macrocephalopod

That doesn’t make sense. For every option buyer there is a seller, most likely a market maker who already has the stock on hand to deliver it. There will be some stock buying but most of the stock needed to deliver into calls has already been bought.

The clearing houses have very little risk because even if a member defaults, the loss will be covered by other members, this is the basic mechanics of how a clearing house works.

Apex is a subsidiary of a market maker

oh i talked to TastyWorks (3 times), it was Apex

also i don't think that is true about the shares @macrocephalopod not when the trading range is 450-150 in 2 hours period