Option Block 329: The Great SPY vs. SPX Iron Condor Debate

Trading Block: A sea of red on the street today. A lot of directional paper going through OX today. Terrible data coming out of China. CBOE Short-Term VIX product (VXST) launches.

Odd Block: Getting the RDA of RDA puts (RDA), big put blocks trade in Bill Barrett Corp. (BBG), and IV jumping in Tower Group International Ltd. (TWGP).

Xpress Block: A mass exodus from momentum stocks. What exactly caused this?

Mail Block: Commissions and Buy/Writes

• Question from Brian Collamer - Mark mentioned he thought U.S. retail accounts should be trading SPY rather than SPX options in a recent Options Block episode. I 'm selling Iron condors in SPX {2 contracts, just learning...} When I looked at the same size trades in SPY {20 contracts}. The commissions were killer. I like the idea of better fills in SPY and no open outcry trading, but seems like the commissions/fees really make them untenable at my levels. Am I missing something? Thanks for the great podcasts!! Brian
• Question from AJ - I was listening to The Option Block #266 Juice & Paper and you guys mentioned how you saw unusual activity in FCX which looked like a Buy/Write trade. My question: How can you tell when an option trade is a Buy/Write or options paired with shares trade? Thanks.

Around the Block: What will pick up the market?