Darden (DRI) April and October put option implied volatility of 34 is above its 26-week average of 28, according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement into Q3 results that were reported Thursday after the market close.

Euro Currency Trust (FXE) closed up 70 cents to 141.15. Overall option implied volatility of 11 is near its 26-week month average, according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional price movement.

Options Update is by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

CurrencyShares Japanese Yen Trust (FXY) closed up 1.2% in pre-open trading. Overall option implied volatility of 15 is above its 26-week average of 11, according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Red Hat Inc. (RHT) April 44 calls were active on 26K contracts. April and June call 40 call option implied volatility is at 43. This is compared to its 26-week average of 39 according to Track Data, suggesting traders taking positions for larger movement into Q4 results expected to be released on March 23.

Options Update is by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

The markets were full of contradictions last week. Take for example the turmoil in the Middle East. In past crises, investors flocked to the U.S. dollar. But not this time. The U.S. dollar futures contract fell to 76.41 last week.

Another contradiction: the U.S. jobs report was the best in two years, with 192,000 new jobs added. The stock market should have rallied strongly. Instead the Dow fell 88 points. The crises in Libya and elsewhere overshadowed the favorable jobs picture.

The U.S. dollar is coming under increasing pressure on several fronts. First and foremost is oil. Oil closed at $102 per barrel Wednesday for the first time in over two years. Oil has been driven upwards by the turmoil in the Middle East. The Libyan situation is getting worse with both sides vowing to fight on. There is unrest throughout the Arab region. The great fear for the West is that oil flows may be disrupted. The U.S. dollar usually moves inversely to oil. Today the March futures closed at 76.689, down .394

Amid the political and social uprisings in the Middle East, and union protests in the U.S., a recent speech by a pivotal U.S. policy maker received little attention, but it's one that investors should review.

In a speech before the recent G-20 meeting, U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke urged emerging market nations to address the flood of money streaming into their markets.