Your Inside Source for Options Information

October 2, 2017



This Week's Options Insider Trader Newsletter Is Sponsored by Capital Markets Labs

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Upcoming Economic Reports

A preview of what may move the market this week

TIME (ET) REPORT PERIOD FORECAST PREVIOUS
MONDAY, OCT. 2
9:45 AM Markit manufacturing PMI Sept. -- 52.8
10:00 AM ISM manufacturing index Sept. 58.10% 58.80%
10:00 AM Construction spending Aug. 0.40% -0.60%
TUESDAY, OCT. 3
Varies Motor vehicle sales Sept. 17.1mln 16.1 mln
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 4
8:15 AM ADP employment report Sept. -- 237,000
9:45 AM Markit services PMI Sept. -- 56
10:00 AM ISM nonmanufacturing index Sept. 55.70% 55.30%
THURSDAY, OCT. 5
8:30 AM Weekly jobless claims 30-Sep 265,000 272,000
8:30 AM Trade deficit Aug. -$41.7 bln -$43.7bln
10:00 AM Factory orders Aug. 1.10% -3.30%
FRIDAY, OCT. 6
8:30 AM Nonfarm payrolls Sept. 70,000 156,000
8:30 AM Unemployment rate Sept. 4.40% 4.40%
8:30 AM Average hourly earnings Sept. 0.30% 0.10%
10:00 AM Wholesale inventories Aug. -- 0.60%
3:00 PM Consumer credit Aug. -- $18.5 bln

 


 

Options Insider Radio Network 

Episodes you may have missed from Options Insider Radio last week

Option Block 656: Live from the Option Pit Pro Trader Summit

 

Posted September 29th, 2017

Featuring special guests Kevin "Lex" Luthringshausen, and Matt "Tubby" Benson.

Trading Block: What is the Pro Trader Summit? VIX is back in the single digits. Memories of trading floor days.

Mega Live Mail Block:

  • What's your favorite ETP?
  • Questions from the audience.
  • Question from Ryan Staddon - Any chance you could give me some information on how to or most effectively short ECB and feds QE programs or bond markets??
  • Question from ISU - Question for the option block: Let's say you're short naked a bunch of puts and the trade goes against you, and you don't have the money to pony up? What can your broker do?
  • Question from Matthew - Where do you source your Unusual Options Activity data from? We use TOS Option Hacker which is OK but you are getting the spreads in the Activities - would love to know how or where you get that level of data Many thanks, Matthew
  • Question from Tim - Why isn't it standard or maybe required to let people close out shorts for free below $.10?

 

Options Playbook Radio 177: Short AAPL Call Spread

 

Posted September 28th, 2017

Today Brian is covering a short call spread (which is bearish) on AAPL. All of this applies on the put side, but in this episode, calls are being featured.

Specifically:

  • What dynamics do you need to think about when trading short spreads?
  • Look at the most at-the-money straddle to get an idea about pricing
  • Example 1: November 17 expiration; 52 days out
    • Selecting strikes
    • What will this cost?
    • What is the max risk? Reward?
  • Example 2: October 6 expiration; 10 days outWhich would you choose?
    • Selecting strikes
    • What will this cost?
    • What is the max risk? Reward?
  • How to close out the trade?
  • How to roll the trade?

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].

 

Option Block 655: Return of the VIX Whale

 

Posted September 26th, 2017

Trading Block: VIX is back in the double digits hitting 11.21 today. VIX volume is exploding: Over 2.5M contracts traded so far. Will traders take a knee too? Return of the VIX whale?

Odd Block: Put palooza in the iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ), Upside call vertical in United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS).

Mail Block: Listener Questions and Comments

  • Comments regarding the possible Equifax insider trading:
  • Comment from Jedi Markus -Sounds easy enough for a jury to understand it then....#GUILTY
  • Comment from Sir Martin - Depends on which breach I guess? The one in March or the one which was discovered in July? Trying to say they definitely knew. If the first one was in March and they sold in August, they knew something was amiss.
  • Comment from Yell0wbuddha - What they did was so illegal...it makes Pablo Escobar look like an amateur $EFX.

Options question of the week: $VIX products come in many flavors. Pick your poison! What's your favorite way to trade $VIX?

  • $VXX
  • $UVXY
  • $XIV
  • $SVXY

More questions from listeners:

  • Question from Salman - Any recommendations on trading platform for mock trading? Options specifically
  • Comment from FContangotrader - It's easier to make $ with $VXX puts when VIX is low
  • Question from Molin - Why don't more options brokers offer trade recommendation engines like idea hub? I think a lot of people would like it and would trade more.

Around the Block: 2500. North Korea. Hurricanes. Presidential tweets.

 

Volatility Views 273: Rocket Men Plus Hurricanes Equals 9 VIX?

 

Posted September 25th, 2017

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

The numbers:

Russell's Weekly Rundown:

  • VIX Options - ADV: 813k, VIX call/put: 3.5
  • Total 9.96m
  • OIV - 26.53

Volatility Voicemail: Listeners take over the show

Volatility Views/TWIFO Flash Poll: With $SPX #Volatility -aka $VIX- in single digits where are you getting your index vol fix these days?

  • Russell 2000: $RVX, $IWM
  • Dow: $DJIA, $VXD, etc.
  • NASDAQ: $QQQ, $VXN, etc.
  • Buying $VIX for rebound.

Listener questions and comments

  • Question from Swatcat - Which instruments are there that are very liquid, if you are going long VIX? I have found one so far, ticker: VIXY / Nordic options trader
  • Question from TicTac - You guys said it?s not a good time for VIX front spreads. Why not?
  • Question from LA Town - Your call for worst Vol ETF?

Crystal Ball: Your prognostication headquarters

Last week:

  • Mark L. - 11.5
  • Mark S. - 11.01
  • Russell - 12.25

This week:

  • Mark L. - 9.8
  • Mark S. - 10.5
  • Russell - 11.11


This Week in Futures Options 70: Russell 2000 Rolls On

 

Posted September 25th, 2017

This week's CME hot seat guest is Sean Smith from FTSE Russell.

Topics this week include:

  • Russell Index
  • Crude Oil
  • WTI/Brent
  • Winners: Oats, Feeder Cattle
  • Losers: Silver, Iron Ore

Futures Options Feedback: Listeners take over the show

Volatility Views/TWIFO Flash Poll: With $SPX #Volatility -aka $VIX- in single digits where are you getting your index vol fix these days?

  • Russell 2000: $RVX, $IWM
  • Dow: $DJIA, $VXD, etc.
  • NASDAQ: $QQQ, $VXN, etc.
  • Buying $VIX for rebound.

Listener questions:

  • Question from Andrade8 - If RUT and QQQ Vol is always higher than SPY does that mean you're getting paid more to sell OTM puts?
  • Question from BLM3 - Is there a big arb between $USO and WTI?
  • Question from Bruno - No love for rates on TWIFO?
  • Question from Lincoln G - You buying what Dimon is selling about Bitcoin?
  • Question from Tatank - Crypto 20X v. other asset classes. Bitcoin for the win.

 

OICs Wide World of Options 40: Panel - What Greeks Can Teach You about Options

 

Posted September 25th, 2017

WWoO Show 40: Panel- What Greeks Can Teach You about Options

This is a rebroadcast of OIC's webinar panel where you can take a deep dive into options Greeks and join a panel of options professionals, including Joe Burgoyne from The Options Industry Council and Dan Passarelli from Market Taker Mentoring, for an advanced discussion of some mechanics behind an options pricing.

 

 


Where to Find Options Insider Radio?

Do you know all the ways you can access Options Insider Radio

               



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/

 


Stats of the Past Week

  • VIX Cash Range: 9.36 - 11.21
  • S&P Cash Range: 2488.03 - 2519.44
  • SPX 30-Day Implied Volatility: 6.74
  • SPX 10-Day Realized Volatility: 3.52
  • SPX 30-Day Realized Volatility:  5.82
  • SPX Risk Premium (30-Day Implied - Realized): 0.92
  • Market Risk Premium (VIX Cash - SPX 30-day Implied Volatility): 2.77

 

Strategy 101: Brought to you by Ally Invest

Options Playbook Radio 153: SNAP Backspread with Puts

Posted April 6th, 2017

SNAP's recent IPO has had the name in the news quite a bit these days, so let's take a look at SNAP backspread with puts, which is on page 84 (calls) and page 87 (puts) of The Options Playbook, on OptionsPlaybook.com, or on the Amazon Kindle edition.

In this episode, Brian reviews:

  • The SNAP backspread with calls from last time
  • What has SNAP done since last time?
  • Where are the SNAP options now?
  • What about implied volatility?
  • When will earnings be announced?
  • Taking a bearish view this week
  • Setting up the trade
  • What is the expected move on the May 19 contracts?
  • What is the cost?

Do you have questions that you would like answered on the show? Send them to Brian at [email protected].


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