GOLDMAN: “We estimate that over $2.9 trillion of notional options exposure will expire this Friday (08/15), including $1.1 trillion of SPX options and $715 billion notional of single stock options. The notional open interest for this expiration is the largest recorded for any

Hello stock fans. Friday, don't allow it to be a fry-day. Trade 'em well.

Did Archegos blow up again *COREWEAVE BLOCK VIA MORGAN STANLEY SAID TO PRICE AT $94/SHARE *COREWEAVE 5M SHARE BLOCK VIA GOLDMAN PRICED AT $93: SOURCES *COREWEAVE 6M SHARE BLOCK VIA JPMORGAN PRICED AT $97: SOURCES

bears day bears day bears day bears dayyyyy

META TO DOWNSIZE AI DIVISION, SOME EXECUTIVES EXPECTED TO LEAVE: NYT

Volatility cooling, equities stabilizing higher.

US house prices fell in a record 39 major US metro areas in July.

Call Options hitting new records according to Citadel, via Bloomberg.

A VIX OF 14.25 AFTER A THREE-WEEK S&P ADVANCE OF 3.67% Vix, the parameter in the S&P index options pricing which reflects volatility expectations has averaged 19.5 across my post 1990 Vix database with a 90% range of 12.1-28.7. Vix closed Friday, Aug 23rd, at 14.25 which is

Pre labor week vs post.

U.S NEW HOME SALES (MOM) (JUL) ACTUAL: -0.6% VS 0.6% PREVIOUS; EST 0.5%

NVIDIA Q2 FY 2026 Results: — Revenue: +56% to $46.7B — Gross Margin: -2.7 pts to 72.4% — Operating Income: +53% to $28.4B — Net Income: +59% to $26.4B — Diluted EPS: +61% to $1.08 $NVDA

*LISA COOK EMERGENCY HEARING SCHEDULED FOR 10 FRIDAY MORNING

Alibaba (BABA) creates AI chip to help China fill Nvidia void. Chinese tech companies spark market exuberance by signaling they are catching up to U.S. Despite challenges, China is finding ways to work around U.S. restrictions and boost its AI capabilities. WSJ

$VIX still snoozing

Watch for EOM shenanigans $SPX

Seasonality check: Since 1950, the S&P500 has averaged positive returns in September when starting above its 200-day (as it will on Tuesday). Markets also tend to run much stronger Sept–Dec under 2nd-term presidents—which this year qualifies for. h/t Ari Wald, CFA, CMT

*BESSENT: WE MAY DECLARE NATIONAL HOUSING EMERGENCY IN THE FALL