The Option Block 1363: Secret Cabals, Monsters and the Gamma of Vega

In this episode, Mark Longo, Henry Schwartz from Cboe, and Mike Tosaw from St. Charles Wealth Management discuss the latest trends and activities in the options market. Highlights include a rundown of volume and activity in VIX, SPY, SPX, RUT, and QQQ, as well as specific stocks like BABA, AMD, META, TESLA, and NVIDIA. The episode also dives into unusual call buying activity in SNAP, options trading in the new CBOE Mini Bitcoin ETF Index (MBTX), and updates on recent trades in Southwest Airlines (LUV). Additionally, a listener's question about SPX calendars and the behavior of VIX is addressed, offering educational insight into the complexities of volatility trading. The show concludes with a look at what the hosts will be monitoring in the coming days.   03:18 Market Analysis and Recent Trends 06:05 Trading Block: Latest Topics and Trades 09:01 Market Reactions and Volatility 23:27 Single Stock Highlights 31:29 Earnings Reports: Nike and FedEx 32:22 Micron and GameStop: Upcoming Highlights 32:38 Micron's Market Moves 33:17 The Odd Block: Unusual Options Activity 33:58 Snap Inc: Social Media or Tech? 38:42 Crypto Corner: Cboe Mini Bitcoin ETF 43:11 Southwest Airlines: Upside in Love 45:46 VIX Super Stupid: A Risky Bet 46:31 Mail Block: Listener Questions 54:31 Around the Block: Market Watch