The Options Insider Radio Network

What can bond market volatility tell you that the VIX can't? Mark Longo and Dan Passarelli break down the MOVE Index and explain why equity options traders should keep an eye on Treasury yield volatility. Learn what MOVE measures, how its Treasury options components are weighted, and why comparing its level directly with VIX can be misleading. Mark and Dan also explore what it means when stock and bond volatility diverge, how to interpret implied daily moves, and the usefulness and limitations of MOVE as a market indicator. Plus, the latest listener poll on NVIDIA's stock buyback and a Market Taker Question of the Week: Do shorter-term options always offer sellers faster time decay?

Short-dated calls face a tougher finish as several big tech stocks retreat from their intraday highs. Mark Longo breaks down the day's busiest options, including Nvidia's leading volume, Apple's sharp selloff and Meta's rebound. We examine active calls in NVDA, TSLA, MSFT, AAPL and META, weighing trade prices, intraday moves and what buyers need heading into Wednesday's expiration. Plus, Oracle rallies as traders target an ambitious call strike, and Amazon, Intel and AMD round out the countdown. Explore options scans and analytics at TheHotOptionsReport.com.

Bitcoin pulled back after a midweek rally, while Solana held on to much of its recent gains. Mark Longo breaks down the latest crypto options activity in IBIT, MSTR, ETHA, BMNR and PURR, including a sharp drop in MSTR volatility and an unusually long dated PURR call trade. Plus, a look at Circle's continued slide, renewed interest in Litecoin, and the listener poll asking which crypto asset you'd hold through year end.

Nvidia's stock buyback put $NVDA at the top of Monday's options activity, while a late retreat left its most active calls out of the money. On this episode of The Hot Options Report, Mark Longo follows the call selling and intraday reversals in Tesla, Meta, Apple, Micron, AMD and more. Plus, a look at recent stock sales disclosed by members of the House of Representatives. Go to TheHotOptionsReport.com for more options data.

Nvidia's stock buyback sparks a debate on The Option Block: is it a sensible use of cash, or a warning sign near the highs? Mark Longo, Andrew Giovinazzi and Mike Tosaw also discuss rising yields, the market's resilience and the busiest names on the options tape. In the Odd Block, they examine unusual call activity in Alamos Gold ($AGI) and Aemetis ($AMTX). Then Mike walks through the adjustments he made to a Meta ($META) collar and explains how the position changed as the stock moved. Plus, a seven dwarves trivia question gives this episode its magical opening.

VIX kept drifting lower even as the market swung through another eventful week. Mark Longo is joined by Russell Rhoads, Mark Sebastian and Brian Overby to examine the gap between current volatility and the risk priced into VIX futures. The panel digs into heavy VIX call activity, unusual weekly options trades, the potential effect of midterm election options on VIX, and ways to structure a volatility trade when upside calls are expensive. They also revisit SVIX and UVIX, debate whether Treasury yields could become a bigger source of market stress, and make their VIX predictions for next week. Plus, Russell gives the editor a little extra censoring work.

Friday's options tape stayed busy through the close. Mark Longo breaks down the most active names, with $TSLA taking the top spot ahead of $NVDA. He looks at Tesla's intraday swings, $AAPL calls that finished in the money, and $MSFT calls that fell just short of their strike. Plus: reversals in $META and $MU, options activity in $INTC, $AMZN and $MSTR, and recent congressional purchases on the House Yay Scan. Want to dig into the data yourself? Explore more options data and run your own scans at TheHotOptionsReport.com.

What happens in futures options when Treasury yields climb, technology stocks rally and crude oil falls? Mark Longo and Mike Tosaw of St. Charles Wealth Management dig into the activity across CME Group markets. They examine the surge in 10-year Treasury yield and a sizable roll in 10-year note puts, then turn to options activity in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100. In energy, they break down WTI crude's decline, the interest in crude puts and calls, and a sharp move higher in natural gas. Mike also looks at the technology rally through Meta, AMD and Micron.

Meta's rally kept rolling, and traders piled into calls ahead of Friday's expiration. On this episode of The Hot Options Report, Mark Longo breaks down the busiest options names, including META, INTC, TSLA, AAPL, AMD, MU and NVDA. He looks at the strikes drawing the most activity, where each stock finished relative to those strikes, and what Friday's session could mean for the trades. Mark also checks the Quick Bull unusual activity scan. Get more options data at TheHotOptionsReport.com.

A sharp intraday reversal sends Mark Longo, Mike Tosaw, and Cboe's Henry Schwartz scrambling to keep up with the options tape. They discuss the swings in SPX, VIX, SPY, QQQ, and IWM, along with the pressure that rising interest rates and oil prices could put on stocks. Henry also brings back a curious idea from a Cboe quant conference: the "options manifold." Then, in the Odd Block, he digs into unusual call activity in Unity (U), Banco Bradesco (BBD), CCC Intelligent Solutions (CCC), and Papa John's (PZZA), including a trade that shows why a print at the bid may not tell the whole story.

What could a powerful El Niño mean for the futures markets this winter? Mark Longo welcomes Jim Roemer, founder of Best Weather Inc., to examine the weather patterns affecting agricultural and energy commodities. They discuss the outlook for sugar, cocoa, wheat and soybeans, including how South American crops and Chinese demand could shift the picture. Jim also explains why a warm winter could matter for natural gas and heating oil, and how traders can use futures and options to manage weather risk. Plus, Mark runs through the week's biggest futures movers and most active contracts.

When does an option actually stop trading, and what happens when expiration arrives? Mark Longo and Dan Passarelli trace how the calendar grew from monthly expirations to weeklies, daily SPX options, and Monday and Wednesday expirations in select stocks and ETFs. Along the way, they explain why traditional SPX monthly options can stop trading on Thursday yet settle on Friday morning, how cash settlement differs from physical settlement, and why expiration day can catch traders off guard. They also share stories from the trading floor and answer listener questions.

GRAB topped the options volume rankings ahead of Tesla and Nvidia, even though its shares barely moved. Mark Longo digs into the FLEX options activity behind the surprise and explains how those contracts differ from standard listed options. Plus, a look at the day's busiest trades in TSLA, NVDA, META, AAPL, AMZN, MU, GOOGL, INTC and MSFT. Go to TheHotOptionsReport.com for more options data.

The Fed and ECB may be confronting very different economic conditions, but what are the interest-rate markets actually pricing in? Mark Longo is joined by Damien Zinck of Eurex Sales America, Dr. Russell Rhoads of Indiana University's Kelley School of Business and Dr. Larissa Adamiec of Purdue University to examine the changing paths for U.S. and European monetary policy. They discuss where market expectations differ from economists' forecasts, what the yield curve may be signaling, and how traders can use futures and options to express views on rates, volatility and central-bank policy. The panel also explores the two-year versus 10-year spread, relative-value opportunities between the U.S. and Europe, and developments across the German, French and Italian bond markets.

Apple reached a new all-time high before retreating, generating more than 1.3 million options contracts and heavy activity in short-dated calls. Mark Longo breaks down the day's most active options in AAPL, NVDA, TSLA, MU, META, INTC, AMZN, AMD and GOOGL. Plus, a look at the bullish signals appearing on today's Golden Cross scan. Learn more at TheHotOptionsReport.com.

Crypto markets are roaring back, and some of their riskiest corners are suddenly delivering eye-catching returns. Mark Longo welcomes back Bill Ulivieri of Cenacle Capital Management to examine Bitcoin's breakout, renewed crypto options activity and whether capital may be rotating from AI into digital assets. They explore IBIT, MSTR, MSTU, Ethereum, BMNR, Circle, HYPE, PURR and Solana, along with two highly speculative names: STKE and Gemini Space Station. Bill also discusses options premium strategies, crypto yield opportunities, tokenized securities, regulatory developments and his outlook for the next crypto cycle.

Monday delivered a blistering options session, with massive activity across some of the market's biggest technology names. Mark Longo breaks down the action in Meta, Intel, Nvidia, Tesla, Apple, AMD, Micron, Amazon and Microsoft—including several heavily traded expiration-day options that moved into the money before fading into the close. Plus, we explore the Lucky Seven scan at TheHotOptionsReport.com, where Union Pacific, Greenland Energy and Critical Metals posted dramatic increases in options volume. For more options activity, unusual volume and trading data, visit TheHotOptionsReport.com.

A powerful tech rally sends META, AMD, Intel, Nvidia and other major names surging as Mark Longo, Mike Tosaw and Andrew Giovinazzi examine what is fueling the market's renewed enthusiasm for the AI trade. The hosts break down heavy options volume in SPY, QQQ, IWM and VIX, including notable activity in VIX puts. They also analyze unusual options trades in MGM Resorts and Novo Nordisk before exploring how Mike managed a protective collar in META during the stock's dramatic rebound. Plus, the panel discusses interest rates, bond-market sentiment, geopolitical risk and what traders should watch throughout the week.

Micron surges through a major milestone while Strategy delivers another crypto-fueled rally and Tesla leads a remarkably active options market. Mark Longo breaks down the day's hottest contracts in $MU, $MSTR, $TSLA, $NVDA, $AAPL, $META, $GOOGL, $AMZN and $INTC. Plus, the Bigger Wings scan uncovers notable activity in $IBIT, $DKNG and $ORCL. For more options data, go to TheHotOptionsReport.com.  

The Fed delivered another volatile week, but the market's rapid rebound left VIX back in the mid-teens and raised fresh questions about whether traders are becoming too complacent. Host Mark Longo and Russell Rhoads examine the market's reaction to the Fed, the widening gap between VIX cash and October VIX futures, growing concerns in the Treasury market, and the potential catalysts that could finally awaken volatility. They also break down the busiest VIX options trades of the week, including heavy upside call activity, renewed interest in VIX puts, an unusual multi-expiration spread, and the possibility of daily VIX expirations. Plus, Russell's weekend UVIX strategy finally returns to the winner's circle, volatility traders target upside in VXX, and the hosts make their latest VIX predictions in the Crystal Ball.

The futures options markets are digesting a turbulent Fed week, and there's no shortage of action across equities, energy and metals. On this episode of This Week in Futures Options, host Mark Longo is joined by Scott Bauer of Prosper Trading Academy to break down the latest activity across CME Group's futures options markets. They examine the post-Fed swings in Nasdaq and E-mini S&P 500 options, including the continued dominance of short-dated trading and unusually heavy put activity across the equity index complex. Then it's off to crude oil, where elevated volatility, changing skew and active downside strikes are creating some intriguing setups. The conversation also turns to copper's continued rally and growing upside options interest, plus the latest action in gold following the Fed decision. Along the way, Mark and Scott discuss gamma exposure and dealer positioning, the popularity of 0DTE options, futures trading in the CME Challenge, and whether traditional relationships between gold, equities and crypto are beginning to shift.

A milestone episode calls for a little nostalgia, a little market chaos, and plenty of options talk. On the 1500th episode of The Option Block, Mark Longo is joined by "Uncle" Mike Tosaw from The Option Block and Henry "The Flowmaster" Schwartz from Cboe to look back at the remarkable run of the show while breaking down the latest action across the options markets. The crew discusses the market reaction following the latest Fed decision, strength in technology stocks, moves in VIX and volatility, and the options activity lighting up names including Nvidia, Tesla, AMD, Micron, Intel, Apple and more. Then it's time to get weird in the Odd Block with unusual options activity in Ouster (OUST), 3D Systems (DDD) and Ginkgo Bioworks (DNA), along with a massive VIX options trade that catches the panel's attention. Plus, the guys revisit memories from 1500 episodes of The Option Block, hear from longtime listeners who have been around since the iPod days, and discuss what they'll be watching next across equities, bonds, oil, volatility and the broader options markets. It's a special 1500th trip Around the Block.

Energy markets take center stage as crude oil, heating oil and RBOB grapple with major supply disruptions, refining constraints and an increasingly complicated geopolitical backdrop. On this episode of The Futures Rundown, Mark Longo welcomes back Brian Pieri, founder of Energy Rogue, for a deep dive into the wild action across the energy complex. Brian breaks down the disconnect between the physical and financial crude oil markets and explains why today's oil market feels like a volatile game of volleyball — with traders trying to keep crude in the air while waiting to see who eventually spikes it. They also explore the surge in heating oil and diesel, refining bottlenecks, RBOB, natural gas seasonality, LNG exports and the growing impact of AI-driven electricity demand. Plus, Mark and Brian run through the biggest weekly and year-to-date movers across futures, including energy, metals, agriculture and crypto. Then it's time for the Futures Free-for-All, with listener questions on USO vs. XLE, the challenges of futures-based energy ETFs, memories of crude oil's historic plunge below zero in 2020, and the outlook for nuclear power and uranium.

Yacht rock piracy meets options strategy on this episode of Options Boot Camp. Mark Longo and Dan Passarelli break down Dan's "net zero roll" for cash-secured puts, including how traders can roll down and out while targeting little or no net premium on the adjustment. They also tackle a fresh batch of listener questions covering how implied volatility can help determine whether to buy calls, sell puts or use call spreads; how much open interest and volume really matter when selecting a strike; what steep put skew can reveal when VIX isn't moving; and whether traders put too much emphasis on dealer gamma positioning. Plus, the Boot Camp crew digs into pin risk in the era of daily and short-dated expirations, looks at which options strategies might deserve the full book treatment, checks in on the latest 0DTE butterfly poll results and, naturally, investigates Dan's alleged yacht rock piracy on the Chicago River.

Fed Day brought plenty of anticipation but relatively subdued options volume as traders waited for the latest move from the Federal Reserve. On this episode of The Hot Options Report, we break down the names dominating the options tape, with Nvidia (NVDA) once again leading the market in contract volume. We also dig into heavy activity in Tesla (TSLA), Apple (AAPL), Intel (INTC), Amazon (AMZN), Micron (MU), Meta (META), AMD and Robinhood (HOOD). Plus, we look at notable million-dollar options trades in Circle (CRCL), Robinhood and Credo Technology (CRDO) and examine a Fed Day filled with intraday spikes, quick reversals and short-dated options that briefly moved into the money before fading. For more options activity and unusual options data, visit TheHotOptionsReport.com.

A lighter day in the options market still delivered plenty of action across some of the biggest names on the tape. On this episode of The Hot Options Report, Mark Longo breaks down the most active options in Nvidia (NVDA), Tesla (TSLA), Apple (AAPL), SpaceX, Meta (META), Amazon (AMZN), Intel (INTC), Micron (MU), AMD and Palantir (PLTR). We look at the calls attracting attention, where traders appear to be buying versus selling, and which short-dated strikes could make things interesting heading into expiration. Plus, Mark heads to the dark side with the MA50 Minus scan on TheHotOptionsReport.com, highlighting stocks and ETFs that have fallen sharply below their 50-day moving averages. For more options data, go to TheHotOptionsReport.com.

Bill Ulivieri of Cenacle Capital Management returns to The Crypto Rundown — and after calling the Bitcoin bottom on his last appearance, he's feeling even more bullish about what comes next. Mark Longo and Bill explore why Bitcoin could be sitting on a "coiled spring of energy," the latest action in IBIT and MSTR options, and whether Strategy still has more room to run. They also dig into the outlook for Ethereum, Solana and XRP, the surprising rise of Zcash, and the latest activity in ETHA, BMNR, Circle and PURR. Plus, Bill explains why the convergence of crypto, blockchain and agentic AI could dramatically reshape trading, and highlights Arbitrum and Uniswap as two names worth watching as Robinhood pushes deeper into blockchain and DeFi.

The options market kicked off the week with plenty of action as traders navigated sharp moves across some of the biggest names on the tape. On this episode of The Hot Options Report, we break down the most active options in Nvidia (NVDA), Tesla (TSLA), Apple (AAPL), Meta (META), Micron (MU), Amazon (AMZN), Microsoft (MSFT), Intel (INTC) and Alphabet (GOOGL). Nvidia once again claims the top spot in overall options volume, while Tesla comes under pressure and Meta rallies despite concerns about a potential AI slowdown. We also head into the 1K Oddballs scan for unusual options activity in Amazon, TLT, Hecla Mining (HL) and Norwegian Cruise Line (NCLH). For more options data and unusual activity, visit TheHotOptionsReport.com.

Cheap calls are on the menu as Mark Longo, Andrew "The Rock Lobster" Giovinazzi, and Mike "Uncle Mike" Tosaw dive into unusual options activity in Dave & Buster's (PLAY) and Banco Bradesco (BBD). Is somebody betting on a turnaround in PLAY ahead of earnings? And when it comes to these cheap stocks, are you better off buying the calls or just owning the shares? The crew also breaks down a surprisingly resilient market as Treasury yields climb and traders brace for the Fed. Plus, they examine heavy VIX options activity and the latest options action in NVDA, AAPL, TSLA, META, GOOGL, INTC, MSFT, AMZN and MU. Then Uncle Mike heads to the Strategy Block to explore using covered calls on bond ETFs like IEF to potentially generate additional income.

Apple takes the crown as options activity heats up to close out the trading week. On this episode of The Hot Options Report, we break down the most active names across the options market, with Apple surging to the top of the leaderboard as traders continue to pile into the stock. Nvidia and Tesla remain options powerhouses, while Oracle stays firmly in the game following its wild post-earnings ride. We also dig into unusual and notable options activity in SpaceX, Micron, Meta, Intel, Strategy and Amazon, along with some fascinating expiration-day trades that looked like winners intraday before taking a very different turn by the closing bell. For more options data, scans and analysis, visit TheHotOptionsReport.com.

Volatility wakes up from its late-summer slumber on this episode of Volatility Views as Mark Longo and Russell Rhoads break down a surprisingly active stretch across the volatility markets. VIX briefly pushed above 18 before retreating, VIX options volume came roaring back, traders targeted everything from near-term puts to triple-digit VIX calls, and the volatility futures curve offered some interesting clues about what the market expects next. Plus, Russell breaks down some fascinating VIX weekly trades, including one that landed almost perfectly at settlement, we examine the latest action in SVIX, UVIX, UVXY and VXX, and Mark celebrates a rare two-week Crystal Ball bullseye after nearly nailing the VIX level from the previous episode.

Single stock futures are back—and this time the market may be ready for them. On this episode of This Week in Futures Options, Mark Longo welcomes Tim McCourt, Senior Managing Director and Global Head of Equity, FX and Alternative Products at CME Group, for a deep dive into the return of single stock futures. They discuss what makes this new generation of single stock futures different, the role of the Magnificent Seven, growing retail participation, cash settlement, capital efficiency and the push toward nearly around-the-clock equity trading. Tim also breaks down the early response to CME Group's standard and micro single stock futures, how traders are using them around earnings, and whether options on single stock futures could eventually be next. Plus, we analyze the latest action across the futures options markets, including energy, metals, crypto and a closer look at some interesting Nasdaq options activity.

FLEX mysteries, cyber attacks and Romanian AI are lighting up the latest Option Block. On this episode, Mark Longo is joined by Uncle Mike Tosaw and Cboe's Henry "The Flowmaster" Schwartz to break down the latest action across the options market. The crew digs into a mysterious burst of near-dated FLEX options activity in Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ), unusual call buying in Romanian AI software name UiPath (PATH), and a massive upside options trade in Boston Scientific (BSX) following its cyberattack woes. Plus, we examine Apple's big move following its foldable iPhone news, unusual bullish AAPL options activity, rising volatility in VIX and VVIX, the latest action in SPX, IWM and QQQ, and what traders should be watching heading into inflation data and the next Fed meeting.

FLEX mysteries, cyber attacks and Romanian AI are lighting up the latest Option Block. On this episode, Mark Longo is joined by Uncle Mike Tosaw and Cboe's Henry "The Flowmaster" Schwartz to break down the latest action across the options market. The crew digs into a mysterious burst of near-dated FLEX options activity in Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ), unusual call buying in Romanian AI software name UiPath (PATH), and a massive upside options trade in Boston Scientific (BSX) following its cyberattack woes. Plus, we examine Apple's big move following its foldable iPhone news, unusual bullish AAPL options activity, rising volatility in VIX and VVIX, the latest action in SPX, IWM and QQQ, and what traders should be watching heading into inflation data and the next Fed meeting.

Apple keeps ripping, Nvidia keeps slipping and Oracle pulls an after-hours flip. On this episode of The Hot Options Report, we break down the most active and unusual options trades lighting up the market, including heavy action in AAPL, NVDA and ORCL. We also dig into notable options activity in Tesla, Meta, Micron, Alphabet, Palantir, Intel, SpaceX and more. Which traders are buying the move, which are selling premium, and where are options players drawing their lines in the sand? For more options data and to run your own scans, visit TheHotOptionsReport.com.

Coffee is dropping, crude is climbing and somewhere a confused barista is being asked to explain why your latte isn't getting any cheaper. On this episode of The Futures Rundown, Mark Longo is joined by Dan Gramza of Gramza Capital Management to break down another wild week across the futures markets. They explore the selloff in coffee, cocoa, cotton and wheat; the latest moves in crude oil and refined products; renewed action in the yen and euro; growing momentum in copper; surprising weakness in natural gas; and what the upcoming inflation data could mean for markets. Plus, Dan shares what he's watching next in the ags, gold and silver.

The iron butterfly is getting a 0DTE makeover. On this episode of Options Boot Camp, Mark Longo is joined by Dan Passarelli and John Kmiecik from Market Taker Mentoring for a deep dive into the growing world of zero-days-to-expiration iron butterflies. Why are traders turning to this classic options strategy for ultra-short-term trades? John breaks down how he approaches 0DTE iron butterflies, including timing his entry after the open, choosing spread widths, setting profit targets, managing risk, and taking advantage of changes in implied volatility and time decay. The crew also explores 0DTE double calendars, whether these strategies could work in single-stock options, managing a calendar that has moved away from its strike, and the most overrated advice in options trading.

Apple's folding phone announcement sends the stock on a wild intraday ride and drives massive options activity. Meanwhile, Meta surges on renewed AI enthusiasm, Tesla takes the top spot on the options volume leaderboard, and NVIDIA finds itself bumped down the rankings. We break down the hottest options action across AAPL, TSLA, META, NVDA, MU, INTC, AMD, AMZN, GOOGL and more on this episode of The Hot Options Report. For more options data and unusual activity, visit TheHotOptionsReport.com.

NVIDIA is back on top as the AI giant helps power another strong day for the market and dominates the options tape. On this episode of The Hot Options Report, we break down the hottest options action across NVDA, TSLA, PLTR, HOOD, MSTR, MU, AVGO, AAPL, PCG and more. From massive short-dated call activity in NVIDIA and aggressive upside positioning in Tesla to big moves in Palantir, Robinhood and Strategy, there was no shortage of action heading into the long holiday weekend. Plus, we check in on the latest retail options activity and highlight some of the most interesting trades hitting the tape. For more options data, visit TheHotOptionsReport.com.

Crude oil is skyrocketing, equities are ripping higher...and apparently the stock market just doesn't care. On this episode of This Week in Futures Options, host Mark Longo is joined by Dan Gramza of Gramza Capital Management to break down a wild week across the futures options markets. They discuss the surprising disconnect between surging WTI crude oil and bullish equity markets, what's really driving the move in energy, and whether anxiety surrounding the Middle East is more important than actual supply concerns. They also explore the latest options activity across the E-mini S&P 500, WTI crude oil, soybeans, silver and gold, including unusual upside call activity, changing volatility and skew, soybean strength, and some eye-opening trades in the precious metals markets. Plus, Dan shares his outlook for equities, crude oil, agriculture and metals as traders head into a critical stretch for the markets.

Forget nonfarms — the options market has plenty of other things to keep traders busy. On this episode of The Option Block, Mark Longo, Uncle Mike Tosaw and Henry "The Flowmaster" Schwartz from Cboe break down a surprisingly strong market rally heading into the jobs report, the latest options volume trends, and some unusual activity lighting up the tape. The crew digs into eye-catching options flow in biotech name Alumis (ALMS) and drone maker Draganfly (DPRO), including some intriguing call activity as both names attract attention. They also examine unusual action in Element Solutions (ESI). Plus, we discuss the latest action in VIX, SPY, IWM and QQQ, a red-hot day for names including Robinhood, Palantir, Tesla and NVIDIA, the continued evolution of binary options and prediction markets, and whether unusually favorable options skew is creating opportunities for investors to hedge some high-flying stocks.

As exchanges and regulators explore extended and round-the-clock trading, what are the practical and regulatory implications? Aniceto (Andy) Solares of OCC's Regulatory Team joins host, Mark Benzaquen, to unpack the push toward near-continuous markets, from Capitol Hill's perspective to what it could mean for investors.