Topics this week include:

• Crude/WTI
• Gold
• Indices
• Winners: Heating Oil, WTI
• Losers: Oats, KC Wheat

Futures Options Feedback: Listeners have their say

• Question from Anders - Can we get some Ags on the TWIFO show this week?
• Question from Neil Brennan - Nick has ATM implieds for #crypto can he also interpolate skews?

Volatility Review Segment: A look back at the week from a volatility perspective

• The market in tanking on trade war concerns.
• Steel tariffs - officials are not loving it.
• VIX cash is back in the 20's this week.
• VVIX - 122; VIX Options: ADV - 1M, VIX call/put - 2.4/1, Total 7.26m (5.11m Calls, 2.15m Puts)
• How's the VIX July 10-75 strangle?

Volatility Voicemail: Listeners weigh in

• Question from BTBurg - What is the best way to trade these inverse VIX ETFs going forward? If I'm long XIV does it make sense to always have some VIX calls in my back pocket just in case? Doesn't that get expensive really quick? What about spy puts? Or should I just have puts on the inverse ETF in case the counterparties get cold feet?
• Question from JelloFan - VXX 1-yr 50% OTM puts plus VIX 3 month 15% OTM call verticals - 5 or 10 handles wide. Is that the secret sauce?
• Question from LNC -$SVXY calls suck now. What about selling the puts? Is there any juice in those or have they been drained as well by the bid redo last week?
• Question from Oswald -Are you part of the SVXY class action?

Crystal Ball: Your prognostication headquarters

Last week

• Mark L. - 15.15
• Andrew - 14.75

This week

• Mark L. - 16.85
• Mark S. - 17.76
• Euan - 19.50

In this episode, Mark is joined by Yuriy Shterk, the Head of Product Management for Derivatives - Americas at Fidessa.

They discuss:

• Is there a particular product the are focusing on these days?
• How has the increase in volatility impacted their clients?
• Volatility is bringing in new participants to the market
• Where is the biggest up-tick in activity?
• Any plans to enter the crypto space?
• Fidessa's options trading tools
• Post-trade work flow optimization
• Fighting for screen real estate
• And more...

Trading Block:

• The market is tanking on trade war concerns: Trump is at it again.
• Volatility returns - VIX back in the 20s.
• The tech selloff continues - FB closed $185 on 3/16 - traded as low as $163.72 today, down nearly 12%.
• Fed hikes rates as expected.
• US weekly jobless claims total 226,000, in line with expectations
• Earnings: NKE: $65.30, ATM straddle - $3.60, approx. 5.5%

Odd Block: Calls trade in Deere & Company (DE), puts trade in CNH Industrial NV (CNHI) and split ticket calls in TC Pipelines LP (TRP).

Strategy Block: Uncle Mike Tosaw discusses selling naked puts

Mail Block: Listener questions and comments

• Question from Ed Bankert - Debating on using covered calls or short puts. Which is better for a less experienced options trader who wants to make money?
• Question from Scott Somer‏ - WMT now below 100 premarket @Options @OptionPit @OptionVol How is that proposed @CBOE premarket earnings related equity options pilot going?

Around the Block/Economic Reports

• Mar 23: Durable Goods, New Home Sales

Options news you can use for Friday, March 23, 2018

In this episode, Mark is joined by Tony Saliba, author and CEO of Matrix Holdings.

They discuss:

• The book on the Chinese options market and resulting educational tour
• Is there another book in the works?
• Updates on the ChiX deal
• What is Matrix Holdings?
• Why get back into financial technology?
• Potential partnerships with futures and options users
• Bots with persona
• Potential in cryptos
• The crypto / options time line comparison
• When might there be crypto options?
• And more

As we approach the end of earnings season, there are still a few names left to announce. Last week we talked about a FedEx butterfly. Let's revisit what has happened since. You can find more in The Options Playbook, which is always available on OptionsPlaybook.com, in on the Amazon Kindle edition.

Specifically:

• A review of last week's FDX butterfly
• What has happened to FDX since the paper trade?
• What is happening in Nike?
• How about a back spread?
• Looking for volatiilty
• Hoping the stock will move more than the expected move
• Selecting expiration
• Selecting strikes
• What is the maximum gain? Loss?

Do you have a question that you want answered on a future episode? Send them to Brian at [email protected], or to the Options Insider at [email protected].

Options news you can use for Thursday, March 22, 2018

In this episode, Mark is joined by Geoff Sharp, Managing Director and Head of Sales for the Eris Exchange.

They discuss:

• What is Eris Exchange
• What are the benefits of using Eris Exchange?
• What are Eris swap futures?
• Growth in open interest
• Challenges they have faced bringing transparency to the swaps market
• Building the ecosystem
• Their patent award
• How the return of volatility impacted activity
• And more...

In this episode, Mark is joined by Sean Smith, Managing Director of Derivatives Licensing & Exchange Data, and Ron Bundy, Global Head of Strategic Accounts at FTSE Russell.

They discuss:

• What are some highlights from the past month from FTSE Russell?
• The return of volatility
• Where have volumes grown?
• What brought them to FIA Boca?
• A check in on RVX
• And more