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from the archive

What we've been trading.

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Vix
Term Structure

Backwardation flickered Tuesday. Five years of data says don't ignore it.

The VIX curve briefly inverted intraday after the Fed minutes, then normalized by Thursday's close. Five years of similar flips says don't ignore it.

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SPX
0DTE

0DTE is now 56% of SPX options volume. Here's what dealers do at the open.

Plenty of writers have flagged the volume number. Almost none have mapped where dealers reflexively defend the open print. We did.

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Earnings
IV Rank

AAPL, GOOGL, META: skew is steep. Three structures into the print.

All three names sit at IV rank above 85 going into earnings, with put skew running ~1.5x the 90-day average. That asymmetry rewards specific setups.

What You Get

Research you'd pay for. Sent free, every week.

Written by TradingBlock's Chief Innovation Officer and VP of Market Strategy. The Strike Zone cuts through headline noise and gets straight to what moves.

01

Data-driven trade ideas

Setups built on probabilities, implied volatility, and backtested edges — not vibes or hot takes.

02

Market structure decoded

Volatility regimes, dealer positioning, skew shifts, and what they mean for the week ahead.

03

Strategies you can actually trade

Clear mechanics, entry logic, and risk framing for spreads, condors, butterflies, and more.

20+

Years in the business

Built by Chicago options traders. Backed by a U.S. trade desk that actually picks up.

TradingBlock has been a pioneer in online brokerage since 2003. Our support desk is staffed by experienced Chicago options traders — including former CBOE market makers. Real people. Real expertise. Real phones, answered here in the U.S.

One email a week. Zero fluff.

Join the Strike Zone. Options research, delivered free.

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