The Options Insider Radio Network

Big Tech once again ruled the options market as NVIDIA, Tesla, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, Micron, and Intel accounted for the day's most active contracts despite a lighter overall trading session. On this episode of The Hot Options Report, Mark Longo breaks down the biggest options movers of Monday's session, including: NVIDIA once again claims the top spot on the options leaderboard Tesla extends its recent slide as traders swarm same-day expiration calls Apple's impressive rally finally cools off Microsoft, Amazon, Micron, Intel and Alphabet all see heavy 0DTE activity SpaceX continues trading below its IPO price while the mysterious 330 calls remain active IREN surges nearly 20% as options traders chase the move QuikOptions' latest Congressional and Senate trading scans Plus, we examine how many of today's hottest same-day expiration options briefly traded in the money before reversing by the closing bell. For institutional-quality options flow, unusual activity, dark pool analytics, Congressional trading data, and much more, visit TheHotOptionsReport.com, powered by QuikOptions.

Bitcoin has reclaimed the $65,000 level, Ethereum is showing renewed strength, and crypto traders are once again reaching for upside calls. On this episode, Mark Longo breaks down the latest action across the crypto markets, from Bitcoin and ETH to MicroStrategy, BitMine (BMNR), Circle, Hyperliquid (PURR), and more. This week's episode includes: Bitcoin's rally back above $65K Ethereum's strongest week in months What traders are buying in IBIT and ETHA options MicroStrategy (MSTR) call spreads and positioning BMNR's growing options activity Circle (CRCL) and Hyperliquid (PURR) options flow Market cap movers including Solana, XRP, DOGE, BNB and more The latest crypto volatility and options trends

On today's episode, Mark Longo, Andrew Giovinazzi and Mike Tosaw dive into another wild mix of market analysis, unusual options activity, earnings season, volatility, and plenty of laughs. The show kicks off with memorable trivia ranging from W.C. Fields' famous "bathroom library" to a surprising piece of World War II history before shifting into the biggest stories driving the options market. This episode covers: Why markets continue to shrug off geopolitical headlines The coming wave of Big Tech earnings and why Alphabet could set the tone for AI stocks Oracle's collapse and what it may signal for AI spending Apple, NVIDIA, Microsoft, Tesla, Netflix, SpaceX and Palantir VIX activity and whether volatility is finally finding support Unusual options trades in ONON, NOV and CLYM Covered call management after expiration Rolling winners, adjusting losing positions and avoiding perfectionism Earnings previews for Alphabet, Tesla, Intel, American Airlines and more

Apple bucked the broader tech selloff while Netflix stumbled following earnings on an action-packed expiration Friday. On this episode of The Hot Options Report, we break down the biggest options movers of the day, including Apple, Netflix, NVIDIA, Tesla, SpaceX, Micron, Intel, Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft. We also dive into today's featured Senate Yay Scan, highlighting the latest stock purchases disclosed by Senator John Boozman, and analyze what they could mean for traders. From expiration-day gamma to unusual options activity and the hottest contracts on the tape, we cover everything active options traders need to know before heading into the weekend. For more options data, unusual activity scans, and professional tools, visit TheHotOptionsReport.com, brought to you by QuikOptions.

In this episode of Volatility Views, host Mark Longo is joined by "Muscle" Rhoads (Dr. Russell Rhoads), Mark Sebastian from Option Pit, and the long-awaited return of the Thompson Twins (Matt and Mike Thompson of Thompson Capital). Together, the crew unpacks a wild week of violent market rotations, earnings season anxieties, and the localized panic ripping through semiconductor and AI stocks. The team takes a deep dive into the vol surface to analyze why the equal-weighted VIX EQ is surging past 50 while index-level vol remains relatively contained. Are we looking at a localized tech overreaction, or the brink of a massive correlation-one sell-off? Plus, they break down a bizarre, head-scratching 100-strike VIX put trade, structural "mullet" vs. "tulum" strategies, and the latest reverse splits shaking up the vol ETP space (SVIX, UVXY, and UVIX). What's inside this episode: The Volatility Review: Deconstructing the Taiwan Semi fallout, Nvidia's wild swings, and how money is rotating between tech hyperscalers and broader indices. The New VIX Order: Why geopolitical and event-driven vol spikes are mean-reverting faster than ever in the modern market ecosystem. Term Structure & Haircuts: Moving long and short on the curve—the team explains why they are leaning into the traditional "mullet" style. VIX Options Flow: Breaking down the massive volume behind the August 26 calls, the shift toward the 17 puts, and another round of mocking high-risk, low-reward institutional trades. ETP & Levered Vol Update: Dealing with the liquidity drain post-reverse splits in UVXY and UVIX, and why tracking seasonality matters right now. The Crystal Ball: The guys put their reputations on the line with their weekly VIX and Volley predictions for next week.

On this episode, we are joined by Mike Tosaw of St. Charles Wealth Management to analyze the biggest futures options stories from around the globe.  In this episode: The week's biggest Movers & Shakers across metals, energy, agriculture and equity indexes Is silver finally becoming a buying opportunity after its sharp selloff? Gold, wheat, crude oil and the commodity contracts making the biggest moves Mike's outlook on the S&P 500 and whether equities are building a base for another breakout Why interest rates and the 10-Year Treasury could become the dominant market story in the months ahead A deep dive into the massive options activity in Treasury futures Bitcoin and Ether futures options, including Mike's surprisingly bullish Bitcoin options strategy despite his long-held skepticism toward crypto The hottest futures options trades, unusual activity and volatility trends from CME Group

Here are the descriptions written out in standard text format, ready to copy and paste without any of the HTML coding. 1. Libsyn Show Description (Podcast Directories) Wrap up your trading day with host Mark Longo on The Hot Options Report for Thursday, July 16, 2026. Tech giants and chipmakers are feeling the heat as we head into a massive Friday expiration. Whether it's traders hunting for late-stage juice in Micron or managing risk in SpaceX, the options tape was absolutely on fire today. Inside This Episode: Capitol Hill Trades: We dive into recent stock purchases from House members including Amphenol Corp (APH), Ellington Financial (EFC), and Hilton (HLT). The Tech & Chip Sell-off: Chip names get hammered despite strong Taiwan Semi numbers. Intel (INTC) drops nearly 6% while Nvidia (NVDA) slides to close at $207.40, pacing the leaderboard with 2.76M contracts. The Wild West of Micron (MU): Down $51 to close at $853.20. Are traders abandoning the $1,000 strikes? We look at the heavy action on the $900 calls going for over $7.00 in premium. SpaceX Back in the Top 10: Trading below its $135 IPO price, SpaceX draws 774,000 contracts. We decipher the massive block of next-week $330 calls—is this ETF risk management at play? Earnings & Expiration Action: Post-earnings movement on Netflix (NFLX) plus short-dated plays on Apple (AAPL), Tesla (TSLA), Alphabet (GOOGL), Amazon (AMZN), and Microsoft (MSFT). Resources & Links: Run Your Own Scans: Check out TheHotOptionsReport.com to find unusual activity, scan the flow, and track the data yourself.

Is the tech correction finally giving options traders a bargain hunter's paradise? On this episode of The Option Block, host Mark Longo is joined by Uncle Mike Tosaw of St. Charles Wealth Management and Cboe's Henry Schwartz (The Flowmaster) to dissect a choppy, red-tinged market. Together, the panel searches for deals, analyzes massive unusual blocks, and discusses whether the AI/chip trade has finally peaked. On The Trading Block Market Round-up: Mark Longo guides the team through the SPX flirts with the 7,600 magnet, a slipping Nasdaq, and VIX cash vacillating around the 16 handle. The Chip Sell-Off: Mike Tosaw breaks down why blockbuster earnings from Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM) triggered a massive wave of "sold to you" across AMD, Nvidia, and Micron. SpaceX Breakdown: Trading well below its IPO price, Henry Schwartz details the bizarre 330 call options activity and explains how double-levered ETFs use these deep out-of-the-money options for risk management. The New Number Three: Apple solidifies its lock on the #3 spot in options volume. Plus, a preview of earnings for Netflix and Alcoa. The Odd Block (Unusual Options Activity) Papa John's (PZZA): A massive roll-up in the August 40/45 vertical call spreads. Is someone picking the bottom in pizza volatility? Henry Schwartz dives deep into the Cboe data. Cerebras Systems (CBRS): Mark Longo points out heavy volume in the July 31st 360 calls for this newly listed AI/semi player. DNOW Inc (DNOW): A customer unloads over 5,900 of the September 14 calls. Why writing these juicy calls might be a genius "line in the sand" play. The Mail Block & Around the Block Extended Options Hours: Henry Schwartz gives an exclusive update on the pending rollout of pre-market single-name options trading. Mike Tosaw shares what he's keeping on his trading radar for the rest of the week, from bank earnings reactions to the next wave of mega-cap tech reports.

Why are the futures markets acting so strange? In this episode of The Futures Rundown, host Mark Longo welcomes back Mr. Rich Excell, Director of the Derivatives and Trading Academy at the Gies College of Business (University of Illinois)—frequently dubbed the "Hogwarts for derivatives traders." Mark and Rich dive deep into the concept of "unexpected performance" across the tape. When prices fail to rally on good news or refuse to drop on bad news, it's a major indicator of crowded positioning. The duo dissects the anomaly of falling livestock prices despite record Midwest heat waves, the rock-bottom correlation compressing index-level volatility (VIX), and why everyone is watching the E-Mini technical chart patterns for an impending breakout. What's Inside This Episode: The Trading Pit (Movers & Shakers): Analyzing why Natural Gas and Orange Juice (OJ) are stuck in the cellar, while Wheat variants and Ethereum (ETH) lead the charge to the green zone. The Volume Breakdown: Breaking down the massive spikes in Nasdaq Micro contracts and why fixed-income volume is surging despite muted data reactions. Equities & Macro Outlook: Why strong economic fundamentals and robust corporate earnings point toward a potential summer breakout, despite heavy confusion in the pit. Foreign Exchange & Metals Focus: Rich shares his structural look at the Japanese Yen, the Aussie/Yen growth indicator, and whether Gold is settled into a long-term range trade. The Futures Free-For-All: Answering listener questions on crypto hype, the possibility of a "water futures" contract, and whether the VIX is heading for the summer doldrums or a sudden spike.

Host Mark Longo takes you through a high-velocity, respectable day on the tape as options volume bounces back. We kick things off with a trip to the political side of trading via our House Nay Scans, highlighting the stocks our representatives are unloading this week—including Rick Larsen selling Abbott Labs (ABT), John McGuire dropping BlackRock (BLK), and Susie Lee letting go of Full House Resorts (FLL). Then, we countdown the top 10 most active names on the tape, featuring a wild day of zero-day-to-expiration (0DTE) pinning action: Apple (AAPL): Back on top of the world, setting a new all-time high of $328.73 before a massive 204,000-contract pin exactly on the $327.50 strike. NVIDIA (NVDA): Dominates the number one spot with 4.03 million contracts, leading to an incredible 425,000-contract pin on the $212.50 line. Micron (MU): Tanks 8% to close at $904.28, leaving short sellers of the $900 par puts sweating through an intraday low of $873. Tesla (TSLA): Battles at the $400 par strike with a whopping 276,000 contracts on the board. Plus updates on: IREN (Sep $65 calls), Alphabet (GOOGL), Intel (INTC), Meta (META), Microsoft (MSFT), and Amazon (AMZN). Inform your next trade with the latest analytics and scans at  http://www.TheHotOptionsReport.com

Mark Longo and Dan Passarelli dive deep into the mailbag to break down the mechanics behind the explosive growth of the options market and answer your burning strategy questions. The guys unpack a historic month in the industry—June 2026 pulled in a mind-blowing 1.6 billion contracts—and debate what this massive wave of liquidity actually means for retail traders. Is the market becoming too efficient, or are the opportunities bigger than ever? Topics covered in this episode include: The Record Volume Boom: A look at the staggering numbers from 2017 to today. How the pandemic structurally changed options trading forever, and where the peaks and troughs of liquidity hide. Mastering the Wheel Strategy: Dan addresses his "mythical" $30 threshold and explains the exact circumstances under which he'll run a wheel trade on a stock under $5 (including a look at his current covered strangle on a $4 stock). SpaceX ($SPCX) Options Pain: Two weeks post-IPO, the guys analyze the action, the crushing moves, the symmetry of iron flies, and why cutting losses early on a juicy but volatile setup is a rite of passage for successful traders. The Hardest Lesson in Trading: Why your exit strategy matters vastly more than your entry plan.

Wrap up your trading day for Tuesday, July 14, 2026, with Mark Longo on The Hot Options Report. It was a steady day on the tape, with the top 10 threshold landing just shy of the half-million contract mark at 497,000. Mark breaks down the social scans over at TheHotOptionsReport.com—highlighting what's trending up on X, including Luckin Coffee (LKNCY), Amkor Technology (AMKR), and a wild day for Carvana (CVNA). Then, we count down the top 10 most active equity options dominating the chains: Microsoft (MSFT): Paper leans toward selling the short-term 390 calls expiring Wednesday. Terawulf (WULF) & Oracle (ORCL): Massive action in WULF's August 25 calls, while Oracle hits a new 52-week low. Amazon (AMZN) & Micron (MU): Tech chips in as Amazon eyes the 250 strike and Micron rallies nearly 5% to flirt with par ($1,000). Intel (INTC) & Palantir (PLTR): Out-of-the-money lotto prints in Intel, and Palantir climbs the ranks to number 4. Apple (AAPL), Tesla (TSLA), & Nvidia (NVDA): The big dogs take center stage as Nvidia regains yesterday's losses, lighting up the Wednesday 210 calls. Find out where the smart money is leaning, which strikes are creating the most sweat equity, and how to scan the unusual activity for yourself at TheHotOptionsReport.com

On this episode of The Crypto Rundown, host Mark Longo welcomes back Bill Ulivieri from Cenacle Capital Management to break down a wild, volatile few weeks in the digital asset space. Bill calls his official generational bottom for Bitcoin, leaning into quantitative power laws, internal AI metrics, and cyclic low models that point to a major buying window between now and November. The guys also dive deep into the collapsing NAV discounts on MicroStrategy (MSTR), the rising options volume across IBIT and ETHA, and the latest dramatic re-shuffling in the Altcoin Universe.

Host Mark Longo breaks down a fascinating day in the derivatives space as a broader tech sell-off tests traders' patience and summer baseline volumes hold steady. In this episode, we unpack the high-stakes action ripping through the options chains, including a deep dive into the massive post-IPO volatility hitting Elon Musk's aerospace giant, where heavy put buying signals aggressive fading from retail and paper traders alike. Plus, we break down the high-volume flows, near-miss intraday spikes, and sweat-inducing expiration plays across the major tech landscape—covering heavy single-day option contract volume in retail favorites and major tech giants. Want to carve up the tape yourself? Head over to TheHotOptionsReport.com to check out our customized Reddit, Wall Street Bets, and congressional trading scans to build your own strategy.

In this Monday edition of The Option Block, Mark Longo, Uncle Mike Tosaw, and Andrew Giovinazzi break down the lighter-than-expected market reaction to escalating headlines, China's mysterious domestic oil consumption cuts, and the massive wave of bank earnings hitting the tape this week. The crew dives deep into the options tape to track surging volume in the VIX July and October cycles, alongside heavy single-name trading in NVIDIA (NVDA), Tesla (TSLA), Apple (AAPL), and the post-IPO fire sale in SpaceX. Plus, unusual activity lights up biotech name Agenus (AGEN) after securing a $340M colon cancer trial, and a short-term pop hits Shake Shack (SHAK). In the Strategy Block, Uncle Mike breaks down an educational, risk-managed way to scale into SpaceX using an August 1x2 ratio put spread—buying the 110 put and selling two of the 100 puts to create a heavily discounted entry point. What's inside this episode: The Trading Block: Market reaction to Persian Gulf tensions, oil hitting 1-week highs, and VIX volume surges. The Odd Block: Frenzied call buying in Agenus Inc. (AGEN) and short-term weekly targets in Shake Shack (SHAK). The Strategy Block: How to use a 1x2 ratio put spread to lower your break-even point on highly volatile stocks. Around the Block: Pre-earnings straddle pricing for JPMorgan (JPM), Citi (C), Bank of America (BAC), and Goldman Sachs (GS).

In this episode, Mark Longo, Russell Rhoads (Dr. VIX), and Scott Nations dive deep into a massive divergence brewing under the surface of the equity indexes. While S&P 500 volatility is sitting quietly at seasonal lows, Nasdaq 100 volatility tells a completely different story as tech and AI anticipation ramps up ahead of Microsoft's pivotal earnings report. Key Topics Covered: The Volatility Review: Breaking down a massive two-week crush that dragged VIX cash down nearly 4 points, alongside drops in VOLY and the VVIX. The Nasdaq vs. S&P Divergence: Scott explains how VolDex measures show completely different volatility regimes for tech vs. broad market index options. The Tech "Canary": Why Russell has Microsoft's upcoming July 29th year-end earnings report circled as the ultimate reality check for the AI boom. VIX Futures & The Return of Volume: June options volume just put up a historic 1.6 billion contracts. Why are traders suddenly piling back into VIX futures? The "Dark Web" of Vol Trades: Analyzing a bizarre, deep-in-the-money August put spread and a massive November VIX call strip paired with a 1x6 put ratio spread. Crystal Ball: Predictions for where VIX and VOLI land by next week.

Nvidia completely dominates the tape today, putting up a staggering 5.76 million contracts with index-level volume on the 210 calls. Meanwhile, Microsoft options are setting up as the "canary in the coal mine" for the broader AI trade. Mark also dives into the "Lucky Seven" scan—highlighting stocks trading at exactly seven times their normal volume—featuring under-the-radar names like AQST, AMTX, and ALM. Today's Top 10 Breakdown Includes: INTC: Aggressive paper buying the 62.5 puts. SOFI: End-of-month 20-strike calls ahead of earnings. MU: The "Pars" (1000 calls) go the way of the dodo. Plus expiration day action in PLTR, AMZN, AAPL, META, and TSLA. Get the data for yourself at TheHotOptionsReport.com.

In this episode, Mark Longo and Carley Garner of DeCarley Trading dig deep into the data using the CME Group TWIFO tool to explore major volatility shifts, unexpected open interest spikes, and unique options trading strategies across multiple asset classes. What's Inside This Episode: The Movers & Shakers Report: A surprising look at the top gainers and losers over the last two weeks. Why did oats quietly take the #1 spot on the light side, and what triggered the Nikkei (in Yen) to plummet 14.8% to the dark side? Energy (Crude Oil & Natural Gas): A breakdown of WTI crude oil navigating Middle East geopolitical headlines, shifting call skews, and high-volume short-dated options. Plus, Carley explains why Natural Gas (the "Widowmaker") might be prepping for a 70–80 cent liquidation drop and how to play it with cheap puts. Equities (NASDAQ & S&P 500): Is this a "Teflon market" driven purely by AI complacency, or are we tracking a technical pattern mirroring the early 2026 meltdown? The hosts dissect a heavy round of 30k NASDAQ call options and the logistics of trading symmetrical butterflies in high-dollar indices. Foreign Exchange (FX & Japanese Yen): The Yen hits a 40-year low against the USD. Carley breaks down why FX options are surprisingly cheap, the probability of a Bank of Japan (BOJ) intervention, and how to structure low-risk micro/mini futures combinations. Agricultural Markets (Corn & Livestock): Grains get a temporary boost from weather rallies and Chinese buying rumors. Discover why the team is leaning short on Dec corn with long puts, and why live cattle charts are flashing ominous warning signs reminiscent of the 2014 macro blow-off top.

Host Mark Longo breaks down today's wild market action, starting with the 5K Club scans on TheHotOptionsReport.com featuring Keel Infrastructure, Caesars, and StubHub. Then, we dive into the Top 10 most active options chains of the day, breaking down volume, hot contracts, and what paper was doing ahead of the upcoming expirations. On today's report: Tech and Chip Volatility: Massive moves in Micron rallying over 4 percent, Meta surging past the 600 strike on AI compute news, and Intel's deep in-the-money options activity. The Trillion-Dollar Club: Breaking down heavy expiration volume in Nvidia, Tesla, Apple, and Microsoft. Market Movers: Surprising volume spikes in Oracle, Amazon, and SpaceX. Find your own unusual activity at TheHotOptionsReport.com.

Mark Longo, Uncle Mike Tosaw, and Henry Schwartz (The Flow Master) dive right into the record-breaking June options volume and dissect some highly unusual trading activity across VIX and biotech sectors. In this episode, the panel covers: The Trading Block: A look at the market shrugging off geopolitical tensions in Iran. Plus, analyzing the mind-boggling 1.6 billion contract volume from June 2026, driven by massive surges in ETF, equity, and index options. Wild VIX Action: Breaking down an extraordinary, massive November VIX put spread (1x6 trade) and a massive November call strip (strikes ranging from 65 to 95). What are the big portfolio hedgers bracing for? The Odd Block: Spotting unusual options activity in under-the-radar biotechs and tech names, including heavy call volume in Iovance Biotherapeutics (IOVA), October call sweeps in urban air mobility player EHang (EH), and aggressive layering into Aug 20 calls for Sotera Health Company (SHC). Around the Block: Predictions for the S&P 500 as it sits just 75 points away from all-time highs, what to watch for over the weekend, and a look at Cboe's new XSP prediction/binary contracts.

Mark Longo welcomes veteran trader Dan "The Man" Gramza of Gramza Capital Management back to the trading pit to break down a wild, volatile week across the global macro landscape. Mark and Dan dive deep into the renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and why energy markets are suddenly dominating the tape again. From crude oil and heating oil surges to unexpected movements in crypto and commodities, they separate the signal from the noise. In this episode, they discuss: The Energy Resurgence: Why crude oil, RBOB gasoline, and heating oil are lighting up the top performance lists. Commodity Shockers: What is driving the massive 19%+ explosive move in Cocoa? Crypto Volatility: A look at Ether (ETH) and Bitcoin (BTC) as they struggle with ongoing volatility despite near-term spikes. The "Teenie" B100: First impressions of Bloomberg's new index futures and potential spread trading opportunities against the Nasdaq. Blame the Kiwis? The surprising history behind the Federal Reserve's 2% inflation target and why New Zealand is at the root of it all. Equity Market Outlook: Dan's technical predictions for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq neutral-zone bounds over the summer.

In this episode, Mark Longo and Dan Passarelli hold a crucial discussion on the realities, logistics, and hidden dangers of trading while traveling. They break down their personal rules of thumb for managing risk on the move, why 24-hour trading might eliminate our last remaining "mini-vacations," and how to handle your portfolio so you can actually enjoy your time off. Plus, the drill instructors open up the mailbag to answer your burning questions about market health, the role of monthly vs. weekly expirations, and a special look at the historical spikes in the Cboe Dispersion Index.

The options market came roaring back after the holiday break, with AI stocks once again dominating the tape. On this episode of The Hot Options Report, Mark Longo breaks down the biggest options movers of the session, including a massive surge in NVIDIA options volume, Broadcom's rally after its Apple partnership announcement, Tesla's active put trading, and continued speculative interest in SpaceX options. You'll also discover what unusual activity surfaced in the latest 10K Club scan, featuring VIX, the iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA), and SpaceX. Inside this episode: • The latest 10K Club unusual options activity • NVIDIA explodes back to the top of the options volume rankings • Tesla traders battle around the 390 strike • Apple and Broadcom rally on major news • SpaceX speculation reaches another level • Micron call buyers aim for the $1,000 strike • VIX and ETHA return to the unusual activity spotlight • The biggest options trades and unusual flow from today's market Check out more tools, scans, and premium data at TheHotOptionsReport.com.

The options market came roaring back after the holiday break, with AI stocks once again dominating the tape. On this episode of The Hot Options Report, Mark Longo breaks down the biggest options movers of the session, including a massive surge in NVIDIA options volume, Broadcom's rally after its Apple partnership announcement, Tesla's active put trading, and continued speculative interest in SpaceX options. You'll also discover what unusual activity surfaced in the latest 10K Club scan, featuring VIX, the iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA), and SpaceX. Inside this episode: • The latest 10K Club unusual options activity • NVIDIA explodes back to the top of the options volume rankings • Tesla traders battle around the 390 strike • Apple and Broadcom rally on major news • SpaceX speculation reaches another level • Micron call buyers aim for the $1,000 strike • VIX and ETHA return to the unusual activity spotlight • The biggest options trades and unusual flow from today's market Check out more tools, scans, and premium data at TheHotOptionsReport.com.

In this episode of OIC 2026 Conversations, Mark Longo sits down with Matt Fox, Co-Founder & CEO of SpotGamma, to discuss how options flow is increasingly driving today's markets. The conversation explores the explosive growth of 0DTE options, the role of gamma in shaping intraday price action, and how traders can use support and resistance levels derived from options positioning to better understand market behavior. Mark and Matt also dive into: The rise of 0DTE trading Positive vs. negative gamma environments Why options volume is growing faster than stock volume Gamma scalping and dealer positioning Intraday volatility versus end-of-day market stability The GameStop phenomenon and the origins of "Diamond Hands" Real-time options analytics and market structure The growing debate around 24/7 options trading Why Matt believes more options products are good—but nonstop markets may not be

Mark Longo sits down with two key executives from Options & Company—Jorge Lobo, Head of Treasury, and Ivyson Vilanova, CFO—for a fascinating look inside Brazil's evolving options marketplace. Options & Company has built its business around improving liquidity, transparency, education, and access for Brazilian options traders. In this conversation, Jorge and Ivyson explain how the firm is helping address some of the biggest challenges facing Brazil's derivatives market while also pursuing ambitious plans for international expansion. The discussion explores the current state of the Brazilian options ecosystem, the dominance of OTC structured products, the need for greater retail investor education, and how Options & Company is working to bring tighter spreads and more efficient markets to investors across Brazil. Mark and his guests also discuss: • The mission and growth of Options & Company • Why options education remains a major opportunity in Brazil • Liquidity challenges in Brazilian listed options • The role of OTC products in the retail marketplace • Brazil's most active sectors and underlying names, including Petrobras, Vale, Itaú, and Nubank • Why international investors are taking a fresh look at Brazil • Plans for Options & Company's expansion into the United States and other global markets • The potential impact of a second Brazilian derivatives exchange • How the Brazilian options market differs from the U.S. market • Why trends like 0DTE and 24-hour trading remain years away from widespread adoption in Brazil

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the financial industry—but could it eventually become your options broker? In this exclusive interview from the Options Industry Conference 2026, Mark Longo sits down with Jim Swartwout, CEO of Prosperum Fintech Holdings, to discuss how AI is being integrated into brokerage services, options trading, customer support, education, and portfolio management. Jim brings decades of experience from some of the biggest names in the brokerage industry, including Schwab, Fidelity, E*TRADE, TradeMonster, Scottrade, Ally, and Robinhood. He shares how Prosperum is developing AI-powered tools that can assist traders with options strategies, account monitoring, education, and eventually even trade execution. They also discuss: The future of AI-powered brokerage services Building "Alex," Prosperum's AI trading assistant Can AI help traders manage complex options strategies? The role of education in successful options trading 24-hour options trading and market access 0DTE options and evolving market structure Prediction markets and their growing popularity Crypto, tokenization, and the future of financial markets What traders should expect from Prosperum in the months ahead

In this episode, host Mark Benzaquen sits down with Steve Sosnick, Chief Strategist at Interactive Brokers, to explore the evolution of volatility from a simple pricing input to a full-fledged asset class. Steve breaks down the VIX, pushes back on the "fear gauge" label, and shares how investors at every level are using volatility-linked products to hedge risk and capture opportunity — before the conversation takes a lighter turn on life, karaoke, and loving what you do.

What exactly is the VIX? How is it calculated? Why doesn't it always move opposite the market? And what's really driving VIX futures, options and volatility ETPs? This week on Options Boot Camp, Mark Longo welcomes back the legendary "Dr. VIX" himself, Russell Rhoads, for an extended deep dive into the world's most popular volatility index. Whether you're new to volatility trading or looking to sharpen your understanding of advanced VIX concepts, this episode is packed with practical insights, common pitfalls, and actionable ideas. In this episode, you'll learn: What the VIX actually measures (and what it doesn't) How the VIX is calculated using SPX options Why VIX can sometimes rise alongside the stock market The mechanics and risks of VIX settlement Spot VIX vs. VIX futures—and why the difference matters Contango, backwardation and the infamous "negative roll yield" How VIX options are priced and what futures drive them Common mistakes new VIX traders make The pros and cons of VXX, UVXY, UVIX and SVIX How Russell uses volatility products as hedges and trading tools Listener questions on volatility products, risk reversals and today's market environment

Mark Longo sits down with Fateen Sharaby, Head of Index Derivatives at Bloomberg, during the 2026 Options Industry Conference to discuss the future of index derivatives, competition in benchmark products, and the evolution of the options marketplace. In this interview, they explore: Bloomberg's growing equity index business The launch of Bloomberg 500 and Bloomberg 100 futures with MIAX Why Bloomberg believes the index marketplace needs more competition The rise of 0DTE index options Institutional and retail adoption of index derivatives Volatility-based and options-based investment strategies The potential impact of major IPOs on benchmark construction 24-hour trading and the future of global market access The growing interest in perpetual futures and derivatives What traders should watch as Bloomberg expands its derivatives ecosystem

What are the biggest opportunities, risks, and regulatory battles shaping the options industry today? At the Options Industry Conference 2026, Mark Longo sits down with Jim Toes, President & CEO of the Security Traders Association (STA), for a wide-ranging discussion on the hottest topics in the derivatives world. From the explosive growth of single-name 0DTE options and FLEX products to prediction markets, event contracts, pattern day trader reforms, and the push toward 24-hour trading, Jim shares his perspective on where the industry is headed next. They also discuss the changing regulatory environment under SEC Chairman Paul Atkins, the challenges of market structure reform, and why the future of options trading may look very different than it does today. In This Episode: The rollout of single-name 0DTE options FLEX options and the rise of outcome ETFs Why options volume continues to surge Pattern Day Trader rule reform Prediction markets vs. traditional derivatives The push toward 24-hour options trading SEC regulation and market structure What concerns industry leaders most about the future

Guest: Greg Stevens, VP of Options Strategy - Fidelity Topics: Should options trade 24/7? How are Fidelity's customers using the new 0DTE equity options? Any surprises? What is Fidelity doing in the prediction markets? Are they going to follow Robin Hood's lead and buy an exchange? How does Fidelity approach options education? What cool new bells and whistles is Fidelity rolling out for options traders? and much more...

The vol market might be caught in a midsummer lull between truncated holiday weeks, but underneath the surface, there is plenty of drama to slice and dice. In this episode, host Mark Longo welcomes back "Dr. Vix" Russell Rhoads (Indiana University) and Bill Luby (Luby Assessment Management) to dissect a market that seems to be trapped in an anticipatory holding pattern. The guys dive deep into: The Volatility Review: A look at a celebratory but hair-trigger market as VIX cash flirts with the 19 handle. The Geopolitical Risk Horizon: Why the market chose to look right past recent Middle East turmoil and what a sub-$70 crude environment means for tech and macro hedging. The AI CapEx Arms Race: Tech earnings showdowns, Micron's blockbuster numbers, and why Microsoft's upcoming year-end earnings report could be the ultimate summer volatility catalyst. "Someone has to flinch" on tech spending—who will it be? Deep-in-the-Money VIX Puts: Analyzing the massive rise in ultra-deep VIX put spreads. Is it a smart margin play, or just a fun deployment of "entertainment capital"? Russell's Weekly Rundown: Breaking down the wild weekly options flows, short call spread ouchies, and drawing lines in the sand at the 17 and 19 strikes. Crystal Ball: The crew looks ahead past the America 250 holiday to make their two-week volatility predictions.

The commodity roller coaster kept traders busy this week as crude oil gave back much of its recent geopolitical premium, silver suffered another sharp selloff, and Nasdaq futures options lit up the tape following a volatile week for equities. On this episode of This Week in Futures Options, Mark Longo breaks down the biggest movers across the futures options landscape, including: Why silver volatility remains elevated despite a brutal correction Massive activity in WTI crude oil 65 puts as traders reposition Nasdaq 100 futures options reacting to earnings, inflation data and heavy market swings The biggest movers on the light side and dark side across CME markets Volatility, skew and unusual options activity across metals, energy and equity indexes What traders were buying and selling ahead of the America 250 holiday week

In this episode, host Mark Longo breaks down a wild, red-dominated trading session for Thursday, June 25, 2026, as a massive tech sell-off sweeps through the major indices. First, we dive into today's featured scan from TheHotOptionsReport.com: the Symbol Pump scan, highlighting massive volume surges in KCAI, MIMI, and FERA. Then, we kick off our daily Top 10 options volume countdown, where we look at the exact strikes, contract volume, and option premiums lighting up the tape. Inside this episode: SpaceX (#10): Falling off its usual #3 spot and testing the critical $150 IPO print. Is the 150 put a coin flip? Palantir (#8) & MicroStrategy (#7): Tech names get shellacked. Palantir hits multi-month lows, while Strategy slides nearly 30% over the past week. The Tech Carnage (#6 & #5): Amazon and Microsoft erase post-Micron optimism with heavy selling. Micron (#4): A wild post-earnings ride. After opening strong and dropping 100 handles, it claws back to finish up 165 handles at $1213.56. We look at the massive action on the 1300 calls. Apple (#2) & Nvidia (#1): Apple drops over 6% after pricing anxieties hit The Street, while Nvidia slides below par ($200) to capture the top volume spot with 3.17 million contracts.

host Mark Longo is joined by Henry Schwartz from Cboe and Mike Tosaw from St. Charles Wealth Management to break down the wildest trends shaking up the options market as we wrap up the first half of 2026. The crew dives headfirst into the massive tech market crosscurrents following Micron's blockbuster earnings release. Is the tech wreck fading, or are single-name equity options setting up for a major fade? Plus, the team analyzes a surprising spike in the VIX driven entirely by SPX upside FOMO positioning. In this episode's Trading Block and Odd Block segments, the panel uncovers questionable, high-volume flow in some very unusual names: Bumble (BMBL): Checking back in on the land of ladies looking for love. Why are traders suddenly buying up the August $3 calls on this beaten-down name? Klarna (KLAR): A massive institutional call-selling sweep hits this buy-now-pay-later fintech giant. Is it delta hedging or a short-term volatility play? Chime Financial (CHYM): A deep look into a massive, wide-collar strategy using low-delta puts and calls ahead of August earnings. The Silver Saga: Mike Tosaw addresses the live chat backlash after hesitating to pull the trigger on his famous $40 SLV put claim. Around the Block: The team previews what to expect from market volume, oil prices, and crypto/MSTR volatility heading into the upcoming America 250 holiday week.

What happens when paper trading meets the real world? On this episode of Options Boot Camp, Mark Longo is joined by Dan Passarelli (Market Taker Mentoring) and Matt Amberson (ORATS) to tackle one of the biggest challenges for premium sellers: why a single losing iron condor can wipe out weeks of steady gains. The discussion covers practical risk management techniques for credit spreads, when to take profits, how to manage losing trades, and why backtesting is just as important as paper trading. The panel also dives into the explosive launch of SPCX (SpaceX) options, including record-breaking volume, sky-high implied volatility, and why experienced traders approached the frenzy very differently. Finally, the crew answers listener questions about zero-DTE options, VIX term structure, calendar spreads, and whether the options market has fundamentally changed over the past few years. In this episode you'll learn: Why paper trading can create unrealistic expectations Managing iron condors before one trade wipes out multiple winners Profit-taking vs. stop-loss rules for credit spreads How backtesting can improve trading discipline What made the SPCX options launch historic Trading ultra-high implied volatility Have 0DTE options changed options trading forever? Managing calendar spreads during volatility spikes Why you still can't trade spot VIX

On this episode of The Hot Options Report, Mark Longo breaks down another action-packed trading session featuring a surprise meme-stock resurgence, a major post-earnings move from Micron, continued pressure in SpaceX, and another massive day of options activity from the market's biggest names. This episode includes: • NVIDIA tops the options leaderboard once again • Tesla, Amazon and Apple dominate today's active options • SpaceX continues its sharp pullback after its record-setting options debut • Strategy (MSTR) falls back below the $100 level • Wendy's crashes the Top 12 during an unexpected meme-stock rally • GameStop, SoFi and Microsoft stay active • Micron reports earnings after the close and immediately erupts higher in after-hours trading • Today's standout Bigger Wing Scan featuring GameStop, Hertz and UiPath Plus, Mark explains what today's hottest options trades may have been signaling—and where traders could be watching next. For even more unusual options activity and institutional order flow, visit TheHotOptionsReport.com.

It was a brutal week across many of the most popular futures markets. On this episode of The Futures Rundown, Mark Longo breaks down a massive selloff that hammered precious metals, cryptocurrencies, and other key futures products. Silver led the losers, plunging nearly 20% on the week, while Bitcoin and Ether continued their painful year-to-date declines. Meanwhile, energy markets remained volatile as traders digested developments in the Middle East and watched fuel prices retreat from recent highs. Inside this episode: Silver's stunning collapse and why traders are watching the July 40 puts Bitcoin and Ether continue their 2026 bloodletting Platinum and palladium join the precious metals selloff Cocoa stages a surprising comeback VIX futures catch a bid The year's biggest winners and losers across the futures landscape Record activity in Nasdaq Micro futures RBOB gasoline and heating oil pull back from their recent highs What futures traders should be watching next

The markets turned blood red today, but the options tape is still lighting up! Join Mark Longo as he breaks down a macro-focused session where single-name volume took a slight breather, but the underlying volatility remained fast and furious. We head over to TheHotOptionsReport.com to unpack today's featured 1K Spread scan, flagging 71 massive non-index spreads with Netflix, XLF, and IWM leading the charge. Then, we countdown the top 10 most active underlying equities of the day, including: Palantir (#10) & Intel (#8): Checking out aggressive short-term call selling after a rough session. Microsoft (#9) & Amazon (#5): The tech giants bucking the red trend to post impressive rallies. Micron (#6): Taking a massive 13% drubbing ahead of earnings. Are the $1100 calls a buy or sell? SpaceX (#3): The rollercoaster continues! We break down the newly added weekly options and the heavy premium on the Friday $160 calls. Tesla (#2) & NVIDIA (#1): Tesla sheds nearly 6%, while NVIDIA pins exactly at the $200.00 par line. Want to run your own unusual activity scans? Head over to TheHotOptionsReport.com to build your own watchlists and track the tape.

Event contracts and digital asset derivatives are emerging under CFTC oversight, while listed options and ETFs remain SEC-regulated. Meanwhile, some platforms are offering both. This panel will examine: •    The SEC and CFTC frameworks and their implications for innovation. •    Whether event contracts should be viewed as gaming, financial hedging, or a hybrid. •    How crypto-linked options and ETFs fit into the regulatory patchwork. •    What market participants need to prepare for as regulatory convergence (or conflict) plays out. Moderator: The Honorable Dawn D. Stump, Principal, Stump Strategic Panelists: JJ Kinahan, Senior Vice President, Head of Retail Expansion and Alternative Investment Products, Cboe Global Markets Ryan Jachym, Global Head of Markets Policy in the Office of Government and Regulatory Affairs, Goldman Sachs Summer Mersinger, Chief Executive Officer, Blockchain Association Thomas Plummer, Prediction Markets, Jump Trading This panel is proudly sponsored by State Street Investment Management

Institutions are increasingly using derivative-based ETFs and FLEX Options as complementary tools to achieve precise risk-return outcomes. This panel will explore how products such as buffer and target outcome ETFs, hedged equity structures, and single-name/high-payout ETFs are reshaping institutional allocation models — and how FLEX Options provide the customization needed to support these strategies. Moderator: Sara Levin, Managing Director, ETF and Derivative Trading, WallachBeth Capital Panelists: Sean Truett, Senior Vice President of Strategy & Business Development, Box Options Market LLC Geoff Gaiss, Vice President Global Derivatives, TRAFiX Burke Ashenden, Head of Capital Markets & Institutional Strategy, Innovator James Maund, Head of Capital Markets, Krane Shares This panel is proudly sponsored by BofA Securities.