Options Broker Madness, Week Three
Sixteen will enter the ring, but there can be only one winner
Week two brings the final two match ups to determine the final four AND the final four itself. You can participate by voting on Twitter, Facebook and StockTwits. Every time you like or share the poll, you'll be entered into the drawing to win fabulous prizes.
A note about the timing. Dates for the final four and final rounds have been updated (as reflected in the graphic below) to accommodate the market being closed on Friday, March 30 for Good
Friday. The final round will last two days: Monday, April 2 and Tuesday, April 3.
Make your voices heard on Twitter, Facebook and StockTwits. Who will claim the title? That's up to you!
This
year's fabulous prizes are:Â
- First Place: Amazon Echo Dot
- Second Place: Amazon Gift Card
- Third Place: Exclusive Options Insider Gear
Every time you vote (only on Facebook since Twitter votes are anonymous), share, or like the poll, you're entered to win. It's Chicago rules...vote early and often. Â
Upcoming Economic Reports A preview of what may move the market this week
| TIME (ET) | REPORT | PERIOD | FORECAST | PREVIOUS | | MONDAY, MARCH 26 | | 8:30 AM | Chicago Fed national activity index | Feb. | -- | 0.12 | | TUESDAY, MARCH 27 | | 9:00 AM | Case-Shiller home price index | Jan. | -- | 6.30% | | 10:00 AM | Consumer confidence index | March | 131.3 | 130.8 | | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28 | | 8:30 AM | GDP | Q4 | 2.80% | 2.50% | | 8:30 AM | Advance trade in goods | Feb. | -$74.0 bln | -$75.3bln | | 10:00 AM | Pending home sales | Feb. | -- | -4.70% | | THURSDAY, MARCH 29 | | 8:30 AM | Weekly jobless claims | 24-Mar | 230,000 | 229,000 | | 8:30 AM | Personal income | Feb. | 0.40% | 0.40% | | 8:30 AM | Consumer spending | Feb. | 0.20% | 0.20% | | 8:30 AM | Core inflation | Feb. | 0.20% | 0.30% | | 9:45 AM | Chicago PMI | March | -- | 61.9 | | 10:00 AM | Consumer sentiment index | March | 102 | 102 | | FRIDAY, MARCH 30 | | Â | None scheduled - Good Friday | Â | Â | Â |
Options Insider Radio Network Episodes you may have missed from Options Insider Radio last week
Option Block 701: Revenge of the Trade War Posted March 23rd, 2018 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 Insider Radio Interviews: Talking Options, China and Crypto with Tony Saliba Posted March 22nd, 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
 Options Playbook Radio 201: Nike Back Spread into Earnings Posted March 22nd, 2018 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 volatility
- 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 theoptionsguy@invest.ally.com, or to the Options Insider at questions@theoptionsinsider.com.  Options Insider Radio Interviews: Breaking the Swaps Franchise with Eris Exchange Posted March 21st, 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
 Options Insider Radio Interviews: Talking Index Volatility with FTSE Russell Posted March 21st, 2018 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
 Option Block 700: The Soft Underbelly of the Market Posted March 20th, 2018 Trading Block: VIX is back in the 20's. Facebook is taking it on the chin as Russia fallout continues - down 7% and leading other tech stocks into the toilet. Fed Meeting with New Chairman on Wednesday. Earnings: Oracle - ATM straddle - $2.75, over 100k contracts on the tape. Odd Block: Call palooza in Olin Corporation (OLN), put palooza in UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH), split ticket puts in Criteo SA (CRTO). Mail Block: Vote in our Options Broker Madness competition each day by going to @Options on Twitter. Results: - Interactive Brokers vs. Sogo - Interative Brokers
- TDAmeritrade (TOS) v. Choice Trade - TD Ameritrade
- Schwab (OptionsXpress) v. Tastyworks- Tastyworks
- Fidelity v. RobinHood- RobinHood
- Lightspeed v. eOption- Lightspeed
- E-Trade (OptionsHouse) v. TradeHawk- E-Trade
Listener questions and comments: - Question from Malthe Have Musaeus:If I buy a call option and afterwards sell it for a profit, I'm not the one obligated to sell 100 shares if that option is exercised later right? How do I close my call option position completely and take my profit/loss?
- Question from The Chazz - What do the option block all-stars think the skew will look like in bitcoin options?
- Question from Jack K. -How do people afford to sell puts in TSLA? In order to do any size (like a 10 lot) you have to be able to put up the cash to buy 330k worth of stock. Even a one lot costs 33k. Maybe we need some minis on TSLA?
Around the Block/Economic Reports: - Mar 21 - Existing Home Sales, FOMC Meeting
- Mar 22 - Jobless Claims
- Mar 23 - Durable Goods, New Home Sales
 This Week in Futures Options 95: Talking Crude, Coins and Crypto Posted March 19th, 2018 Topics this week include: - Oil/WTI
- Gold
- Bitcoin
- Winners: RBOB, Soybean Oil
- Losers: Oats, Wheat
Futures Options Feedback: Options Flash Poll Which would you rather see first? Would you rather see Options finally listed on Bitcoin futures? Or would you prefer to have more Cryptocurrency futures (Litecoin, Ethereum, etc.) launched instead? - Gimme Bitcoin Options
- More Crypto Futures
- Save Me from More Crypto
Listener questions and comments: - Question from HFL9 -Would you rather see options on bitcoin futures or more futures listed on more crypto products first?
- Question from RevTimTom - What's your favorite way to trade skew?
- Question from Da Cheese - Still waiting for my big dairy options rundown on the show. Luv ya!
- Question from Allen -Nick going to make a QuikStrike for crypto someday?
 Volatility Views 298: Back in the Saddle Again Posted March 19th, 2018 Volatility Review: A look back at the week from a volatility perspective - VIX cash back in the 15 handle
- VIX Options: ADV - 1M, VIX call/put: - 1.9/1, Total 13.9m (9.16m Calls, 4.76m Puts)
- Weird iron fly with crazy call kicker
- VXX - 38.89
Volatility Voicemail: Options Flash Poll Which would you rather see first? Would you rather see Options finally listed on Bitcoin futures? Or would you prefer to have more Cryptocurrency futures (Litecoin, Ethereum, etc.) launched instead? - Gimme Bitcoin Options
- More Crypto Futures
- Save Me from More Crypto
Last week's Volatility Flash Poll: VIX is off the board and SVXY is a pale shadow of its former self. So how are you getting your "short Vol" fix these days? Reply/DM with alternative suggestions. - 20% - Short VIX Futures
- 22% - Long VIX Puts/Spreads
- 32% - Short VIX Call/Spreads
- 26% - Short SPX/SPY Volatility
Listener questions and comments: - Question from Big Blanc -I'm liking the VXX erosion play. Question though - Why does everyone talk puts on this trade? Why not selling calls or call spreads? Or maybe the combo - buying puts and selling calls or call spreads? Any backtests on that?
- Question from Jack K. -How is Mark's SVXY call vertical holding up?
- Comment from Brian Collamer -Hey Mark, You been talking off and on about seeing how the straddles performed vs actual moves around the earnings. Check the Analyze>Earnings tab in Thinkorswim sometime and let us know what you think!
- Comment from Brian Collamer:Also thought you might get a kick out of this.
- Question from Liam - Any cool takeaways from Mark's trip to RMC or FIA?
- Question from Leo -I have a bunch of VXX Jan 2019 puts. Should I be concerned about the issuer pulling an SVXY and suddenly rendering those puts irrelevant?
Crystal Ball: Wild and reckless prognostication Last week: - Mark L. - 14.75
- Mark S. - 13.15
- Russell - 14
This week: - Mark L. - 15.15
- Andrew - 14.75
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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/
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