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.
Featured Interview Options Insider Radio Interviews: Talking Options and Volatility with CME Group Posted March 15th, 2018 In this episode, Mark is joined by Derek Sammann, Global Head of Commodities and Options Products and Blu Putnam Chief Economist at CME Group. They discuss: - Looking at options at the FIA conference
- Volatility spike is a great opportunity to use options
- Interesting move in the flight to quality
- The global use for options
- Globalizing participation
- Re-defining who CME Group is and who they want to be
- And more
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Upcoming Economic Reports A preview of what may move the market this week
| TIME (ET) | REPORT | PERIOD | PREVIOUS | | MONDAY, AUG. 27 | | 8:30 AM | Chicago national activity index | July | 0.43 | | TUESDAY, AUG. 28 | | 8:30 AM | Advance trade in goods | July | -$68.3bln | | 9:00 AM | Case-Shiller home price index | June | 6.40% | | 10:00 AM | Consumer confidence index | Aug. | 127.4 | | WEDNESDAY, AUG. 29 | | 8:30 AM | Gross domestic product revision | Q2 | 4.10% | | 10:00 AM | Pending home sales | July | 0.90% | | THURSDAY, AUG. 30 | | 8:30 AM | Weekly jobless claims | 25-Aug | Â | | 8:30 AM | Personal income | July | 0.40% | | 8:30 AM | Consumer spending | July | 0.40% | | 8:30 AM | Core inflation | July | 0.10% | | FRIDAY, AUG. 31 | | 9:45 AM | Chicago PMI | Aug. | 65.5 | | 10:00 AM | Consumer sentiment index | Aug. | 97.9 |
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Options Insider Radio Network Episodes you may have missed from Options Insider Radio last week
Posted August 24th, 2018 Topics this week include: - Crude
- Equities/S&P
- Metals/Silver
- Bitcoin/Crypto
Futures Options Feedback: Options question of the week We're talking about #Crypto #Derivatives at the upcoming @BlockchainVoice Conference (register at http://VoiceOfBlockChain.com). So this week we want to know which #Crypto product you'd like to see listed on a major venue next. - 72% - Bitcoin Options
- 8% - Ripple Options/Futures
- 15% - Ether Options/Futures
- 5% - Litecoin Options/Futures
Listener questions and comments: - Comment from Umesh - (SEC rejecting Bitcoin ETFs) May be they only like to trade futures #BTC
- Comment from Apex Trading - Good. I have several wells and the low gas price has been sucking!
- Question from Lil Danger - First selloff, then NVDA, now SEC rejects bitcoin. Is the bloom off the crypto rose?
- Comment from LVers - Hogs please.
- Question from Splitsville - Why is long put/covered call a "collar" while short put/long call is a "risk reversal?" Never understood that one.
 Posted August 24th, 2018 Trading Block: Trump trade war is back on the tape - China implemented more tariffs on U.S. goods. Earnings: - Thursday - HP, Intuit, Gap
- Friday - Foot Locker
Odd Block: Rolling calls in Union Pacific Corporation (UNP), bullish paper in Coty Inc. (COTY) and opening puts in CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. (CBL) Strategy Block: Uncle Mike Tosaw discusses investing in marijuana stocks. Mail Block: Options question of the week we’re talking about #Crypto #Derivatives at the upcoming @BlockchainVoice Conference (register at http://VoiceOfBlockChain.com). So this week we want to know which #Crypto product you'd like to see listed on a major venue next. - 72% - Bitcoin Options
- 8% - Ripple Options/Futures
- 15% - Ether Options/Futures
- 5% - Litecoin Options/Futures
Listener questions and comments: What's on your mind? - Comment from TradingTrooper -$CGC begins trading weekly options today
- Comment from FContangotrader -@OptionPit @OptionVol greasy meatball and rock lobster combo lol
- Re: Olive Garden $300 all you can eat pass: Comment from Volatility Trading -Low carb diets be damned
Around the Block: What are we watching?  Posted August 24th, 2018 Now that earnings season is over, it's time to get back to the basics. You can find more in The Options Playbook, which is always available on OptionsPlaybook.com, in on the Amazon Kindle edition. Specifically: - Why choose the S&P 500 index?
- Selecting the expiration (just two days!)
- Selecting strikes
- What is the risk?
- Remember commissions, especially with a three-legged trade
- Interesting downside considerations
- What do we want to happen?
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.  Posted August 21st, 2018 Trading Block: Earnings! - Wednesday - Target, Lowe's, Barnes & Noble
- Thursday - HP, Intuit, Gap
- Friday - Foot Locker
Plus, TSLA has major issues - SEC investigation, drug cartels, etc. Odd Block: Put roll in QEP Resources Inc. (QEP), Rolling puts in Flower Foods Inc. (FLO), Call palooza in PayPal (PYPL) 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? - 13% - Current/Former Pro
- 18% - Retail Options Wiz
- 47% - Retail Options Dabbler
- 22% - Looking to Get Started
ANOTHER Options question of the week: We're talking about #Crypto #Derivatives at the upcoming @BlockchainVoice Conference (register at http://VoiceOfBlockChain.com ). So this week we want to know which #Crypto product you'd like to see listed on a major venue next. Reply/DM w/others #Bitcoin $XRT $ETH $LTC - Bitcoin Options
- Ripple Options/Futures
- Ether Options/Futures
- Litecoin Options/Futures
Listener questions and comments: - Question from Cbade: Looking to sell some Ford weekly 9.50 puts for $.25. My broker says I don't have enough cash in my account to cover a 10 lot. How much money do I need to have to sell 10 puts on a $9 stock?
Around the Block: What's coming up this week? Â Posted August 20th, 2018 Volatility Review, featuring special guest Scott Nations, CNBC Contributor & Creator of VolDex. He discusses: - An update on SkewDex/VolDex.
- Will Nasdaq list it soon?
- Does the current debate over VIX manipulation create an opportunity for VolDex, or does it muddy the waters for all volatility products?
- Is he hearing more clients and customers who are interested in a skew-less VIX?
A look back at the week from a volatility perspective - We’ve had a volatility whipsaw recently - we’re up, then we’re down.
- VIX Cash - 13, slightly up from last week.
- VVIX - 103.5, higher than last week.
- VIX Options - ADV: 451k, VIX call/put: 2.9/1, Total 8.79m (6.56m Calls, 2.22m Puts)
- VXX - 30.25, slightly higher than last week.
Volatility Voicemail: Listeners weigh in - Question from B Bort - Why does skew exist in VIX options?
- Question from Lisl - I looked at VXX Jan 10 puts then ended up moving up the chain to the 20s. Got some ranging from $.65-$.82? So a little bit more but I think my odds are better. Although I could get 60-80 of the other puts for every one of these. Do you hate?
Volatility flash poll: Play along with the Volatility Views crew and make your own guess for the Crystal Ball segment. Where will VIX be at 1pm Central on Friday (aka the end of the show). - 12.5-12.99
- 13-13.49
- 13.5-13.99
- 14-14.5
Crystal Ball: Your prognostication headquarters Last week: - Mark L. - 12.25
- Andrew - 11.01
- Guest - 13.05
This week: - Mark L. - 12.25
- Mark S. - 11.95
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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