Option Block 308: The Scale from Smart to Cowboy

Trading Block: An aggressive selloff sparked by weak existing home sales.  VIX cash back in the mid-teens. Microsoft after the bell. Netflix tearing it up.

Odd Block: Call buyers in Flagstar Bancorp, Inc. (FBC), closing put buys in Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS), calls trade in YPF SA (ADR), calls buyers trade in AVG Technologies N.V. (AVG).

Xpress Block: Alex gets on a soapbox to discuss tax reporting season and understanding how margin works. Netflix, Apple, and Herbalife.

Mail Block: Question from John King: @Options Any comments on this style of option trading: smart, cowboy, or in between?

Around the Block: Google, Chipotle, and Amazon: 1/30 after; Facebook 1/29 after; Ford 1/28 before; EA 1/28 after; Apple 1/27 after.