Featured Interview A favorite interview from Options Insider RadioÂ
Options Insider Radio Interviews: Talking Broker Buyouts, Options Books and Earnings Straddles with TD Ameritrade Posted January 24th, 2017 In this episode, Mark is joined by JJ Kinahan, Chief Market Strategist at TD Ameritrade. They discuss: - The forthcoming Scottrade merger
- Was the options business a key driver in the merger?
- What is the timeline for the deal?
- What are the new things on the docket for TD Ameritrade?
- Social analysis and trading opportunities
- Adding futures options to the platform
- JJ's book, Essential Options Strategies
- JJ takes on the question of the week
Â
Upcoming Economic Reports A preview of what may move the market this week
Note: As of this writing, it is unclear whether the government shutdown will impact the release of these numbers. As stated, the following is the normal schedule of economic data for the week. | TIME (ET) | REPORT | PERIOD | FORECAST | PREVIOUS | | MONDAY, JAN. 22 | | 8:30 AM | Chicago Fed national activity index | Dec. | -- | 0.15 | | TUESDAY, JAN. 23 | | Â | None scheduled | Â | Â | Â | | WEDNESDAY, JAN. 24 | | 9:45 AM | Markit manufacturing PMI (flash) | Jan. | -- | 55.1 | | 9:45 AM | Markit services PMI (flash) | Jan. | -- | 53.7 | | 10:00 AM | Existing home sales | Dec. | 5.75 mln | 5.81 mln | | THURSDAY, JAN. 25 | | 8:30 AM | Weekly jobless claims | 20-Jan | 233,000 | 220,000 | | 8:30 AM | Advance trade in goods | Dec. | -$68.8bln | -$69.7bln | | 10:00 AM | New home sales | Dec. | 680,000 | 733,000 | | 10:00 AM | Leading economic indicators | Dec. | -- | 0.40% | | FRIDAY, JAN. 26 | | 8:30 AM | GDP | Q4 | 3.00% | 3.20% | | 8:30 AM | Durable goods orders | Dec. | 1.20% | 1.30% | | 8:30 AM | Core capital equipment orders | Dec. | -- | -0.20% |
Options Insider Radio Network Episodes you may have missed from Options Insider Radio last week Option Block 683: Is Uncle Mike Getting Bearish? Posted January 19th, 2018 Trading Block: VIX at 12.40! In the double digits for the first time in a long while. Earnings season ahead. IBM - $168.70, ATM straddle - $7.20, approx. 4%. A rough start to the year for Bitcoin. Tuesday selloff hits crypto hard. Odd Block: Yet more Jan 2019 50 "catastrophe" puts in Tesla Motors (TSLA). Massive call party in Guggenheim CurrencyShares Euro Trust (FXE). Size bullish strangle in Kinder Morgan Inc. (KMI). Size put roll in MBIA Inc. (MBI). Strategy Block: Uncle Mike Tosaw discusses exercising caution in this current market. Mail Block: Options question of the week. Which name are you looking forward to trading options on during the upcoming earnings season? Your fav not here? Choose "Other" and send it in. Best will be shared on #OptionBlock - Apple ($AAPL)
- Tesla ($TSLA)
- Amazon ($AMZN)
- Other
Another options question of the week: Bitcoin futures are currently trading around $11,500. If options existed, how would you trade them? Assuming one-month to expiration would you...? - Buy 5% OTM Call
- Buy 5% OTM Put
- Sell 5% OTM Covered Call
- Just Short the Future
Listener Questions and Comments: - Question from PJamesLamar - Can you guys recommend an options platform for active option trader? I'll try to add a link to what I used to be able to do on my old platform but am no longer able to do. But I would like to find another platform that has single click entry and exit for options. If you know one please let me know. Thanks.
Around the Block: IBM off a little over 4%. Earnings. Shutdowns.  Options Playbook Radio 192: Taking a LEAP with ISRG Posted January 18th, 2018 In this episode, we are looking beyond the Options Playbook and are selling a put credit spread to pay for a long call. You can find more on p. 76 of The Options Playbook, which is always available on OptionsPlaybook.com, in on the Amazon Kindle edition. Specifically: - Looking at Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (ISRG), which has been on a tear lately
- Earnings pushed the stock even higher
- Expensive underlying = expensive options
- Taking a long view using LEAPS
- Selecting strikes for the put spread
- Buying the at-the-money call
- How does the trade work?
- What is the cost?
- What is the risk?
- How to close it out?
- Alternatives to the trade as described
Do you have a question that you want answered on a future episode? Send them to Brian at theoptionsguy@invest.ally.com, or to the Options Insider at questions@theoptionsinsider.com.  This Week in Futures Options 86: Revenge of Nat Gas, Plus Crazy Crude Calls Topics this week include: Nat Gas Oil Gold Futures Options Feedback: Questions and comments from listeners Question from DWayneh - How are nat gas collars setting up here? Comment from Houstorian - Today in 1901, the first major oil wells come in... Posted January 16th, 2018 Topics this week include: Futures Options Feedback: Questions and comments from listeners - Question from DWayneh - How are nat gas collars setting up here?
- Comment from Houstorian - Today in 1901, the first major oil wells come in at Spindletop, south of Beaumont, marking the birth of the oil industry in Texas.
 Volatility Views 289: The VIX Whale Strikes Again Posted January 16th, 2018 Volatility Review: It's been a good year for VIX at CBOE - No Vol = No problem. Return of the VIX Whale - 2.87M on Wednesday. We finally have the COT Reports for Bitcoin. Kevin's Weekly Rundown: VIX Options: ADV - 668k - VIX call/put - 4, Total 12.9m (10.3m Calls, 2.52m Puts)
- Volatility Voicemail: Options question of the week.
Another "easy"; one to help kick off the New Year. Quite simply - which name are you looking forward to trading Options on during the upcoming earnings season? Your fav not here? Choose "Other"; and send it in. Best will be shared on the Option Block. - Apple (AAPL)
- Tesla (TSLA)
- Amazon (AMZN)
- Other
Listener questions and comments: - Question from RDuffGordon - My wife reads all of the "intel"; letters, and told me tonight that CEO's are resigning in droves. The best way to see if this is valid or probable would be a sudden burst of buying of insider puts. Is there such a reporting requirement for, Insiders or recent EX - higher ups which i would expect the sec to require - but all we hear is insider stock ratios etc., but the long put, after 23 years of on floor trading is the ";no brainer"; thing to buy - if one is fairly certain the stock chosen was going to go down, because the 98% winners who risk the entire economy when they sell short puts with abandon need to buy them back one day at a volatility no one could believe ahead of time, as in right now. The insider who quits AAPL may buy puts on Amazon so as to go under the radar. Major sells perhaps on other stocks where the insider who quit quickly knows of another big player(s) who HAS to quit. Finally,
what about insiders in or recently of a company buys calls in the VIX? Does that get reported? How long after resigning from a company have to report? I suppose as long as he is above 5 percent of the company he resigned from? THX much- I should know all of this- and that it is perhaps conspiratorial.
Crystal Ball: Your prognostication headquarters Last week: - Mark L. - 9.25
- Mark S. - 9.57
- Russell - 9.79
This week: - Mark L. - 9.55
- Andrew - 9.95
- Kevin - 9.75
Â
Where to Find Options Insider Radio? Do you know all the ways you can access Options Insider Radio                 Â
Options Insider Radio Network Live Recordings Do you want to be a part of the fun? This is when you can access the LIVE shows this week: Monday: Option Block LIVE at 3pm Central Thursday: Option Block LIVE at 3pm Central Friday: Volatility Views LIVE at 12pm Central This Week in Futures Options LIVE at 1:30 Central. As always, you can join in the fun at http://mixlr.com/options-insider/
| 
