The Hot Options Report: 08-18-2025

In this episode of the Hot Options Report, the key focus is on the Volatility Index (VIX), which saw nearly a million contracts traded, significantly surpassing its average daily volume. Detailed analysis is provided on the performance and notable trades within major indices such as SPY, SPX, IWM, and QQQ, alongside single equities including Apple, AMD, Tesla, and Nvidia. Noteworthy trades include VIX's August 15 half puts and SPY's 644 calls. The episode also highlights the impact of recent events on specific stocks like Intel and Opendoor Technologies.    00:00 Introduction and Welcome 01:23 Public: The Cost-Effective Way to Trade Options 02:03 VIX Options Activity 03:25 SPY and SPX Options Overview 05:05 Small Caps and QQQ Options Insights 07:00 Single Name Equities: Top Movers 17:30 Conclusion and Additional Resources ---------------------------------------------------------------------

All investing involves risk. Brokerage services for US listed securities, options and bonds in a self-directed brokerage account are offered by Open to the Public Investing Inc, member FINRA & SIPC. Not investment advice. Options trading entails significant risk and is not appropriate for all investors.  Customers must read and understand the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options before considering any options strategy.  Options investors can rapidly lose the value of their investment in a short period of time and incur permanent loss by expiration date. Certain complex options strategies carry additional risk, including the potential for losses that may exceed the original investment amount, and are only available for qualified customers.  Index options have special features and fees that should be carefully considered, including settlement, exercise, expiration, tax, and cost characteristics.  See Fee Schedule for all options trading fees. There are additional costs associated with option strategies that call for multiple purchases and sales of options, such as spreads, straddles, among others, as compared with a single option trade. Rebate rates vary monthly from $0.06-$0.18 and depend on the particular security, whether the trade was placed via API, as well as your current and prior month’s options trading volume. Review Options Rebate Terms here. Rates are subject to change. Go to public.com/optionsbrief to learn more.