The Option Block

The sea of green has officially evaporated. On this episode of The Option Block, the All-Star Panel breaks down a brutal Monday as markets leak oil and geopolitical risks shift from the Middle East to Mexico. From the "0DTE-ification" of the major indices to unusual moves in the real estate sector, we're breaking down all the action from the pits to the screen.

The Trading Block:

• Weekend Risk Realized: Market bloodletting in the S&P, Dow, and NASDAQ. Is this a "buy the dip" opportunity or the start of a volatility regime shift?

• VIX & Vol: Analyzing the VIX cash surge to 21.5 and the backwardation in the front-end term structure.

• Tech Churn: Why AI has become a "millstone" around the neck of the Mag Seven.

• Earnings Intel: Pricing the "Pizza Vol" for Domino's ($DPZ) and the drama in Himms ($HIMS).

The Odd Block:

• Compass ($COMP): A familiar face returns with a massive 16,000-contract put buy. Are they hedging or bracing for a real estate wreck?

• PayPal ($PYPL): Takeover rumors swirl as the stock gets a rare shot in the arm.

Strategy Block:

• Perfectionism is the Enemy: Uncle Mike breaks down why rigid adherence to strikes is impossible and how a JP Morgan ($JPM) covered call turned into a 4.5% "gift."

Around the Block:

• State of the Union Preview: Will Tuesday night's address spark a tariff-driven frenzy?

• Canadian Invasions: Why the US victory in hockey might have the Rock Lobster checking his northern border.

In this episode of The Option Block, Mark Longo, Mike Tosaw (St. Charles Wealth Management) and Kevin Nichols (Cboe Global Markets) to step into the arena. With the VIX flirting with the 21 level, the panel explores whether the bullish run is finally hitting a wall and if it's time to embrace the "dark side" of the markets.

On the Docket:

• The Trading Block: A look at the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Russell 2000. Plus, why everyone—from the pros to the "amateurs"—is suddenly obsessed with Gold and Silver.

• The Odd Block: Unusual activity in Figma (FIG) following earnings and a look at the massive flow in Newmont (NEM).

• The Mail Block: Mike Tosaw faces the heat from the Pro Chat: Will he ever buy SLV again, or is he waiting for the 30-handle?

• Around the Block: Predictions for Tesla (TSLA) as it gets squeezed between moving averages and what to watch for the rest of the week.

Go to https://tastytrade.com/podcasts

The sea of green has finally evaporated. On this episode, the All-Star Panel breaks down a brutal day of red on the screen as the S&P 500 flirts with its yearly open. From the sudden VIX pop to the "0DTE-ification" of single stocks, we're breaking down all the action from the pits to the screen.

The Trading Block:

• Market Bloodletting: The S&P, Dow, and NASDAQ are all in the red. Is this a "Buy The Dip" opportunity or the start of a volatility regime shift?

• VIX Hits 20: Analyzing the spike in volatility and the VIX Decomposition—is the whole surface lifting, or are we just sliding down the skew?

• 0DTE Dominance: New data reveals that 50% of Tesla's (TSLA) volume is now Zero Days to Expiration. We discuss the impact of daily expirations on single-stock liquidity.

• Big Tech Carnage: Breaking down the moves in Apple (AAPL), Microsoft (MSFT), and Nvidia (NVDA).

The Odd Block:

• Dollar General (DG): Unusual call activity in the "stealth banger" of the year.

• AES Corp (AES): Why traders are flocking to utility options amidst the AI power demand surge.

Around the Block:

• Earnings Intel: Pricing the moves for Coinbase (COIN) and Rivian (RIVN).

• Volatility Death Match 2.0: A preview of the upcoming battle between The Flowmaster Henry Schwartz and Scott Nations.

Contact the Panel:

• "Uncle" Mike Tosaw: St. Charles Wealth Management

• The "Flowmaster" Henry Schwartz: Cboe Options Institute

• Mark "The Voice of Options" Longo: The Options Insider

In this episode of The Option Block, Mark Longo, "Uncle" Mike Tosaw, and Andrew "The Rock Lobster" Giovinazzi dive into a wild week of market reversals, Super Bowl takeaways, and a legendary 80s trivia question that leads to some... interesting historical discussions.

The panel breaks down the shift in the AI narrative—from "unlimited upside" to "unlimited spending"—and what it means for the Mag Seven. Plus, they explore the unusual activity in cheap biotechs and the risks of trading wide markets where you might just get "punched in the face" by the spread.

• The 80s Trivia Challenge: A "Steelers choice" round featuring a badly aimed tomahawk and a controversial question about where Hitler wrote Mein Kampf.

• The Trading Block: S&P 500 resiliency, VIX hovering near a million contracts a day, and the defensive masterclass of the Super Bowl.

• AI & The Creative Destruction: Why the "Mag Seven" might be losing their grip as massive AI infrastructure spending begins to weigh on tech giants like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft.

• Odd Block: Unusual activity in Mura Therapeutics (NMRA)—is it a bullish risk reversal or a market maker's trap?

• Strategy Block: Uncle Mike discusses the discipline of "having your cake and eating it too" with covered calls and when to exit for 97% profit.

• Around the Block: A look ahead at non-farm payrolls, the launch of single-name zero-day options (0DTE), and upcoming earnings for Coke, CVS, Robinhood, and the "dumpster fire" that is Ford.

Blood-Red Markets and the Death of DUOL

The markets are bleeding red, and volatility is finally taking center stage. In this episode of The Option Block, the panel breaks down a brutal session for the indices and the absolute carnage following Duolingo's (DUOL) latest move. From VIX spikes to institutional "Odd Block" flows, we're dissecting the anatomy of a sell-off.

On This Episode, Join:

• Mark Longo: Founder & CEO, The Options Insider Media Group

• Henry Schwartz: Vice President, Institutional Derivatives, Cboe Global Markets

• Mike Tosaw: Wealth Manager, St. Charles Wealth Management

The Docket:

• The Trading Block: A post-mortem on today's blood-red market. Henry provides the Cboe perspective on the VIX spike, while the team analyzes the breakdown in tech and why the "buy the dip" mentality is being tested.

• The Odd Block: Examining the "Death of DUOL." We break down the massive institutional put buying in Duolingo and the unusual activity that signaled this collapse before the floor fell out.

• Strategy Session: Defensive positioning 101. How to manage your long delta when the market turns, and the most cost-effective ways to price tail-risk hedges in the current environment.

• Mail Call: Listeners ask about the impact of high-volume sell-offs on spread pricing and how to handle challenged positions in a falling market.

The silver market just faced a massive "annihilation," and the Option Block panel is here to pick up the pieces. Join Mark Longo, Andrew "The Rock Lobster" Giovinazzi (Option Pit), and "Uncle" Mike Tosaw (St. Charles Wealth Management) as they break down a wild start to February. From a 30% single-day drop in Silver (SLV) to unusual activity in "non-woven substrates," this episode covers the high-stakes world of volatility and metal meltdowns.

In this episode, the panel dives into:

• The Trading Block: A look at the market rally toward all-time highs despite the "metals apocalypse." The team discusses whether the silver squeeze is finally unwinding and what the new Fed Chair means for interest rate stabilization.

• The Odd Block: Unusual activity in some truly unique names, including Magna Corp (MAGN)—a leader in the "sexy" world of substrates—and defensive put buying in Hercules Capital (HTGC).

• Strategy Block: Uncle Mike breaks down the power of diversification in covered call strategies. Learn why individual stock selection often yields better premiums than broad index ETFs like SPY.

• Around the Block: Predictions for the upcoming earnings gauntlet, featuring Alphabet (Google), Amazon, Disney, and the "AI bellwether" movement.

The markets are seeing red as a wild earnings week takes center stage. From the "Tale of Two Techs" (Microsoft vs. Meta) to a massive volatility spike, the All-Star Panel breaks down the trades, the trends, and the unusual activity lighting up the tape. Plus, we dive into the "other" Wolf and an Argentinian oil play.

• Mark Longo: CEO and Founder of the Options Insider Media Group.

• Henry "The Flowmaster" Schwartz: Vice President of Institutional Derivatives at Cboe Global Markets.

• "Uncle" Mike Tosaw: Wealth Manager at St. Charles Wealth Management.

The panel discusses a volatile Thursday session with the S&P 500 seeing a 100-handle range. While tech takes a hit, other sectors like energy and financials are showing resilience.

• The Tale of Two Ms: Comparing the diametrically opposite reactions to Meta (META) and Microsoft (MSFT) earnings.

  • META: Stock up ~10%; those who bought the 700-strike calls for $11 are seeing massive wins.

  • MSFT: Stock down ~12% (a $58 drop); the same call-buying strategy was a total wipeout.

• Tesla (TSLA) Tumbles: Down over 2% as the market reacts to a shift in focus toward robotics and AI over traditional EV growth.

• Small Cap Update: Henry Schwartz notes that while the Russell 2000 (IWM) is outperforming YTD (up 6%), historically, this "value over growth" rotation rarely sticks.

• VIX Volatility: VIX flirting with an 18 handle. Notable paper includes a massive 50,000 lot of the April 80 calls trading for $0.36.

The Flowmaster identifies massive directional bets in two very different names.

1. TeraWulf (WULF) A Bitcoin-related name seeing a $3 million directional bet.

• The Trade: Buyer of 36,000 Feb 16 Calls (Average price: $0.82).

• Context: This is a massive sweep that creates the largest regular listed position in the name, likely betting on M&A rumors or a Bitcoin rebound.

2. YPF Sociedad Anonima (YPF) An Argentinian energy ADR seeing unusual size.

• The Trade: Buyer of 9,999 April 43 Calls.

• The "Conspiracy": Why 9,999 instead of 10,000? Henry suggests it might be to dodge block scanners set for five-digit minimums.

• Question of the Week: How are you trading this earnings week?

  • Current Results: 44% are selling premium to "live the dream," while the rest are split between buying "juice," trading 0DTE, or staying on the sidelines.

• VIX Poll: 75% of listeners would rather sell the April 80 calls for $0.36 than buy them.

• Apple (AAPL) Earnings: Reporting after the bell. The market is pricing in a 4% move—roughly double its historical average.

• Sector Rotations: Watching if the energy (XLE) and industrial (CAT) strength can offset the tech drag.

• Silver (SLV): Uncle Mike highlights silver's insane run, outperforming the S&P by 8x last year and up 60% this year.

Skeletor is lurking, the metals are screaming, and the earnings gauntlet has begun!

In episode 1439 of The Option Block, Mark Longo and the All-Star panel—including "Uncle" Mike Tosaw and Andrew "The Rock Lobster" Giovinazzi—take a trip back to the 1980s. With the massive trailer launch for the new Masters of the Universe film, the team kicks things off with some MOTU trivia before breaking down a market that is getting "weird, wild, and funk-delicious."

• The Trading Block: A look at the "insane" run in Gold ($5k/oz!) and Silver ($100+/oz). Is it a meme, or is inflation finally catching up? Plus, a preview of the "Big Tech" earnings week featuring Meta, Apple, Microsoft, and Tesla.

• The Odd Block: Unusual activity in Papa John's (PZZA) puts, a massive upside play in Aero Copper Corp (ERO), and the "Trump Bump" fade in newcomer USA Rare Earth (USAR).

• The Strategy Block: Uncle Mike discusses the vital importance of choosing the right benchmarks (BXY, CLL, AGG) to measure your options performance accurately.

• Around the Block: The team debates whether the "Zero Day" index options will cannibalize the market and what to expect from the looming Apple and Tesla earnings prints.

• Indices: SPY, IWM, VIX (hovering at 16), VVIX (100)

• Equities: NVDA, TSLA, AAPL, INTC, MSFT, MAT, USAR

• Metals: GLD, SLV (up 12% in a single day)

The Option Block goes on the road! This week, Mark Longo is coming to you live from the Securities Traders Association (STA) 100th Anniversary event in Chicago. Joined in person by Henry "The Flowmaster" Schwartz, the team breaks down the biggest highlights from the conference and the massive volatility shifts hitting the equity markets.

• Live from the Floor: Mark and Henry discuss the 100-year legacy of the STA and the evolution of the options industry from the birth of the CBOE in 1973 to today's high-volume digital environment.

• The State of the Industry: Henry shares key takeaways from his panel, including the explosion of volume in Single Stock, ETF, and Index options. Plus, a look at how Robinhood has reshaped retail education and reduced friction for a new generation of traders.

• Volume Predictions for 2026: With the market currently averaging 66-67 million contracts a day, are we on track for a record-shattering 17 billion contracts this year?

• Monday & Wednesday Expirations: It's a done deal! The team discusses the upcoming listing of Monday and Wednesday daily expirations for major names like Tesla, Nvidia, and Apple, and what this means for after-hours risk management.

• The "Greenland Trade": Navigating a week where the market swung 100 handles down and 100 handles back up on geopolitical volatility.

• The Odd Block: The Flowmaster provides an update on ARDX and CWEN, plus a deep dive into the Mag 10 (Magnificent 10 Index) where put volume is currently lighting up the tape at record levels.

• Visit the Website: TheOptionsInsider.com

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• Follow the Crew: Join the conversation on Twitter/X @Options, Facebook, and StockTwits.

This episode of The Option Block is brought to you by Cboe Global Markets. To learn more about the suite of S&P 500 Index Options (SPX) and Mini S&P 500 (XSP) options, visit https:// cboe.com/spx

The markets are showing a splash of green as we break down a wild week in trading with The Flowmaster Henry Schwartz (Cboe Global Markets) and Uncle Mike Tosaw (St. Charles Wealth Management). From the unprecedented 20% weekly surge in Silver to the aggressive rotation out of Mag 7 tech and into Biotechs and Small Caps, this episode covers the critical moves every options trader needs to know. Plus, we look ahead to a heavy earnings week and reveal the panel's official 2026 VIX Crystal Ball predictions.

The Trading Block: The "Meme-ification" of Silver

• The Silver Surge: Why Uncle Mike thinks Silver has officially entered "meme stock" territory after a staggering 20% move in one week.

• Market Rotation: Is the Mag 7 reign over? We discuss the rotation into the Russell 2000 (IWM) and the energy sector.

• Volatility Check: VIX comes back to earth toward the 15 handle, but the VVX remains "frothy" at 98.

The Odd Block: Unusual Activity in Small-Cap Tech and Bio

• Ardelyx (ARDX): Aggressive call buying in this biotech after a legal dismissal. Is there a clinical catalyst on the horizon?

• T1 Energy (TE): A massive sweep in the February 10 calls. Why Henry is keeping a "steely gaze" on alternative energy.

• Clearway Energy (CWEN): Unusual March 40 call buyers as the clean energy sector sees a resurgence.

The Mail Block: The 2026 VIX Crystal Ball

• The panel places their official bets on where the VIX will close on December 31st, 2026.

Around the Block: Earnings & Geopolitics

• Earnings Watch: Initial results from Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, and Taiwan Semi (TSM).

• Looking Ahead: Previewing moves for Netflix (NFLX), United Airlines (UAL), Intel (INTC), and Charles Schwab (SCHW).

• The Global Picture: Keeping an eye on Venezuela, Iran, and the upcoming STA Conference in Chicago.