Stock Market Options Trading

Eric O'Rourke
  • 4.7 (300)
  • INVESTING
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Join our trading community over at https://www.stockmarketoptionstrading.net to improve your stock and options trading skills. Want to level up your trading? Take the SPX Income Masterclass here: https://www.stockmarketoptionstrading.net/spaces/4688450/ Check out the SMOT YouTube channel for quantitative options strategies and education here: https://www.youtube.com/stockmarketoptionstrading For the SPX Premium Blog and Alerts, head over to Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/VerticalSpreadOptionsTrading

  1. 177: How I’m Trading This Volatile SPX Market Right Now

    2D AGO

    177: How I’m Trading This Volatile SPX Market Right Now

    Before we jump in — if you want to see the tools mentioned in this episode in action, including the 0DTE Trend Spread Engine and the 1DTE Bias indicator, visit AlphaCrunching.com to learn more and join the trading community. In this episode, Eric discusses the recent market breakdown and how current geopolitical tensions, volatility, and upcoming economic data are shaping trading decisions. With SPX experiencing sharp moves and uncertainty rising, he walks through how he’s adapting his approach and managing trades during this environment. A major theme is market structure and key levels. Right now, gamma positioning appears scattered across large round numbers, suggesting institutional traders themselves are uncertain. As a result, Eric is watching major SPX levels every 100 points (6600, 6700, 6800, etc.) as potential support and resistance zones while the market “ping-pongs” between them. He also reviews the macro backdrop driving volatility, including geopolitical tensions, sector rotation away from AI stocks, and a busy week of economic data with CPI, jobless claims, and PCE all ahead. These events could determine whether the market stabilizes or pushes lower toward the mid-6600s. Eric then explains how he’s positioning his portfolio: Maintaining a core SPY position while actively trading around itUsing covered calls and rolling positions to manage downside while leaving room for upside participationPausing many longer-duration spreads due to increased uncertainty Much of the current trading activity has shifted toward shorter-term strategies, particularly SPX 0DTE trades. The episode highlights how the AlphaCrunching 0DTE Trend Spread Engine (TSE) is being used in practice. The system ranks the best times of day for 0DTE spreads based on historical performance and now posts the short strike levels from the highest-probability trades. These levels act as data-backed areas where SPX has historically stayed away from by expiration, allowing traders to use them as reference points for structuring credit spreads. Eric also introduces progress on the 1DTE Bias indicator, an experimental tool that evaluates market regimes using factors like trend behavior and VIX conditions. By comparing current conditions to historical matches over the past three years, the tool estimates the probability of the market closing higher the next day. The recent volatility spike has highlighted one of the challenges of building this model: unusual market conditions sometimes produce very small historical sample sizes. The episode closes with an important reminder about patience and risk management. In volatile environments, it’s often better to wait for conditions to settle rather than forcing trades. Sometimes the best position is simply holding cash until clearer opportunities emerge. Overall, this discussion provides a real-time look at how Eric is navigating a volatile market using a combination of macro awareness, probability-based levels, and adaptive options strategies.

    15 min
  2. 176: Fine-Tuning Your Credit Spread Entries

    FEB 17

    176: Fine-Tuning Your Credit Spread Entries

    👉 Read the Trend Spread Engine article here: https://www.alphacrunching.com/blog/spx-0dte-options-trading-using-the-trend-spread-engine-to-find-high-probability-intraday-windows In this episode, I expand on a concept Brian Terry shared in Episode 174 about entering iron condors one side at a time — waiting for rallies to sell calls and pullbacks to sell puts. That idea of patience and better positioning really resonated with me… and I’ve started applying it directly to my SPX 0DTE trading. After launching the Trend Spread Engine in Episodes 172 and 173, we’ve been tracking every 0DTE credit spread posted throughout the day and compiling weekly performance reports. We’re seeing certain morning time blocks show 90%+ expiration win rates. But here’s the key: High probability doesn’t mean you need to enter immediately. Instead of chasing the alert the moment it posts, I’m marking those statistically backed strike levels on my chart and waiting for volatility to give me a better entry — either higher strikes or better credit. In today’s volatile market, patience can mean: Better distance from priceHigher probability positioningImproved risk/reward structureLess emotional trading This applies whether you’re trading 0DTE, 7DTE, or 30+ days to expiration. If you trade credit spreads, this episode will help you think differently about execution and timing — especially in fast-moving markets. Referenced Episodes: Episode 174 – Brian Terry’s Breakeven Iron Condor StrategyEpisodes 172 & 173 – Introduction to the Trend Spread Engine As always, trade smart and manage risk.

    9 min
  3. 175: Breakeven Iron Condor Strategy (7DTE)

    JAN 28

    175: Breakeven Iron Condor Strategy (7DTE)

    In this episode, I’m joined by Brian Terry to break down a breakeven iron condor strategy he’s actively trading right now. Brian walks through how he enters the call side and put side separately, targeting equal credits on each side with 7 days to expiration. The key twist? He uses a 200% stop on each side, which means if one side gets stopped out, the trade is designed to be roughly breakeven overall. We talk through: Why separating entries can improve flexibilityHow the 200% stop changes the risk profileWhy this works well on SPX, and how newer traders can adapt it to SPY for smaller sizeThe mindset behind trading income strategies defensively, not emotionally Brian runs the Conservative Options Income Network (COIN) over at https://stockmarketoptionstrading.net, where you can start a 14-day free trial and see his real trades, including the strategy discussed in this episode. If you’re interested in structured, rules-based options income strategies, this is a great one to study.

    21 min

  4. JAN 12

    174: How To Trade Earnings Using Earnings-Watcher.com

    Earnings season can be one of the biggest drivers of volatility in the stock market—and understanding how stocks behave around earnings is critical for options traders. In this episode, I’m joined by Dan to talk about trading earnings and a tool he uses called Earnings Watcher. We break down the basics of volatility around earnings announcements, common patterns traders look for, and how Earnings Watcher helps stay organized while analyzing historical price and volatility behavior around earnings events. Whether you actively trade earnings or just want a better understanding of how earnings impact the broader market, this conversation will help put the process into context. 🔗 Earnings Watcher: https://earnings-watcher.com/pricing_smot

    35 min
  5. 173: What the 0DTE Trend Spread Engine Is Already Revealing

    JAN 5

    173: What the 0DTE Trend Spread Engine Is Already Revealing

    In this episode, we review some early backtest results from AlphaCrunching.com's newly launched 0DTe Trend Spread Engine (TSE). We're only 3 weeks into the stats but taking 0DTE trend spreads during the lunch hour at 12pm over the past 3 weeks has won 100% of the time. We're not expecting this type of performance to last forever but seeing this hot spots of high performance based on time of day entry is revealing some edge most traders are missing. We would love you to join Alpha Crunching as we continue this build in public approach for SPX 0DTE Options Trading. 👉 Explore Alpha Crunching and get a discount: https://alphacrunching.com Discount code: SPX50 for 50% off first month or year. 🔗 Connect with Eric on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jericorourke/

    15 min
  6. 172: The 0DTE Trend Spread Engine: Building in Public

    12/19/2025

    172: The 0DTE Trend Spread Engine: Building in Public

    In this episode, Eric breaks down the core ideas behind the 0DTE Trend Spread Engine (TSE) and how it fits into the broader Alpha Crunching philosophy of trading probabilities, not predictions. The TSE is built to systematically identify high-probability SPX credit spread ideas by combining intraday trend, time-based structure, and defined risk. Rather than reacting to every move, the focus is on stacking small statistical edges and letting data—not emotions—drive decisions. This episode also explains why strike selection and credits can vary, why these are trade ideas (not alerts), and how Alpha Crunching approaches options trading like an insurance business built on consistency and process. 👉 Explore Alpha Crunching and get a discount: https://alphacrunching.com Discount code: SPX50 for 50% off first month or year. 🔗 Connect with Eric on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jericorourke/

    17 min

  7. 12/08/2025

    171: Stock Market Update and Economic Events This Week

    In this episode, we'll cover the key levels based on options positioning and the large range the S&P500 has been in since October. We'll review the Fed's dual mandate and why so much attention is paid economic reports involving jobs, inflation, and rate cuts. We've got some major economic events happening this week that will likely decide the next leg of the market.

    11 min
  8. 170: SPX Iron Condor Setup

    11/06/2025

    170: SPX Iron Condor Setup

    In this episode, I’m walking through an SPX Iron Condor setup I’m pricing out as volatility continues to rise and the market dips below key moving averages. Here's the link the video version: https://youtu.be/0NAAbb6bbcI When volatility spikes, option premiums expand — and that’s when I like to sell Iron Condors on SPX for wider ranges and better credits. I’ll break down: ✅ How I’m positioning this Iron Condor between recent highs and lows ✅ Entry criteria and credit received (~$3.25 on 10-wide wings) ✅ How to calculate max profit and max loss ✅ My profit-taking plan (~30%) and adjustment ideas if SPX moves sharply ✅ Why higher VIX levels can offer better Iron Condor setups Whether you’re learning to trade index options or refining your Iron Condor strategy, this walkthrough gives you a practical framework to plan your trades in higher volatility environments. 📊 Tools Mentioned: AlphaCrunching.com — data-driven SPX options setups and backtested strategies. 🎯 Related Topics: SPX Iron Condor strategy for volatile markets SPX options trading explained Selling premium when VIX spikes Managing Iron Condors and rolling spreads #SPX #IronCondor #OptionsTrading #Volatility #SPXOptions #AlphaCrunching #SPXStrategies #TradingSPX #VIX #OptionsIncome

    4 min
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4.7
out of 5
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About

Join our trading community over at https://www.stockmarketoptionstrading.net to improve your stock and options trading skills. Want to level up your trading? Take the SPX Income Masterclass here: https://www.stockmarketoptionstrading.net/spaces/4688450/ Check out the SMOT YouTube channel for quantitative options strategies and education here: https://www.youtube.com/stockmarketoptionstrading For the SPX Premium Blog and Alerts, head over to Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/VerticalSpreadOptionsTrading

Information

  • Creator
    Eric O'Rourke
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    177
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Eric O'Rourke
  • Show Website
    Stock Market Options Trading

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