Trading Block: VIX near the single digits at the 10 handle. Is the VIX too low? Earnings: Tesla, Facebook, Disney and EA.

Odd Block: Puts trade in iShares MSCI Germany Index (EWI), call buying in JD.com Inc (JD) and calls trade in iShares MSCI South Korean Index (EWG)

Mail Block/Weekend Flash Poll:

These are crazy times for all markets from commodities to equities and volatility. Which crazy level will we hit first?

• VIX Below 9
• SPX Above 2500
• WTI Below 40
• AAPL Above $160

Listener Question:

• Question from Paul - Mark, What is your take on the timing of an investment in silver right now? I just got out of the market and I am thinking of investing in silver - either the traditional options or an ETF that tracks physical bullion like SLV or SIVR. I am leaning towards SIVR for its lower expense ratio.
• Question Real Yute - Greetings, could you please explain how stock option is priced? My Internet provider will not allow me to access other page than Facebook. I only need to know how the pricing work. For example can $2 buy a contract?
• Comment from Charlie T. - Not really an options guy. I do not need the headache of yet another unknown element aka time. It's hard enough just picking my stocks, deciding price points, exit points, etc.

Around the Block: Disney, EA and SNAP

Trading Block: The Trumpcare bill and French election, how might they affect vol? Tesla: Close - $311, ATM Straddle - $17, approx. 5.5%. Stock off over $20 at the lowest point today, closing off nearly 5%. FB: Close - $151.80, ATM Straddle - $5.63, approx. 3.7% Facebook grew its revenue by 49% during the first three months of the year. Thank you to Steve A for the fan art!

Odd Block: Calls trade in Whiting Petroleum Corp (WLL), puts trade in Alerian MLP Index (AMJ) and puts trade in US Silica Holdings Inc (SLCA).

Strategy Block: Uncle Mike Tosaw discusses his most recent trades and moves from Monday.

Mail Block/Earnings Season Flash Poll:

$ZNGA reports earnings today. Stock is trading $2.87. #Options ADV 3K. Do you trade options on cheap stocks?

• Yes, down to $10
• Yes, down to $5
• Rarely
• No, the stock is an Option

Around the Block/This Week in the Market

• May 4: Jobless Claims, International Trade, Factory Orders
• May 5: Unemployment

Trading Block: Green on the screen for the NASDAQ. Looking ahead to AAPL earnings. CNBC's Mr. Wonderful is loving AAPL right now. OCC cleared contract volume down 6% year over year.

Odd Block: Review of MGM time stupid from last week, puts trade in NBR, calls trade in CBI, and put buyers in NBL.

Mail Block/Options Question of the Week:

#Earnings #PopQuiz - $AAPL $146.50, #Weekly strad. $5 (3.5%). IV30 = 21%, Weekly 155 Call= $.27, 138 Put = $.27 Would you rather?

• Buy Straddle/Iron Fly
• Sell Straddle/Iron Fly
• Buy Call
• Buy Put

Listener questions and comments:

• Question from Ron: I hear you mention the term stupid, "That's a put stupid," or "That's a call stupid." Is that strategy or an term of endearment? Thanks Ron
• Question from Let's make best: Which broker is the best for option trading?
• Question from Sharkcake: I've been approved to trade options by my Brokerage but I have yet to execute my first trade. What trade do you recommend?

Around the Block/This Week in the Market

• May 1: Personal Income
• May 1: Construction Spending
• May 3: FOMC Meeting
• May 4: Jobless Claims
• May 4: International Trade
• May 4: Factory Orders
• May 5: Unemployment

Earnings this week: Quarterly earnings continue to roll with one of the biggest names of the season set to announce Tuesday after the close. Technology giant Apple Inc. is set to release their latest numbers and the way they are perceived could push the stock to new highs like last release. In addition, there are other big names announcing as well including Tesla Motors and Pfizer.

Trading Block with very special guest co-host: Henry Schwartz, Trade Alert

Earnings today after the bell:

• Alphabet/GOOGL - $889, ATM Straddle - $29, approx. 3.2%
• Amazon - $921.50, ATM Straddle - $37.50, approx. 4%
• Intel - $37.25, ATM Straddle - $1.20, approx. 3.2%
• Starbucks - $61.75, ATM Straddle - $2.40, approx. 4%

Odd Block: Calls trade in Applied Optoelectronics Inc. (AAOI), calls trade in Nabors Industries Ltd (NBR), and calls trade in Yandex NV (YNDX)

Strategy Block: Uncle Mike Tosaw discusses the six factors of option pricing.

Around the Block/Question of the Week:

Earnings Season is upon us. Big names are reporting soon. Which is your pick for the largest % move post-earnings?

• $AMZN, 36%
• $GOOGL, 26%
• $CMG, 30%
• $MSFT, 8%

Earnings this week: 3M, ATT, Chipotle, JetBlue, Xerox, Boeing, PepsiCo, Nasdaq, Google, Amazon, Ford, Intel, Southwest, Starbucks, Exxon, General Motors.

Trading Block: Earnings today

• Alcoa: $33, ATM Straddle $2 - approx. 6%
• Chipotle: ATM Straddle $25.25, approx. 5.4%
• VIX 'fear' gauge plummets as French election results spark global relief rally.

Odd Block: Calls and puts trade in GGP Inc. (GGP), puts trade in Excelon Corp. (EXC) and calls trade in MGM Resorts Intl. (MGM).

Mail Block: QuestionoftheWeek:

Earnings Season is upon us. Big names are reporting soon. Which is your pick for the largest % move post-earnings?

• $AMZN
• $GOOGL
• $CMG
• $MSFT

Listner questions and comments:

• Follow-up comments from GameDay Dog:

You nailed it. I was assigned on 2 of the options. I knew that, but the (-) in my margin account was "alarming". My main thought was losing more than my spread safety net. The math did not make sense immediately. Glad to ask a ? that made others ask ?s..

My bad...just heard episode 608...Yeah, I got assigned 2 of 3 my put spread.. Way too early! I will get into better detail next time. Episode 208 had an excellent answer. That big negative number was stupid scary! I closed all the positions & sold the stock.. the 1 short put & 3 long puts made it a back ratio spread when I closed it.. it's funny now! PS - thanks for managing to get my questions on air.. once I closed the positions, I was able to sleep that night!!! Feels like I lost more than $300 though. By getting assigned the shares, it felt like I had more at risk and loss was influenced by the price of the underlying instead of the option. If that makes sense. Seeing the large margin number was not pleasant.. My credit spread had a 30% chance of being ITM when I sold it too! Hahaha..

• Question from Lesnod -How do you get out of the straddles? One side of a straddle is always a loss correct?

Around the Block/This Week in the Market

• Apr 25: New Home Sales, Consumer Confidence
• Apr 27: Jobless Claims, International Trade, Pending Home Sales
• Apr 28: GDP, Consumer Sentiment

Trading Block featuring guest co-host Jill Malandrino, Global Markets Reporter NASDAQ.

• The brand spanking new PHLX trading floor.
• SPX and the VIX
• North Korea and Trump meeting Italian PM

Odd Block: Call rolls trade in Walmart (WMT), puts trade in Bank of America (BAC) and ratio call spreads trade in Starbucks (SBUX)

Strategy Block: Uncle Mike Tosaw discusses the importance of gamma.

Around the Block: What are we looking at that might move the markets next week?

Trading Block: VIX preparing for the French election.

Earnings today (after the bell):

• United Airlines - $UAL - 70.37USD, Price increase 1.29 (1.87%), ATM Straddle - $2.50, approx. 3.5%
• Netflix - $NFLX, 146.56USD Price increase 3.64 (2.55%), ATM Straddle - $12, approx. 8%

Odd Block: Call spread selling in Thor Industries Inc. (THO), call buying in Texas Instruments Inc. (TXN), and put spread buying in SPDR Euro STOXX 50 ETF (FEZ).

Mail Block/Options #QuestionOfTheWeek

With $TSLA threatening $315 how are you leaning in your #Options trades this month? Would you rather:

• Buy 1-month $300 put
• Buy 1-month $330 call
• Sell 1-month $300 put
• Staying far away from it

Listener questions and comments concerning Game Day Dog question:

• Question from Elio - Confused. How did that guy end up with only two of his short puts getting assigned to him? If he was short 3 should not all of them have been assigned?
• Question from AddJack - You answered a question from Gamedaydog on Tuesday's episode about a put spread gone bad. Is this a reason not to trade spreads if these sort of complications can pop up? Think I would rather stick with stock thank you.
• Question from Tony Rather - Fun show. Thanks to you and Rock Lobster and Uncle Mike for educating, informing and educating us each week. I have a follow up to the listener mail question from last show in which the listener and Uncle Mike said he was long stock against his put spread. They both said his stock would expire after seven days. But stock does not have an expiration date. Please clarify as I am obviously missing something.

Around the Block: What's on our trading screens for the rest of the week?

Earnings!

• Bank of America
• Charles Schwab

This week in the market:

• Apr 18: Housing Starts, Industrial Production
• Apr 19: Beige Book
• Apr 20: Jobless Claims
• Apr 21: Existing home Sales

Trading Block: Today we have very special guest co-hosts: Nick Howard, QuickStirke. Ophir Gottlieb, CMLVIZ.com

• VIX blowing out the down side
• MOAB bomb drops
• Commodity update
• Uncle Mike's silver collar

Odd Block: Puts trade in iShares Barclays 7-10 year bond ETF (IEF), puts trade in Hanesbrands Inc (HBI), calls trade in Whiting Petroleum Corp (WLL).

Strategy Block: Uncle Mike Tosaw discusses trading over a long weekend.

Mail Block/Options #QuestionOfTheWeek

With $TSLA threatening $315 how are you leaning in your #Options trades this month? Would you rather:

• Buy 1-month $300 put
• Buy 1-month $330 call
• Sell 1-month $300 put
• Staying far away from it

Listener Question:

Question from AndersonInvesting - New to options. I use TD Ameritrade but currently I do not like it for options. I was looking at Charles Schwab. Any recommendations for an options newbie? Also looking at AMD puts to protect gains (averaged in at 13.23. Earnings date has been announced for May 1st.) Any suggestions there?

Around the Block/This Week in the Market:

• April 14: Consumer Price Index, Retail Sales, Consumer Sentiment

Trading Block: Tesla is now more valuable than GM.

Odd Block: Calls trade in MOMO Inc. (MOMO), calls trade in SunPower Corp. SPWR and calls trade in First Solar, Inc. FSLR.

Mail Block/Options QuestionOfTheWeek

With $TSLA threatening $315 how are you leaning in your #Options trades this month? Would you rather:

• Buy 1-month $300 put
• Buy 1-month $300 call
• Sell 1-month $300 put
• Staying far away from it

Around the Block: What is lighting up our trading screens for the coming week?

Trading Block: The 100-year anniversary of the vote to join WWI. VIX pops after Syrian attack. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, VRX + $0.16 to $9.66.

Odd Block: Puts trade in iPath S&P 500 VIX Short Term Future ETN (VXX), puts trade in Ford Motor Co. (F) and calls trade in JetBlue Airways Corp (JBLU).

Strategy Block: Uncle Mike Tosaw discusses his most recent trade in SPY.

Mail Block: #Options #BrokerMadness

• WINNER IS - Lightspeed

Around the Block/This Week in the Market:

• Apr 7: Unemployment