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Get weekly SPX forecasts, backtested trade ideas, trade alerts, Discord access, and research designed to help you trade with more confidence.

In Episode 188, we're kicking off a new series on strategy research, development, testing, automation, and the mindset required to trade systematic strategies successfully.

Many traders spend all their time looking for the next great trade. But what happens after you find an edge?

In this episode, Eric discusses the concept of building an automated strategy pipeline and why finding a profitable strategy is only the beginning. You'll learn why markets constantly evolve, why every strategy has strengths and weaknesses, and why relying on a single trading system can create unnecessary risk.

Topics discussed include:

• Why successful traders should always be researching and testing new ideas

• The benefits of automation beyond simply saving time

• How Alpha Crunching's TSE 0DTE credit spread strategy fits into a larger portfolio approach

• Why trade frequency matters when building confidence in a strategy

• Credit spreads vs. debit spreads and diversifying risk/reward profiles

• Building a portfolio of strategies instead of relying on a single edge

• How community feedback, backtesting, and real-world execution help improve trading systems over time

Whether you're trading manually or exploring automation, this episode will help you think differently about developing and managing trading strategies for the long term.

Alpha Crunching:

https://www.alphacrunching.com

This week on the Stock Market Options Trading Podcast, Eric O’Rourke breaks down the current SPX market pullback, key support levels, upcoming FOMC minutes, and why Nvidia earnings could be a major catalyst for the broader market and AI trade.

Eric also shares how the recent uptrend has continued to favor SPX put credit spreads, how the Alpha Crunching 7-day strategy has been performing, and what traders should be watching heading into the summer market environment.

Topics include:

• SPX support and resistance levels
• Nvidia earnings and AI stock momentum
• FOMC minutes and interest rate expectations
• Zero gamma and put wall discussion
• Trading SPX put credit spreads in an uptrend
• Managing profits and pullbacks
• Current market sentiment and positioning

📈 Learn more about Alpha Crunching:

Alpha Crunching

🔥 Get 50% Off Your First Year of Alpha Crunching

Use code: SPX50

Inside Alpha Crunching you'll find:

• Weekly SPX trade ideas
• 0DTE TSE trade alerts
• Backtested options strategies
• Discord community & live discussion
• SPX market forecasts and research

👉 Alpha Crunching (SPX data, trade ideas & alerts): https://alphacrunching.com

👉 Conservative Options Income Network (Brian Terry): https://stockmarketoptionstrading.net

In this episode, Eric sits down with returning guest Brian Terry from the Conservative Options Income Network to break down what’s shaping up to be another interesting week in the market.

With the S&P pushing toward new highs—even with ongoing geopolitical headlines in the background—we talk through what that actually means for traders right now and how we’re positioning around it.

We cover:

• Why this market still feels “underinvested” for a lot of traders
• Brian’s recent synthetic stock trade and how he’s using options for leverage
• Eric’s latest SPX credit spread setups and managing risk into the weekend
• The impact of volatility, gaps, and why sometimes not trading is the best trade
• Thoughts on the potential removal of the PDT rule and what it could mean for 0DTE traders
• Balancing short-term trades with longer-term positioning in a fast-moving market

As always, this is a real-time conversation about what we’re actually seeing and trading—no hindsight, just process.

Watch the full video version of this episode:

https://youtu.be/2RgGjxUe35w?si=m1BU5TwEq973he2k

Links & Discounts:

• Option Omega → https://optionomega.com (Use code SMOT for a discount)
• Alpha Crunching → https://alphacrunching.com (Use code SPX50 for 50% off your first year)

In this episode, I sit down with Matt from Option Omega to break down how I’m using their platform to backtest and execute strategies from Alpha Crunching—with a focus on the Trend Spread Engine (TSE).

We dig into the core problem many traders are facing right now: what should I actually be trading in this market? With volatility shifting, trends changing, and many swing strategies not triggering, the goal is to find something repeatable that can be traded consistently.

That’s where the Trend Spread Engine comes in.

We walk through:

• Why high-probability spreads alone don’t create an edge
• How intraday time-of-day + trend + strike selection changes outcomes
• The idea of tracking trades every 15 minutes to uncover intraday seasonality
• Using a rolling 90-day dataset to adapt to changing market conditions
• How I turn that data into actual trades using Option Omega

We also get into real examples of how certain time slots (like 10:30am vs 11:30am) rotate in and out of effectiveness—and how that impacts execution week to week.

If you’re trading SPX options—or trying to build a more mechanical, data-driven approach—this is a great behind-the-scenes look at how I’m thinking about strategy development right now.

In this episode, Eric and Brian Terry break down a market that just won’t quit—despite geopolitical tension, rising oil, and a packed economic calendar. With the S&P 500 hovering near all-time highs, the conversation dives into positioning, risk management, and where the real opportunities might be right now.

• 🌐 Alpha Crunching: https://alphacrunching.com
• 🎧 Stock Market Options Trading Podcast: https://stockmarketoptionstrading.net
• 💬 Join the Discord Community: (included with Alpha Crunching subscription)
• 📊 Weekly TSE Report & Trade Setups: Available inside Alpha Crunching

This week’s discussion centers around a tricky market environment—strong momentum on the surface, but plenty of uncertainty underneath.

• The market rallied over 4% last week and continues to hold near highs, even with rising oil and geopolitical concerns
• Key events this week include retail sales, PMI data, and a major appearance from the incoming Fed Chair
• Despite potential volatility, the market continues to show resilience, with dips getting bought quickly

Eric shares how he’s navigating this environment:

• Sitting on higher cash levels after covered calls were assigned
• Looking for pullbacks to re-enter long positions or potentially deploy collar strategies
• Increasing focus on SPX 0DTE trades for short-term opportunities with defined risk

Brian walks through a practical hedge idea using a broken wing butterfly on QQQ, highlighting:

• Favorable risk/reward structure
• Ability to profit even in downside scenarios
• A flexible way to hedge without tying up large capital

• Short-term uncertainty, long-term bullish tone continues to define the market
• Many traders are holding cash, which could fuel continued dip-buying
• 0DTE trading is gaining traction, especially with potential changes to PDT rules making it more accessible
• Gamma levels and options positioning suggest possible resistance near current levels, but nothing is guaranteed

Eric discusses leaning more into:

• Mechanical 0DTE credit spreads using the Trend Spread Engine (TSE)
• Staying active even when swing strategies aren’t triggering
• Using data-driven timing, trend, and strike selection to find edge intraday

Available on:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• And all major podcast platforms

If you’re looking to stay active in this kind of market, this episode is a solid mix of macro perspective and actionable strategy ideas.

🔗 Links & Resources

👉 Alpha Crunching (SPX Options): https://alphacrunching.com

👉 Brian Terry’s COIN Group: https://www.stockmarketoptionstrading.net

👉 Podcast Episodes: https://www.stockmarketoptionstrading.com

👉Latest YouTube video: https://youtu.be/qe_F_GE5Pqo

In this episode, Eric O’Rourke and Brian Terry break down a wild stretch in the S&P 500, with the market ripping higher despite ongoing macro uncertainty and headline-driven volatility.

They dig into what’s actually driving the move, why traditional indicators like the 200-day moving average aren’t carrying the same weight, and how traders can navigate a market that’s shifting quickly between fear and momentum.

You’ll also hear insights on:

• Why this rally may be more about positioning than fundamentals
• The role of contrarian indicators like the put/call ratio and fear index
• How short-term options traders are adapting in this environment
• Real trade examples and how risk/reward is being managed right now

If you’re trading SPX options or just trying to make sense of this market, this episode gives you a grounded, real-time perspective from two active traders.

Trading is better when you’re not going it alone—plug into the communities above to stay connected and keep improving.

In this episode of the Stock Market Options Trading podcast, host Eric O'Rourke breaks down three key reasons why a potential short-term bottom may be forming in the market.

Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions and recent volatility, Eric walks through the signals that suggest the market may be stabilizing—and possibly preparing for a move higher.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why dip buyers stepping in during negative news could signal strength
• What the recent drop in the VIX tells us about market sentiment
• How stronger-than-expected economic data is influencing market direction
• Why the market may already be looking past current headlines
• How short-term traders can think about longer-term market positioning

Eric also shares an important perspective on how the stock market tends to look months ahead—something many short-term traders often overlook.

Whether you're trading SPX options or just trying to understand current market conditions, this episode offers a practical, data-driven view of what might come next.

🔗 Resources & Links:

• Alpha Crunching (SPX trading tools, data, and community): https://alphacrunching.com
• Stock Market Options Trading: https://www.stockmarketoptionstrading.net

About the Host:

Eric O’Rourke is the founder of Alpha Crunching, a growing community focused on data-driven SPX options trading strategies. Through research, backtesting, and real-time tools, Alpha Crunching helps traders identify high-probability opportunities in short-duration trades.

Brian Terry’s Conservative Options Income Group: https://www.stockmarketoptionstrading.net

Eric O’Rourke’s SPX Trading Community:

https://www.alphacrunching.com

Trading in a community gives you perspective, shared ideas, and support—far better than trying to figure it all out on your own.

In this episode, Eric O’Rourke is joined by Brian Terry to break down how they’re navigating a highly volatile, headline-driven market. With uncertainty tied to global events and sharp intraday reversals, both emphasize that sometimes the best trade is no trade at all—and that sitting in cash can be a strategic edge.

Brian shares how he’s staying active by focusing on strength in the energy sector, using diagonal call strategies and poor man’s covered calls on oil-related stocks showing relative strength. Rather than changing strategy structures, he explains how simply rotating into stronger sectors can maintain a bullish or neutral approach even in a weak market.

Eric contrasts this with his SPX-focused approach, where many bullish credit spread strategies are no longer triggering. He discusses why “flipping” strategies (e.g., turning put spreads into call spreads) doesn’t always work, based on backtesting results. Instead, he’s adapting through shorter-duration trades, including 0DTE trend-based spreads, while being more selective—especially on volatile gap days.

Check this Video: https://youtu.be/WLNR_5wf6YI

They also dive into:

• The impact of extreme intraday reversals on short-term trading
• Why timing (like the 10:30am window) can improve probabilities
• Adjusting position sizing and exposure during uncertain conditions
• Using moving averages (like the 100 and 200-day) to manage longer-term portfolios
• The challenge of knowing when to re-enter after going to cash

The episode wraps with a key reminder: markets like this require flexibility, patience, and discipline. You don’t need to force trades—wait for conditions to improve and protect capital so you’re ready when opportunities return.