Option Block 578: A Kung Fu Grip on the Options Market

Trading Block: CBOE sets record volume with S&P 500 Index and CBOE Volatility Index in November. Apple still up on the year. What might next year look like? Lululemon on Wednesday closed $57.16. The ATM straddle is trading at $5.35, or approx. 9%. Odd Block: Puts trade in Barrick Gold Corp (ABX), Calls trade in Market Vectors Russia ETF (RSX), Calls trade in Pandora Media Inc (P) Mail Block/Options#QuestionOfTheWeek: #CrudeOil has been volatile lately. $OIV, aka Oil $VIX, is 37.33. Where will #Crude #Volatility close on Friday? Between 37 - 38.5 Between 38.5 - 40 Below 37 Above 40 Question from Trader Chad - Are ATM straddles really a good way of predicting a stock or are they just more noise like whisper numbers? Around the Block/This Week in the Market: Dec 6: International Trade, Factory Orders Dec 7: JOLTS Dec 8: Jobless Claims Dec 9: Consumer Sentiment Earnings Highlights: Tuesday - Toll Brothers, Autozone Wednesday - Costco, Lululemon