Option Block 363: The Last Train to Pallookaville

Trading Block: The market rallied about half a handle. Putin talks up the street. Bonds: TLT & IEF. Berkshire A crosses $200,000 a share. Red Robin taking it on the chin today.

Odd Block: Some unusual activity in TSRA, NM, and NKTR

Xpress Block: The social networking triplets (Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook) were all active today. Amazon surprisingly active as well.

Mail Block: Listener questions and comments

• Question from Everett: Really enjoy the show, and find it incredibly useful in helping break down the complexities of more technical trades.  That said, is it possible to point to 3 key technical-focused factors that you believe to be the most important factors for consideration when trading biotech options around a catalytic event (E.g FDA marketing approval). I doubt an example is necessary, but to clarify, I don't mean examining the strength of the company’s clinical trial submissions in anticipation of an FDA decision; rather, are there 3-5 stock/options-focused factors (E.g. implied volatility, Delta, Vega, etc.) that you would recommend analyzing in anticipation of trading options around a biotech's upcoming catalytic event?  I recognize these factors might be different based on the strategy one chooses to employ, but if possible, what would say those 3-5 factors should be just generally, if I am willing to employ a diversity of strategies? Thank you in advance for your time and consideration, Everett
• Question from Joe: Option Block Question: Greetings.  My question deals with order fulfillment on a spread.  During the wild few days that TWTR had a few months back the IV shot through the roof, the vol skew went way out of whack, and it was possible to put on long spreads for even money or credit...but I had to leg into the spread because my broker said "I could not get filled for even money on a spread."  Which leads to my question, how are the smaller lots (I usually trade 10-50 contract lots) handled on the market with respect to their fulfillment?  Logic and the current state of technology leads be to believe that like strike prices are grouped together and sold on the market in order to obtain a better leverage when trying to obtain a sale price.  If this is not the case, how does fulfillment take place with spreads?
• Question from MrLami: Hello...What parameters can one use to scan for unusual options activity real-time (OR) what is the thought process behind it (I can use my intellect or practice for how I can start spotting these myself)? Is there a way to receive alerts for "Unusual Activity" section on this website?

Around the Block: Bonds. US global affairs. Ukraine and Iraq.