The Option Block 1400: The Great Meta AI Options Conspiracy

The panel discusses the current state of the market, including a week of "red" for the major indices and a corresponding increase in volatility. The episode features a deep dive into unusual options activity, including a mysterious buyer in Unity Software and a vertical call spread in Select Quote. A conspiracy theory about AI engineers making a fortune in the options market is also debated by the hosts. The show wraps up with a look at upcoming earnings reports and a discussion on whether listeners are comfortable buying and holding the S&P 500 in the current market environment. Host: Mark Longo from The Options Insider Media Group Co-hosts: "Uncle" Mike Tosaw from St. Charles Wealth Management and Henry "The Flowmaster" Schwartz from Cboe Time Stamps 0:00 Welcome  3:02 The Trading Block: The panel discusses the overall market sentiment, a week of "red" for major indices, and a slight uptick in volatility. They analyze volume in VIX, SPY, SPX, and NASDAQ and discuss top-performing single-name stocks, including Nvidia, Tesla, Palantir, and Intel. 10:37 The Odd Block: The hosts investigate trades in Unity Software, Blend Labs, and Select Quote, analyzing specific call and put positions and speculating on the motives behind the trades. 19:54 The Mail Block: The hosts answer a listener's question about whether they are comfortable buying and holding the SPX in the current market. They also discuss a viral conspiracy theory that suggests top AI engineers are making a fortune through options trading, which is why they are being offered such high salaries. 27:46 Around the Block: The panel shares what they will be watching in the market until the next show, including upcoming earnings reports from companies like Intuit, Zoom, and Nvidia. They also give contact information for listeners who want to connect with them.