relentless AI trade.

The panel debates whether Friday's selloff was simply a healthy pullback after a historic rally, examines the latest volatility action, breaks down unusual options activity in Equinox Gold (EQX) and American Battery Technology (ABAT), and explores how traders may use options to approach the highly anticipated SpaceX IPO.

In this episode:

• Skeletor's impact on modern markets
• Friday's selloff and Monday's rebound
• VIX, volatility, and market sentiment
• AI valuations and the semiconductor trade
• SpaceX IPO expectations
• Unusual options activity in EQX and ABAT
• Nvidia, Tesla, Apple, Intel, Micron, and more
• Listener favorites and market outlook

Can the bulls reclaim all-time highs, or is Skeletor just getting started? Tune in and find out.

Zombie phone brands are back from the grave.

This episode of The Option Block dives into the surprising resurgence of Nokia and BlackBerry as traders chase AI-fueled momentum, while Broadcom suffers one of the largest market-cap wipeouts in history. Mark Longo, Henry Schwartz (Cboe), and Uncle Mike Tosaw (St. Charles Wealth Management) break down the latest options activity, unusual trades, market rotation, volatility trends, and the continuing explosion in options volume.

You'll also hear discussion on:

• Broadcom's post-earnings collapse
• Nvidia's latest rally
• Micron's wild ride above 1,000
• Nokia and BlackBerry's AI-fueled comeback
• Record-setting options volume in May
• Small-cap and Russell 2000 strength
• The end of the Pattern Day Trader rule
• Unusual activity in NextNav, BlackBerry and 10X Genomics
• SpaceX IPO excitement and what it could mean for options traders

The S&P 500 hits fresh all-time highs while options traders unleash record-setting volume across the market. On this episode of The Option Block, Mark "The Voice of Options" Longo, Andrew "The Rock Lobster" Giovinazzi and "Uncle" Mike Tosaw examine the resurgence in software stocks, the speculative boom in space-related names, massive moves in Micron, Oracle, Microsoft, Palantir and Nvidia, plus unusual options activity in Virgin Galactic and Taseko Mines.

The team also discusses VIX below 16, new highs in the market, earnings season, copper demand, AI-driven rallies and the elimination of the Pattern Day Trader rule. Other topics in this episode included:

🔹 Record options volume 🔹 Space stock speculation 🔹 AI and software resurgence 🔹 Micron options frenzy 🔹 Virgin Galactic unusual activity 🔹 VIX analysis 🔹 Earnings preview 🔹 Strategy Block with Uncle Mike

The market is hitting brand new all-time highs, but the options landscape is flashing some highly unusual signals. In this episode of The Option Block, Mark Longo, Uncle Mike Tosaw, and Henry "The Flowmaster" Schwartz break down the wild, speculative environment driving the latest sea of green.

The panel dives deep into the upcoming, historic SpaceX IPO—discussing what traders can expect from its highly anticipated options debut, potential volume records, and the structural listing criteria. Plus, the team breaks down a massive, inexplicable 1.55 million contract open interest anomaly in the Global X Defense Tech ETF (SHLD), and a massive post-earnings call option explosion in Snowflake (SNOW).

• The Trading Block: The market pushes north of 7,500 while VIX and VVIX get their legs cut out from under them. What does an inverted put/call skew in 55% of tech names tell us about current market frothiness?

• The SpaceX Countdown: Anticipating the June IPO. Will SpaceX options instantly usurp Tesla and Nvidia at the top of the volume charts?

• The Odd Block: Massive call buying and vertical spreads in Snowflake (SNOW) ahead of its monster 40% post-earnings move.

• Weird OI Anomalies: Breaking down a multi-million contract data glitch in the Global X Defense Tech ETF (SHLD) and heavy bullish rolls in ASP Isotopes (ASPI).

• Around the Block: Flatlining put demand in the SPX, a look at silver (SLV) channeling at the 70 level, and why Mike is keeping a close eye on his massive Palantir (PLTR) holdings.

NVDA earnings are in the books… and the market barely blinked. The crew breaks down the post-earnings reaction, volatility collapse, VIX drifting lower, bond market swings, fuel cell madness, Hyperliquid upside, and unusual options activity lighting up names like PURR, BLDP, UTZ and more.

Plus: Is the market still running on AI hype… or has the great pivot to cheese balls officially begun?

The indices might be flashing red, but the Option Block crew is bringing the heat. In this episode, Mark Longo, Uncle Mike Tosaw, and Andrew "The Rock Lobster" Giovinazzi dive into market weekend head-fakes, the tech vs. energy sector tug-of-war, and why a certain famous swimsuit issue used to flood the trading floors like clockwork.

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The guys break down massive volume spikes in the QQQs, an explosive earnings season sitting at a 130% straddle outperformance, and unusual activity cooking in some wild single-name tickers.

• The Trading Block: Analyzing a volatile Monday open, VIX hovering near 18, and how the markets are digesting the ongoing Middle East tensions.

• The Hot Seat: Massive volume in the tech space—tracking giant movement in NVIDIA, Tesla, Apple, and Alphabet, plus a look at Micron's massive whipsaws.

• The Earnings Block: Sneak peeks at what to expect from upcoming prints including Home Depot, Lowe's, Target, Walmart, and the highly anticipated NVIDIA report.

• The Odd Block: Pulling back the curtain on unusual option activity in AmpliTech Group (AMPG), Petrobras (PBR), and newcomer T1 Energy (TE).

• The Strategy Block: Uncle Mike revisits the underrated power of utilizing put spreads to neutralize vega, manage theta, and efficiently hedge your portfolio.

Market volatility remains stubbornly persistent even as the S&P 500 blows past 7500 and the Dow hits 50K. In this episode, Mark Longo and the all-star panel break down why the "Thursday Curse" has officially become a "Thursday Blessing."

The team dives deep into a massive day for single-name options, including a jaw-dropping pivot from Aramark (ARMK) into the AI data center space. Plus, Henry "The Flowmaster" Schwartz breaks down the unusual upside call kinks, "Uncle" Mike Tosaw discusses the isolated nature of this rally, and the panel analyzes the "dumpster fire" that is Ford finally finding a new spark.

On this episode, the panel discusses:

• The Trading Block: S&P 7500, Dow 50K, and the curious resilience of the VIX despite all-time highs.

• Flowmaster Insights: Henry Schwartz explains why 44% of liquid stocks are showing inverted call skew.

• The Odd Block: Why is Aramark (the cafeteria people) suddenly an AI play? Plus, a look at Hyperliquid (PURR) and FIRMI.

• Portfolio Strategy: Mike Tosaw on managing covered calls during an explosive bull run.

• Earnings Watch: Previewing the heavy hitters still on the deck, including the big NVIDIA print.

Is "Old Tech" the new shiny toy? Mark, Uncle Mike Tosaw, and Andrew "The Rock Lobster" Giovinazzi break down a market where legacy names are exploding and the "magical letters" of AI are breathing new life into forgotten tickers. From all-time highs in the S&P 500 to volcanic eruptions in semiconductor names, the panel navigates the latest trends, unusual activity, and protective strategies for this high-flying environment.

On this episode, the team discusses:

• The Trading Block: A look at the S&P 500 hitting north of 7,400, VIX hovering near 18, and the "Everything Old is New Again" theme driving Apple, Intel, and Qualcomm.

• Single Name Surge: Breaking down the massive volume and price action in Nvidia, Tesla, Intel, Micron, and AMD. Plus, what's behind the resurgence of Nokia?

• The Odd Block: Unusual options activity in Sony Group (SONY), the minerals and geosciences play Ivanhoe Electric (IE), and the earnings-driven flow in Plug Power (PLUG).

• The Strategy Block: Uncle Mike explains how to use a 1x2 ratio put spread to get paid for buying stocks you want at a lower price while hedging for a potential pullback.

• Around the Block: Predictions for the rest of the week, the upcoming Nvidia earnings, and why now might be the time to look at protective puts.

The All-Star Panel is back together—mostly in person! Mark Longo and Henry "The Flowmaster" Schwartz are reporting live from the floor of the Options Industry Conference (OIC) 2026. Joining them from the (slightly) quieter confines of St. Charles is Uncle Mike Tosaw.

In this special episode, the crew breaks down a blistering week in the markets where all-time highs are becoming the daily norm. Henry Schwartz shares exclusive insights from his "State of the Industry" presentation, revealing a massive surge in contract volume and the future of the options exchange landscape.

On the Docket:

• The Trading Block: S&P 500 hitting 73.5? The panel discusses the "madness" of the current bull run, the Middle East geopolitical impact, and why Apple is being rewarded for its AI patience.

• State of the Industry: Henry drops the data on why we're on track for 18 billion contracts in 2026. Plus, the evolution of 0DTE (Zero Days to Expiration) and the rise of event contracts.

• The Odd Block: Unusual activity in Gambling.com (GAMB), the "Hype" token tracking stock (PURR), and a massive reaching-for-the-stars call buy in Cognizant (CTSH).

• Around the Block: Predictions for the summer doldrums (or lack thereof) and why the VIX isn't budging despite minor pullbacks.