Weight Watchers (WTW) overall option implied volatility is at 34, according to Track Data, above its 26-week average of 27 into its release of Q4 results on February 17. WTW rallied 2.5% after Jennifer Hudson appeared on Oprah Winfrey's show to discuss her weight loss using Weight Watchers' system.

Russell 2000 (IWM) overall implied volatility at 23; the 26-week average is 26.

Financial Select Sector (XLF) overall volatility at 22; the 26-week average is 25.

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

Motorola Mobility Holdings (MMI), devoted to cell phones and set-top television boxes, has an overall option implied volatility of 41 according to Track Data.

Motorola Solutions (MSI), focused on two-way radios and computing devices used in public safety, has an overall option implied volatility of 30 according to Track Data.

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.

CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) is at 22.20; 10-day moving average is 23.27, 50-day moving average is 28.18, 200-day is 22.20.

SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) overall implied volatility is at 19; 26-week average is 23.

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

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.

Banks are the kink between the financial markets and the Main Street economy. They are also the lubricant -- when they are lending -- of a growing economy.

Using time-honored but now discarded accounting standards, U.S. banks, as a group, are insolvent. They are hoarding cash because deep in the recesses of little offices, they know they will be exposed as insolvent if they have to dump toxic assets on the market. They are also looking at reduced activity due to the economy and new taxes and regulations, and therefore lower profits. And when the Fed raises interest rates, their spreads will contract, also hitting profits.

I love my country: the chaos, the hurly-burly of democracy, the hard work of quiet people and the great, big heart as shown by our private donations to Haiti at a time of near 20% unemployment and underemployment. We forgive wayward politicians and athletes, let our children make more decisions than virtually any people on Earth and we stand for something -- a true city on a hill. But right now, that city is in political chaos ... and pretty broke.

Although, I don't like to say it, it is time to short the United States.

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.

UnitedHealth (UNH) closed at $29.08 Friday, near one-year high. UnitedHealth is hosting an investor meeting on December 2. December option implied volatility is at 40; January is at 42; below its 26-week average of 48 according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

Semiconductor Holders Trust - SMH overall volatility at 29; 26-week average is 33.

Russell 2000 - IWM overall implied volatility at 27; 26-week average is 33.

Financial Select Sector - XLF overall volatility at 34; 26-week average is 40.

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

Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) closed at $51.51. KO over all option implied volatility of 22 is below its 52-week high of 69 from October 2008 and near low of 18 from August 25 according to IVolatility, suggesting decreasing price movement.

NASDAQ 100 - QQQQ overall implied volatility at 23; 26-week average is 30.

Financial Select Sector - XLF overall volatility at 40; 26-week average is 51.

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