Upcoming Conferences of Interest 
Security Traders Association annual conference is the industry's premier market structure event, STA's 85th Annual Market Structure Conference where we bring together a diverse audience of speakers and attendees, addressing the most compelling topics facing our industry. More information, including how to register, is here.
Voice of Blockchain:Â Leaders in blockchain, government and business will gather with influencers to share best practices and shape the conversation. Voice of Blockchain advances Chicago as a global leader in
the emerging field of blockchain technology where collaboration is incentivized through an ecosystem engineered to benefit individuals, small enterprises, and corporations. Find out more here.
Featured Interview Options Insider Radio Interviews: Talking Options and Advisors with Northern Trust Posted March 9th, 2018 In this episode, Mark is joined by Jon Cherry, Head of U.S. Options at Northern Trust Capital Markets. They discuss: - What does Northern Trust do in options?
- Who are their clients?
- What services do they provide?
- What are the most common uses of options for Northern Trust clients?
- How have clients responded to the recent changes in the market?
- The benefits of the consultative approach
- What products do they use most often?
- The explosion and implosion of inverse volatility products
- What's to come from Northern Trust in options?
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Upcoming Economic Reports A preview of what may move the market this week
| TIME (ET) | REPORT | PERIOD | FORECAST | PREVIOUS | | MONDAY, AUG. 20 | | Â | None scheduled | Â | Â | Â | | TUESDAY, AUG. 21 | | Â | None scheduled | Â | Â | Â | | WEDNESDAY, AUG. 22 | | 10:00 AM | Existing home sales | July | 5.41 mln | 5.38 mln | | 2:00 PM | FOMC minutes | 7/31-8/1 | Â | Â | | THURSDAY, AUG. 23 | | 8:30 AM | Weekly jobless claims | 18-Aug | 215,000 | 212,000 | | 9:45 AM | Markit manufacturing PMI (flash) | Aug. | -- | 55.3 | | 9:45 AM | Markit services PMI (flash) | Aug. | -- | 56 | | 10:00 AM | New home sales | July | 641,000 | 631,000 | | FRIDAY, AUG. 24 | | 8:30 AM | Durable goods orders | July | -0.90% | 0.80% | | 8:30 AM | Core capital goods orders | July | -- | 0.70% | | 10:00 AM | Jerome Powell speaks | Â | Â | Â |
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Options Insider Radio Network Episodes you may have missed from Options Insider Radio last week
Posted August 17th, 2018 In this episode, Mark is joined by Joe Hernandez, Founder & CEO of the Chicago Blockchain Project, aka Disruption Joe They discuss: - Where does Disruption Joe come from?
- His Bitcoin backstory
- Chicago Blockchain Project
- Their upcoming event at Navy Pier, The Voice of Blockchain Conference
- The Chicago trading mindset versus the crypto/Blockchain mindset
- And more
 Posted August 17th, 2018 Topics this week include: - Crude/WTI
- Ags/Soybeans
- Equities
- Metals/Gold
- Bitcoin/Crypto
Futures Options Feedback: Listeners take the reins - Comments on the U.S./China soybean battlefield
- Ned Brown has comments on the switch from soybeans to sugar cane
- Keifer says don't expect business to come back to the U.S. once the tariff is lifted.
- Liz O. wants to know where to find all of Blu's research (Right here!)
- Wild Tiger likes the July options review
- XRP Please: Thanks for the hard work to build XRP liquidity
 Posted August 17th, 2018 Trading Block: A look back at the week from a trading perspective VIX briefly back over 14. Earnings: - Wednesday - Macy's, Cisco
- Thursday - Walmart, JD.com, Nordstrom, Nvidia
- Friday - John Deere
- Walmart (WMT) had a blowout quarter and shares are surging.
- Nvidia (NVDA) - ATM straddle: $16.50, approx. 6%
Odd Block: Bullish risk reversal in Discovery Communications Inc. (DISCA) (From 7/19), Well-timed bullish stupid in Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (CLF) (From 7/16), and earning bet in Interpublic Group of Companies Inc. (IPG) (From 7/16). Strategy Block: Uncle Mike Tosaw discusses bad practices in financial advisors who claim to know options. Mail Block: Options question of the week This week we would like to know more about your level of #options expertise. Quite simply - how would you describe yourself at a dinner party? - 12% - Current/Former Pro
- 21% - Retail Options Wiz
- 48% - Retail Options Dabbler
- 19% - Looking to Get Started
Around The Block/This Week In the Markets: - Aug 16 - Jobless Claims, Housing Starts
- Aug 17 - Consumer Sentiment
 Posted August 16th, 2018 Huddle, up listeners! It's time for Brian and Mark to take on listener questions, including: - Options question of the week: Earnings season in in full swing. Which names will dominate your options trading this week?Question from Imhad1: Is HMNY now the most option-like stock ever? Back to $.08 after reverse splitting up to $14. Crazy! Who would buy an option on this thing?
- 47% - AAPL
- 37% - TSLA
- 6% - GPRO
- 10% - CBOE
- Question from Ling: I've heard some educators say that you should never hold out for the max profit in an options spread trade because that means you held onto it too long. Is this the case? Do you agree? Thx and enjoying the handbook.
- Question from Flyguy: Hey what do you guys do with your long calendar spreads? Do you close out the short leg if the stock doesn't move then keep the long leg or just close the whole spread out?
 Posted August 14th, 2018 Trading Block: The week in trading (so far!) Earnings: - Tuesday - Home Depot
- Wednesday - Macy's, Cisco
- Thursday - Walmart, JD.com, Nordstrom, Nvidia
- Friday - John Deere
Odd Block: Shares surge in Rent-A-Center Inc. (RCII) (from 6/18), put spread in IQIYI Inc. (IQ) (from 6/21), ratio call spread in Melco Resorts & Entertainment (MLCO) (from 6/4) Mail Block: Listeners take over QOTW: This week we would like to know more about your level of #options expertise. Quite simply - how would you describe yourself at a dinner party? - Current/Former Pro
- Retail Options Wiz
- Retail Options Dabbler
- Looking to Get Started
Listener questions and comments: - Comment from CNelsen - Puts, calls. Calls, puts. Does it really matter?
- Question from Ling - I've heard some educators say that you should never hold out for the max profit in an options spread trade because that means you held onto it too long. Is this the case? Do you agree? Thx.
- Question from GunPowderJim - How do you calculate profit/loss on a ratio spread? If I buy 1 call and then sell 2 more do I average across the 3 contracts to determine the P/L on the spread?
Around the Block/This Week in the Markets: - Aug 14 - Import and Export Prices
- Aug 15 - Retail Sales, Industrial Production, Treasury International Capital
- Aug 16 - Jobless Claims, Housing Starts
- Aug 17 - Consumer Sentiment
 Posted August 13th, 2018 Volatility Review with very special guest co-host Russell Rhoads, Head of Derivatives Research at the Tabb Group. - Volatility and selloffs return briefly during earning season.
- VIX Cash - 11.83, down slightly from last week.
- VVIX - 88, unchanged from last week.
- VIX Options - ADV: 440k, VIX call/put: 3/1, Total 7.95m (5.96m Calls, 1.99m Puts)
- VXX - 28.5, 2 points lower than last week.
Volatility options question of the week: VXX has finally broken through the 30 handle. Many of you are fascinated with the ongoing saga of the VXX Jan 10 Puts. OI is over 200k and thousands continue to trade for $.01. Our question: Would you trade these puts? - 57% - Yes: Buy for $.01
- 14% - Yes: Sell for $.01
- 23% - No. It's Just Gambling
- 6% - I have enough VXX Puts
Volatility Voicemail: Listeners have their say - Question from VolBug - When it's all said and done, is the bottom line that all inverse VIX products, whether short term or mid-term, can be subject to an acceleration event like SVXY given a high enough spike in the VIX? Thanks!
- Question from LL09 - Are you guys still trading these things? Saw 1k go up yesterday. Was that meatball?
- Comment from LVAC2 - Etrade wants to charge me $159.95 to buy 200 of those VXX Jan 10 puts. That's highway robbery!
Crystal Ball: Getting our prognosticating on Last week: - Mark L. -11.45
- Mark S. -12.76
- Guest - 12.05
This week: - Mark L. -12.25
- Andrew -11.01
- Russell - 13.05
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 12pm Central (NEW TIME, SAME DAY)
Thursday:
Option Block LIVE at 12pm Central (NEW TIME, SAME DAY)
This Week in Futures Options LIVE at 1:30 Central
Friday:
Volatility Views LIVE at 12pm Central
As always, you can join in the fun at http://mixlr.com/options-insider/
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