The game is changing. It's time to play defense. Two weeks ago the U.S. stock market was in a bullish trend with no end in sight. Now international events are taking center stage. How long the markets can ignore these events is the question of the day.

Brent crude oil is trading at $116 per barrel. This has serious implications for the U.S. economy. If you recall, when oil spiked in 2008, it was a major factor in the recession that followed. People simply could not afford the price of gas and slowed their driving dramatically. We must remember that many people commute 50 to 70 miles a day just to go to work. The money is coming out of the household budget. Some people spend more in gas than they do working, especially if they work part time.

In the wake of Friday's drastic pullback in the stock market, it looks like at least one trader is banking on more short-term volatility. Bright and early Monday, a spread speculator constructed a long straddle on the PowerShares QQQ Trust (QQQQ), with the trader hoping to capitalize on a substantial price swing over the next several weeks.

Specifically, the trader purchased a block of 1,205 February 56 calls, and simultaneously bought a matching block of 1,205 February 56 puts. QQQQ was hovering right at $55.69 at the time of these transactions, placing both strikes very near the money.

iShares Trust FTSE/Xinhua China 25 Fund (FXI) closed at $43.40. Chinese President Hu Jintao will visit Washington DC from Jan. 18 to 21. Overall option implied volatility of 24 is below its 26-week average of 27, according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

NASDAQ 100 (QQQQ) closed near its record high on low overall implied volatility of 18, below its 26-week average of 21.

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

It comes as no surprise to me that current investment blogger consensus is bullish on the markets. They're not bullish by an extremely wide margin, but they are optimistic nonetheless.

An ongoing investment blogger survey, conducted weekly by Ticker Sense from Birinyi Associates Inc., indicates that nearly 54% of the investment writers it surveys are holding a bullish stance for the S&P 500 for the next 30 days. Meanwhile, just over 15% of the survey respondents are bearish on the S&P 500, and approximately 30% are declaring a neutral position.

Yahoo! (YHOO) closed at $15.17. Carl Icahn lowered his stake in YHOO to 11.99 million shares from 62.9 million. YHOO overall option implied volatility of 32 is below its 26-week average of 36, according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

ISE Sentiment Index - ISEE closed at 91 on 2/12/10. ISEE 10-day moving average is 107.

NASDAQ 100 - QQQQ overall implied volatility at 24; 26-week average is 25.

CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) at 21.68; 10-day moving average is 20.49.

SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) overall implied volatility at 24; 26-week average is 24.

NASDAQ 100 (QQQQ) overall implied volatility at 22; 26-week average is 26.

Semiconductor Holders Trust (SMH) overall volatility at 27; 26-week average is 30.

"Some August weakness wouldn't be abnormal and should be viewed as a great buying opportunity," say resource experts Pamela and Mary Anne Aden.

As they discuss in their advisory service, The Aden Forecast, from a longer-term perspective they remain bullish on gold and oil as well as stocks, particularly those in the tech sector.

They explain, "One thing is pretty clear: most markets are overbought for the time being, but in the bigger picture they're clearly oversold (in an area that normally coincides with major market bottoms).

"The stock market's major trend is clearly up, signaling stocks are going to rise further in the months ahead, and probably beyond.

NASDAQ 100 (NASDAQ - QQQQ)verall implied volatility at 26; 26-week average is 32

Semiconductor Holders Trust - SMH overall volatility at 30; 26-week average is 38

Russell 2000 - IWM overall implied volatility at 27; 26-week average is 39

Financial Select Sector - XLF overall volatility at 37; 26-week average is 58

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com