Option Block 281: It’s Time for Histrionics

Trading Block: The shutdown dance continues. VIX cash break the 17 handle. Tesla in a frenzy after car fire. Ackman/Icahn/Herbalife debacle.  CBOE glitch causes routing issues for NASDAQ.

Odd Block: Puts trade in Covanta Holding Corp (CVA), calls trade in the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (DIA), collar trades in Consolidated Edison, Inc. (ED)

Xpress Block: A ton of two-sided paper, e-mini activity and Tesla.

Mail Block: Mega mail block, that is.

• Question from @Metegia (Ian) - @Options Great show! Could you please mention the date of the show at start? Intros, trading block, vol, but no context around date (Jun 4). Thanks!
• Mega Question from Richard D - Mark and Team, First let me say I LOVE your podcasts. I'll even listen to outdated episodes of the option block because in addition to the knowledge I can gain, you guys also have a great rapport with one another and are very humorous! Great job starting all this Mark! I wish you continued success. Now for my post (this is my 2nd post. My first post was on skew.) I've been trading options as a retail investor for about 2 years now. Its been an interesting experience. I generally trade vertical spreads in lieu of stock positions or occasionally directional calendars or diagonals. Although I have had some success with verticals I don't feel I am "optimizing" my positions. For example, I'm not always sure how far out to make the short position or keep the short closer to the long and trade more quantity. Also, sometimes I've put on verticals that are 3-4 months to expiration, only to find the underlying make a large move in my direction but the vertical not performing nearly as well! This not do to a major volatility change but more because it seems that they are so far out from expiration. I'm also not clear when a vertical is a "good deal" vs just going long the call or put. I have heard you comment many times about the skew in the OTM options making options look attractive, for example I think in this episode you mentioned Facebook. I have still not gotten to the point to recognize how to identify these. So my questions are:

• 1. Could you give an example using let's say Facebook, yahoo, or tesla on what a vertical looked like in the past and one that looks more attractive now?

• 2. Could you talk about tools that can help identify when verticals or even time spreads look "favorable"? Having a full time job and not having the money or time for a coach makes those options out of the questions. Now this being said, the spread may look favorable, but unless you hold to expiration it seems your short could remain at that skew quite a long time or even become more skewed, so I am not sure this is a great vertical strategy (I guess you'll let me know!). Tools for the retail investor could also be a good idea for a show, either the bootcamp show or another one. Thanks again, Richard

Around the Block: More shutdown nonsense ahead - all eyes on Washington.