Option Block 565: Rise of the Widowmaker

Trading Block: Earnings today before the bell: Bank of America (BAC) leading off before the market opened Monday with a positive result. Earnings today after the bell: IBM: $154.50, ADV 23K; Today over 50k, ATM Straddle: $6.50, approx. 4% Resources mentioned in the show: OptionsHouse blog Options market sees Netflix as a coiled spring ahead of earnings CEO sold millions in Wells Fargo stock before fraud revelations Odd Block: Calls trade in SPDR KBW Bank (KBE), calls trade in Bank of America Corp (BAC) and calls trade in 3D Systems Corp (DDD) Mail Block: Listener questions and comments Question from Adam - Could you please explain what it means to "gamma scalp" and why this is not called delta scalping? Thanks and your show has saved me a lot of money now that I have come to the dark side! Question from Ian Wagner - Why trade volatility vs direction or income? Preference? More favorable risk/reward profile? Around the Block/Earnings Highlights this Week: Tuesday - Dominos, Goldman Sachs, Intel, Johnson & Johnson, UnitedHealth. Wednesday - Abbott Labs, American Express, eBay, Mattel Thursday - American Airlines, Dunkin Brands, E*Trade Financial Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, PayPal, Verizon Communications Friday - General Electric Company, Honeywell International, McDonalds Corporation