The Options Insider Radio Network

On this episode of The Futures Rundown, host Mark Longo welcomes back Brett Friedman of Winhall Risk Analytics and OptionMetrics for a deep dive into one of the strangest stories in the futures markets: crude oil's surprisingly underwhelming response to a major geopolitical conflict. With dire supply warnings and plenty of doom-and-gloom predictions, many expected crude to explode higher. Instead, the rally has repeatedly struggled to live up to the hype. Brett compares the current environment with previous oil-market disruptions, including the historic volatility of 2020, and explains why this latest episode hasn't come close to matching those extremes. We also discuss: Why crude oil hasn't behaved the way many fundamental analysts expected The unusual volatility picture in WTI What's driving heating oil and gasoline Why gold and silver have fallen out of the market spotlight The return of the AI trade and the "most hated" equity rally What's happening in rates and the Fed-watching game Natural gas and the strange predictability of seasonal trading The steepening VIX futures curve Why palladium may have attracted the wrong crowd Whether traders are using the VIX the wrong way And much more

The double calendar saga continues! On this episode of Options Boot Camp, Mark Longo and Dan Passarelli head back into the trenches for another deep dive into double calendar spreads—this time focusing on one of the biggest questions from listeners: How do you actually manage these trades once they're on? Dan breaks down his approach to double calendar management, including what happens when the underlying tests a strike, why modeled break-even points matter, when he takes profits, and when it's time to cut bait. The discussion also explores using double calendars in SPX versus individual equities and whether this strategy could provide an interesting alternative way to capture weekend market moves. Then it's time for listener questions covering: When low volatility makes outright calls or puts more attractive than debit spreads How Dan selects strikes when trading the wheel The role of technical levels and premium when selling options What happens when you correctly predict a stock's direction but still lose money to an implied volatility collapse Why volatility analysis matters before entering an options trade It's Double Calendars Part 2. The stakes are higher. The calendars are doubled. And this time...it's Electric Boogaloo!

On this episode of The Hot Options Report, we break down the names dominating the options tape, including a rally in Hertz with heavy call activity and another strong move from Intel. We also dig into a monster session for CoreWeave and the intriguing call-selling activity that accompanied the move. Plus, we examine the latest options action in Meta, Apple, Micron, SpaceX, Tesla, NVIDIA and Blue Owl Capital. Which options trades paid off, which ones went up in smoke, and where are traders putting their money now? Find out on this episode of The Hot Options Report.

The sirens are sounding and the U.S. midterms are approaching—but are the markets actually worried? On this episode of The European Market Brief, host Mark Longo is joined by Russell Rhoads of Indiana University, Matt Koren of Eurex and Tom Shuttlewood of STOXX to examine the approaching U.S. midterm elections through a European derivatives lens. The crew breaks down what the VSTOXX term structure is telling us about election risk, how volatility has behaved around previous midterms and whether traders may actually be too focused on November. They also explore current options positioning, downside protection, European defense and financials, industrials and semiconductors, currency hedging, defined-outcome strategies and the growing role of retail traders in European derivatives. Plus, they discuss Eurex overnight liquidity and how traders can potentially react to election results while much of the U.S. market is closed. And in a fitting twist, actual tornado sirens interrupt the conversation as severe weather rolls through the Midwest. The weather may be stormy, but the volatility markets remain surprisingly calm.

NVIDIA leads the options volume leaderboard once again while SpaceX gives back some ground following its recent rebound. On this episode of The Hot Options Report, we break down the most active names and hottest options trades across the market, including NVIDIA, SpaceX, Tesla, Apple, Micron, Amazon, Intel, Palantir, Alphabet and Meta. We also take a look at the latest frontrunner scan, highlighting names seeing heavy activity in short-dated options. Which trades are working, which strikes are attracting attention, and where is options paper positioning for the next move? Tune in for the latest action from across the options market. Want to explore the scans and options data for yourself? Visit TheHotOptionsReport.com.

We break down the most active names across the options market, including heavy trading in NVIDIA as the shares sell off, another strong session for SpaceX as its post-earnings rally continues, and notable options activity in Tesla, Apple, Microsoft, Micron, Amazon, Intel, Palantir and Meta. Plus, we highlight some of the hottest options contracts of the day and explore where traders were leaning on the buy and sell side. Want to run these options scans for yourself? Check out QuikOptions at TheHotOptionsReport.com.

On this episode of The Crypto Rundown, host Mark Longo welcomes Adam Bergman, founder of IRA Financial, to the Crypto Hot Seat for a deep dive into crypto, taxes and retirement accounts. They discuss why investors may want crypto exposure in their IRAs, the potential tax advantages of trading crypto and options in retirement accounts, buying Bitcoin directly versus using ETFs and digital asset treasury companies, the role of gold alongside crypto, and whether investor attention is shifting from digital assets toward AI and other hot equities. Then we head into the dog days of summer with a decidedly quiet crypto market. We break down the latest activity in Bitcoin, IBIT and MSTR before venturing into the altcoin universe for ETH, BMNR, CRCL, PURR, Solana, XRP, DOGE and more. Plus, we examine where options traders are still finding opportunities as volatility and trading activity cool off for the summer.

What's the deal with this market? On this episode, Mark Longo is joined by Mike Tosaw of St. Charles Wealth Management and Andrew Giovinazzi of Option Pit. We break down a relatively quiet day for the major indexes while individual stocks and options activity continue to make plenty of noise. The crew discusses the latest moves in SpaceX, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Palantir, Apple, Tesla and more, along with what the latest economic data and geopolitical uncertainty could mean for volatility and the broader market. Then it's off to The Odd Block for unusual options activity in Borr Drilling (BORR), Lloyds Banking Group (LYG) and Archer Aviation (ACHR), including the intriguing options action surrounding Archer's latest deal with Boeing. Plus, Uncle Mike breaks down why investors who want to buy near market highs may want to consider a married put rather than simply selling puts to establish a position.

The VIX put mystery may finally be solved! On this episode of Volatility Views with Russell Rhoads and Mark Sebastian, we dig into the unusual deep-in-the-money VIX put spreads that have been puzzling us and uncover the margin dynamics that could help explain why traders keep putting them on. We also break down a wild week in volatility, including the plunge in VIX, the latest VIX futures term structure, notable VIX options flow, and the continuing fallout from reverse splits in the volatility ETP space. Plus, the SPCX madness continues. We examine the massive activity in far out-of-the-money SPCX calls, discuss the inverse ETF apparently behind the trades, and explore whether there could be a method to this options madness. All that plus single-stock futures, unusual Rocket Lab options activity, our latest volatility predictions, and much more.

SpaceX and Palantir helped put an exclamation point on a wild week in the options market. On this episode of The Hot Options Report, we break down the most active names on the options tape, including a sharp rebound in SpaceX as concerns surrounding its lockup begin to ease and another powerful move higher in Palantir following earnings. We also dig into the options action in Tesla, NVIDIA, Apple, Micron, Strategy, Amazon and Hertz, highlighting the hottest strikes, unusual activity and which trades ultimately paid off. Plus, we kick things off with the latest Silver Sweeps scan featuring BABA, PLTR, SPCX and GDX. For more options activity, unusual options flow and powerful market scans, visit TheHotOptionsReport.com.

Weird vertical spreads are popping up all over the futures options markets this week! Host Mark Longo is joined by Scott Bauer of Prosper Trading Academy to break down the latest options activity across the CME Group markets, including some unusual 500-point Nasdaq verticals, massive put activity in WTI crude oil, strange spreads in silver and gold, and the latest action in natural gas. They also discuss the surge in out-of-the-money Nasdaq calls, whether crude oil volatility may be getting too cheap, the renewed strength in precious metals, CME Group's return to single stock futures, and much more.

NVIDIA dominates the options volume leaderboard while SpaceX bounces back following its first earnings report. On this episode of The Hot Options Report, we break down the most active names across the options market, including NVIDIA (NVDA), SpaceX, Apple (AAPL), Tesla (TSLA), Micron (MU), Microsoft (MSFT), Hertz (HTZ), Intel (INTC), Amazon (AMZN), and Palantir (PLTR). We also kick things off with a look at the Golden Sweeps, where big-money options activity is lighting up SPY and AMD. Which trades are working, which short-dated options are running out of time, and where is options paper placing its bets heading into Friday? Find out on The Hot Options Report. For more options activity, unusual options flow, sweeps, scans, and analytics, visit TheHotOptionsReport.com.

On this episode of The Option Block, we break down the latest action in the options market, including what's driving the major indices, the latest moves in VIX, another big month for options volume, and activity in some of the market's most-watched names. Then it's time to get weird in the Odd Block with unusual options activity in Compass Pathways (CMPS), Hinge Health (HNGE), and POET Technologies (POET). We dig into psychedelic options flow, a Hinge trade that wasn't quite what it first appeared to be, and a sea of short-dated POET calls lighting up the tape. Plus, we revisit a previous Chime (CHYM) trade after the stock's huge earnings move. We also discuss the latest action in AMD, AMZN, PLTR, INTC, MSFT, MU, TSLA, AAPL, SpaceX, NVDA and more. Featuring: Mark Longo, Henry "The Flowmaster" Schwartz and "Uncle" Mike Tosaw.

Host Mark Benzaquen sits down with Sara Levin, Managing Director, ETF and Derivative Trading at WallachBeth Capital, for her very first podcast appearance. Fresh off moderating a panel at the Options Industry Conference, Sara breaks down the rapid growth of derivative ETFs — from buffer and defined outcome strategies to FLEX options and box ETFs. She explains how the ETF wrapper has made sophisticated derivatives accessible to both retail and institutional investors, why education remains essential as these worlds collide, and what it really means to take a scalpel rather than a sledgehammer to the market.

What happens when one of futures trading's most active voices joins us live from a secret "Batcave?" Plenty of market insight—and more than a few laughs. This week, Mark Longo is joined by Jermal Chandler (tastytrade) to break down the biggest stories moving the futures markets, including: Crude oil's wild reversal and why headlines continue to drive energy markets Gold, silver and palladium showing renewed strength Bond futures dominating trading activity as traders watch the Fed Nasdaq futures, tech volatility and the latest AI-driven market rotation The return of Bloomberg's B100 futures Are traders actually embracing the new Single Stock Futures? VIX volatility fades following another blockbuster earnings season Plus, the hottest futures products of the week, year-to-date leaders and laggards, and what active futures traders are watching next.

SpaceX crashes while AMD's post-earnings rally fizzles. On this episode of The Hot Options Report, Mark Longo breaks down another action-packed day in the options market as traders react to a wave of earnings-driven volatility. AMD briefly pushed back above the $500 level after earnings before reversing sharply, while SpaceX suffered a brutal post-earnings selloff in its first earnings report as a public company. NVIDIA once again dominated the options tape with more than 6.3 million contracts traded, including over 1 million contracts on a single strike. You'll also get a look at today's most active options names, unusual activity from QuikOptions, and a breakdown of the biggest trades across: NVIDIA (NVDA) SpaceX (SPCX) Tesla (TSLA) Apple (AAPL) Amazon (AMZN) AMD (AMD) Alphabet (GOOGL) Micron (MU) Intel (INTC) Microsoft (MSFT) Plus, we highlight unusual options activity in LOVE, XPEL, and GERN using the powerful scans available at TheHotOptionsReport.com.

What do double calendar spreads and the Fall of Constantinople have in common? More than you might think. On this episode of Options Boot Camp, Mark Longo and Dan Passarelli use a memorable historical analogy to explain one of Dan's favorite advanced options strategies: the double calendar spread. The discussion covers: What a double calendar spread actually is Why it can be viewed as a "strangle swap" How Dan structures weekly double calendars When he typically enters and exits the trade Why wider breakevens aren't always guaranteed A recent SPX double calendar example Managing profits and avoiding common mistakes Then it's time for listener questions covering: Selling cash-secured puts versus covered calls near market highs Trading calendars and diagonals during earnings season Whether buying options into earnings still makes sense Scaling into positions Weekly SPY options and whether traders are sacrificing edge for more opportunities

Is the crypto market simply cooling off for the summer, or are traders quietly positioning for the next big move? This week on The Crypto Rundown, Mark Longo breaks down a quieter week across the digital asset landscape as Bitcoin and Ethereum pull back from recent highs, implied volatility remains subdued, and options traders continue hunting for inexpensive upside exposure. In this episode, you'll discover: Bitcoin's retreat from recent highs and what it could mean for the weeks ahead Why traders are still buying upside calls in IBIT despite lower volatility MicroStrategy's latest earnings, massive Bitcoin holdings, and unusual options activity Ethereum, ETHA and the continued search for value in crypto options Options flow and volatility in BitMine (BMNR), Circle (CRCL) and PER A look at the latest crypto market cap rankings, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, BNB, Hyperliquid, DOGE and more The biggest options trades, volatility levels and unusual activity shaping the crypto markets

Kick off August with another action-packed edition of The Hot Options Report as Big Tech Extends Its Rally and options traders pile into the market's biggest names. This episode breaks down the most active names in the options market, including NVIDIA, Tesla, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Micron, Intel, Alphabet, and PG&E, along with unusual sweep activity in Devon Energy, PG&E, and GameStop. You'll hear: NVIDIA climbs back above $200 as traders swarm same-day calls. Tesla powers higher with nearly 3 million contracts traded. Apple extends its post-earnings slide as traders keep chasing a rebound. Amazon and Microsoft continue to build on last week's blockbuster earnings rallies. Meta surges after its sharp reversal in sentiment. The hottest options trades, unusual flow, and what stood out across the tape. Plus, we kick things off with a look at the latest QuikOptions sweep scan featuring DVN, PCG, and GME, highlighting where smart money may be positioning before diving into the day's biggest options movers. For even more unusual options activity, advanced scans, and professional-grade analytics, visit TheHotOptionsReport.com.

Markets roared back to start the week as earnings optimism, cooling oil prices, and renewed geopolitical hopes sent stocks sharply higher while volatility took another hit. On this episode of The Option Block, Mark Longo is joined by Uncle Mike Tosaw and Andrew "The Rock Lobster" Giovinazzi to break down the biggest stories shaping the options market. This episode includes: A rally fueled by Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet and the broader AI trade Is the "Lag Seven" becoming the "Mag Seven" again? Why VIX plunged back into the 15-handle What traders should watch ahead of SpaceX's first earnings report The latest unusual options activity in Hartford Financial (HIG) Speculative call buying returns to Virgin Galactic (SPCE) Strategy Block: Momentum trading versus buying the dip—which style fits you? Around the Block: SpaceX earnings, AI spending, rates and what could drive markets next Plus, the panel debates AI capital spending, volatility, market leadership, and whether investors are simply "putting lipstick on SPCE pigs."

The Volatility Nomad returns! On this episode of Volatility Views, Mark Longo and Dr. Russell Rhoads welcome back Michael Listman, aka UVXY Trader, who joins the show from the UK after months of trading his way across Europe. The crew breaks down another wild week for the volatility markets, including the brief VIX spike above 20, the post-Fed volatility collapse, a surprisingly subdued VIX futures curve, and whether the market is becoming a little too comfortable heading into the fall. Michael also takes us inside life as a traveling volatility trader and explains how being a "volatility nomad" has changed his approach to risk and position management. We dig into his current strategies involving UVXY, SVIX and VXX, seasonality in volatility ETPs, longer-dated positions, pair trades, short straddles and more. Plus, we examine the latest unusual VIX options activity, including some truly extreme upside strikes, revisit Russell's Microsoft earnings trade, and peer into the Crystal Ball for where VIX could be headed next.

Amazon soars while Apple gets crushed in a wild post-earnings session for two of the biggest names in the options market. On this episode of The Hot Options Report, we break down the hottest options activity across Amazon (AMZN), Apple (AAPL), NVIDIA (NVDA), Microsoft (MSFT), Tesla (TSLA), Micron (MU), SpaceX, Alphabet (GOOGL), Intel (INTC) and Strategy (MSTR). Amazon rockets higher following earnings as options traders pile into AMZN, while Apple heads in the opposite direction with a sharp post-earnings selloff. We also look at another huge day for Microsoft following its earnings surge, massive activity around NVIDIA's 200 strike, and the latest options action in Tesla, Micron and SpaceX. Plus, we check out the latest notable options sweeps lighting up the tape, including activity in IBIT, SpaceX and CoreWeave (CRWV). Which names are dominating the options market as we close out the trading week and the month? Find out on The Hot Options Report. Explore the options data and scans discussed on the show at TheHotOptionsReport.com.

Crude oil takes another wild ride while equities whipsaw around earnings, the Fed, and geopolitical uncertainty on this episode of This Week in Futures Options. Mark Longo is joined by Dan Gramza of Gramza Capital Management to break down the latest action across the futures and futures options markets. They discuss the dramatic reversal in crude oil, the outlook for the major equity indices following a volatile week for tech, unusual December upside options activity in the Nasdaq-100, and what the options market is signaling in natural gas. Plus, single stock futures are back! Mark and Dan discuss CME Group's new single stock futures on names including NVIDIA, Tesla, and Apple, why previous attempts at SSFs struggled in the U.S., and whether this new generation of products could finally catch on. They also examine the big move in the Japanese yen, central bank intervention, and the latest options activity across FX. It's another packed tour of the movers, volatility, skew, and unusual options activity lighting up the futures markets this week.

Markets are whipsawing, tech stocks are making monster moves, and The Option Block crew is back to break down all the action. On this episode of The Option Block, Mark Longo is joined by "Uncle" Mike Tosaw from St. Charles Wealth Management and Henry "The Flowmaster" Schwartz from Cboe — fresh from giving blood at Grand Central — to discuss another wild stretch for the options market. The crew breaks down the sharp post-Fed reversal, the market's ongoing battle around key levels, elevated dispersion across stocks and sectors, and the incredible post-earnings surge in Microsoft. They also dig into the latest options activity in NVIDIA, Micron, Meta, Tesla, AMD, Intel, Apple and more. Then it's time to get weird in the Odd Block as Henry highlights unusual options activity in Firefly Aerospace (FLY), Bit Digital (BTBT) and T1 Energy (TE), including some intriguing upside call activity and a few trades that leave the crew wondering why traders didn't just buy the stock. Plus, we look ahead to Apple and Amazon earnings, discuss the latest action in VIX and the major index ETFs, and explore what could shake up the markets next. It's another packed episode of The Option Block — with a little blood donation and dollar scalping thrown in for good measure.

Microsoft explodes after earnings while Apple and Amazon take center stage in another wild session for Big Tech options. On this episode of The Hot Options Report, we break down the most active names across the options market, including a massive post-earnings move in Microsoft and aggressive new positioning in MSFT calls. We also dig into the earnings action in Apple and Amazon, with AAPL sliding after hours while AMZN jumps following its report. Plus, we examine the latest options activity in NVIDIA, Tesla, Micron, Meta, Intel, SpaceX and IREN, along with some of the unusual names lighting up the Lucky Seven scan.  Check out the latest options data and market scans at TheHotOptionsReport.com.

Something looks a little off in the futures markets. On this episode of The Futures Rundown, host Mark Longo is joined by Carley Garner of DeCarley Trading to break down a wild Fed Day and the increasingly unusual signals emerging across the futures landscape. They discuss the market reaction to the latest Fed decision, whether changes in liquidity and money supply could usher in a new market regime, and why Carley is seeing potential signs of liquidation across multiple asset classes. They also explore the return of single-stock futures, including the opportunities and challenges surrounding these products, early liquidity concerns, potential capital and tax efficiencies, and whether futures on names like NVIDIA, Tesla and Apple can finally gain traction. Plus, they examine the latest action in crude oil and the energy complex, VIX futures, rates, equities, cattle, sugar, coffee, crypto, metals, OJ and more.

Tech gets torched on a volatile Fed day as NVIDIA, Tesla, Micron and other major names light up the options market. On this episode of The Hot Options Report, we break down the most active options names of the day, including heavy put activity in NVIDIA as the stock sells off, Tesla sliding back into a 200 handle, and Micron taking a major hit. We also examine the latest options action in Apple as it briefly reaches another new all-time high, plus Intel, SoFi, Amazon, AMD, SpaceX and Microsoft ahead of its post-earnings move. Which options trades stood out during the selloff? Where were traders reaching for upside despite the weakness? And which short-dated contracts paid off—or expired worthless? Find out on this episode of The Hot Options Report. For more options data, go to TheHotOptionsReport.com.

The Warren Buffett conversation continues! After the response to our 400th episode, Mark Longo and Dan Passarelli head back to the mailbag to tackle even more listener questions about the Oracle of Omaha and his approach to options. On this episode, we discuss: Are covered calls compatible with Buffett's buy-and-hold philosophy? Would Buffett ever use LEAPS instead of buying stock? Is "getting paid to wait" really the same thing as selling option premium? Does Buffett care about implied volatility when selling options? How might Buffett use options once he owns a stock he plans to hold forever? The unusual economics behind some of Buffett's legendary long-term put trades Why the "magical Buffett premium" may be something ordinary options traders can only dream about Plus, a trip deep into the Options Boot Camp archives

What does it really take to access Europe's derivatives markets—and are they as fragmented and difficult to navigate as many U.S. traders believe? On this episode of The European Market Brief, Mark Longo is joined by Dr. Russell Rhoads along with Eurex's Marcel Rothacker, Head of Derivatives Trading Development, and Andre Eue, Head of Derivatives Market Development, for a deep dive into the evolving landscape of European market access. They explore the perception of fragmentation across Europe, the liquidity that may not always be visible in the order book, and the efforts underway to make European markets easier and more efficient to access. The conversation covers sponsored access, cloud connectivity, regulatory market making, vendor integration, electronic RFQ platforms, off-book trading, and the growing role of retail investors in European derivatives. The panel also discusses how Eurex is working to lower barriers for U.S. and global market participants, improve access to liquidity, and expand distribution through new technology, platforms, and brokers.

Chip stocks remain under pressure while Apple continues its record-setting run on this episode of The Hot Options Report. We break down the hottest options activity across NVIDIA, Apple, Tesla, Micron, Intel, AMD, SpaceX, Amazon, SoFi and Palantir as traders position ahead of the Fed decision. Apple pushes to another all-time high after taking the market-cap crown from NVIDIA, while AMD, Micron and Intel get caught up in another rough session for chip stocks. Meanwhile, NVIDIA bucks the trend and holds onto its familiar spot atop the options volume leaderboard. Plus, we dig into notable options activity across Tesla, SpaceX and more of the names dominating the options tape. Want to see all of the options activity lighting up the market? Check out TheHotOptionsReport.com.

The crypto market catches its breath after last week's sharp selloff. On this episode of The Crypto Rundown, Mark Longo breaks down Bitcoin's recovery from Friday's lows, Ethereum's continued attempt to regain momentum, and what subdued options activity may be signaling as the market settles into the heart of summer. You'll also get the latest on options flow in IBIT, MSTR, ETHA, BMNR, Circle (CRCL), and PURR, along with a look at the biggest movers across the broader crypto landscape, including Solana, XRP, Dogecoin, Litecoin, Cardano, Polkadot, and Shiba Inu. In this episode: Bitcoin stabilizes after last week's market turmoil Ethereum tries to build on its recent rebound Why crypto options volume remains muted IBIT and MSTR options activity ETHA, BMNR, Circle (CRCL), and PURR options flow The latest market cap rankings Performance across the major altcoins What traders are watching heading into the new month

Mick Jagger may have studied economics, but this week the panel tackles the market's biggest economic questions. Is Apple becoming the new AI winner while the rest of the Mag 7 struggles under massive capital spending? Are AI infrastructure costs finally catching up with Big Tech? And could the return of single-stock futures actually matter this time? Mark Longo is joined by Andrew "The Rock Lobster" Giovinazzi and Uncle Mike Tosaw to break down another busy week in the options markets, including: Why Apple continues making new highs while many AI leaders stumble The growing debate over massive AI spending by Microsoft, Meta, NVIDIA, OpenAI and others Whether the "Magnificent Seven" are becoming the "Lag Seven" The launch of CME's new single-stock futures contracts Key earnings to watch from Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta and more Unusual options activity in CoStar Group and Trimble Strategy Block: Using synthetic covered calls versus cash-secured puts Around the Block: The panel's outlook heading into a pivotal Fed and earnings week

Apple reached another all-time high while NVIDIA and the broader semiconductor sector came under pressure, setting the stage for a fascinating day in the options market. On this episode of The Hot Options Report, Mark Longo breaks down the stocks and ETFs dominating the options tape, the biggest trades of the session, and what unusual options activity may be signaling. Today's show includes: Apple hits fresh record highs ahead of earnings. NVIDIA, AMD, Intel, and Micron lead a sharp semiconductor selloff. Tesla, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, and SpaceX round out the day's most active names. A look at today's Morning Coffee Scan featuring GXC, GLD, VNQ, SPY, UUP, QQQ, and USO. The hottest options trades and unusual activity from across the market. Run your own reports at TheHotOptionsReport.com.

Apple stole the spotlight to close out the trading week, ripping higher on massive options volume while Intel's post-earnings optimism quickly faded. On this episode of The Hot Options Report, Mark Longo breaks down the busiest names on the options tape, the most active strikes, and the trades that defined Friday's session. From Apple's explosive rally to Intel's earnings hangover, Tesla's continued weakness, NVIDIA's relentless options activity, and notable action in AMD, Amazon, Alphabet, Micron, Oracle, and SpaceX, you'll get a fast-paced recap of where options traders were putting their money. Plus, Mark highlights today's Hidden Figure Scan from QuikOptions, featuring unusual near-dated options activity in Nike, Intel, and IREN.Discover the scans professional options traders rely on every day at TheHotOptionsReport.com.

Volatility finally showed signs of life this week—but as traders have come to expect, the spike didn't last. On this episode of Volatility Views, Mark Longo is joined by Dr. Russell Rhoads to dissect another unusual week in the volatility markets. The hosts examine why VIX briefly pushed toward 20 before quickly retreating, despite geopolitical tensions, AI spending concerns, and a sharp selloff in technology stocks. They also break down the latest VIX futures term structure, analyze the week's most intriguing VIX options trades, discuss whether markets are underpricing geopolitical risk, and explain why Microsoft's upcoming earnings could be one of the biggest volatility events of the summer. In this episode: Why VIX couldn't sustain its move toward 20 AI spending concerns from Google and Tesla shake the market What the VIX futures curve is signaling Dr. Russell Rhoads' Weekly Rundown of unusual VIX options trades Is the market ignoring geopolitical risk? Why Microsoft earnings could be the next major volatility catalyst Crystal Ball predictions for next week's VIX

Are markets starting to price in the unthinkable? This week on This Week in Futures Options (TWIFO), Mark Longo and Russell Rhoads dive into one of the most fascinating weeks we've seen across the futures options landscape. Energy markets continue their explosive rally as crude oil surges back above $90, equity markets stumble, volatility begins to stir, and traders place some of the most unusual gold options trades we've ever seen. The hosts analyze massive WTI crude oil put spreads, aggressive call buying, downside hedging in the S&P 500, the evolving relationship between VIX and equity volatility, and the extraordinary December gold option structures featuring 10,000, 15,000 and even 20,000 strike calls. In this episode: Movers & Shakers across CME Group markets Why energy continues to dominate futures trading Unusual WTI crude oil options activity S&P 500 downside hedging and volatility positioning Is VIX sending the right signal? The most bizarre gold options trades of the year What extreme options positioning may be telling traders

Big Tech takes center stage as earnings, AI spending, and post-market volatility drive another busy session in the options market. Host Mark Longo breaks down the stocks dominating today's options tape, including Tesla's sharp post-earnings selloff, Alphabet's AI-driven plunge, and a surprise after-hours rally in Intel following earnings. Plus, Micron keeps its momentum alive, SpaceX fights back after another volatile session, and traders position in NVIDIA, Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft ahead of Friday's expiration. In this episode: Tesla dominates the options leaderboard after earnings disappointment Alphabet's AI spending sparks a broad Big Tech selloff Intel jumps after earnings—were options traders ready? Micron pushes toward the 1,000 strike again SpaceX stages a surprising rebound Heavy options activity in NVIDIA, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, and more Featured QuikOptions Scan: Death Cross stocks to watch Discover powerful options analytics and unusual activity tools at TheHotOptionsReport.com.

A brutal selloff swept through the markets as concerns over AI spending, earnings, and geopolitical uncertainty rattled investors. Mark Longo is joined by Henry "The Flowmaster" Schwartz from Cboe and special guest "The Black Hatted" Dan Passarelli from Market Taker Mentoring to break down the biggest stories driving the options market. This episode explores the market reaction to disappointing earnings from Tesla and Alphabet, rising volatility as the VIX climbs back toward 20, unusual options activity in Micron, Universal Technical Institute (UTI), LSB Industries (LXU), and Nokia, plus the ongoing debate over whether markets are finally beginning to price geopolitical risk. You'll also hear: Tesla and Alphabet earnings reactions AI infrastructure spending and CapEx concerns VIX, SPY, QQQ, and Russell 2000 options activity Massive unusual options flow in Micron Bullish call buying in UTI and LXU Nokia earnings and post-earnings options trading Earnings season strategies and time spreads with Dan Passarelli Around the Block: what the panel is watching next

Interest rate swaps are the largest derivatives market in the world—but they're also one of the least understood. In this episode, host Mark Longo is joined by Chris Dopp and Milena Dimitrova from Eurex for an in-depth look at OTC interest rate swaps, central clearing, and why this market sits at the heart of the global financial system. Topics include: What interest rate swaps are and why institutions rely on them Why the OTC swaps market exceeds $500 trillion in notional outstanding How central clearing transformed the market after the financial crisis Counterparty risk, clearing houses, and capital efficiency Dodd-Frank, EMIR, MiFID, and the evolving regulatory landscape Why futures, options, and swaps are increasingly interconnected The future of OTC clearing, tokenization, and even... swaptions

Has crude oil finally returned to fair value after one of the year's biggest geopolitical shocks? This week on The Futures Rundown, Mark Longo welcomes back Morad Askar of EdgeClear to examine why crude oil has retraced nearly its entire Iran-driven rally and what "returning to the scene of the crime" means from a market profile perspective. They also dive into the hottest futures markets, from energy and grains to metals, crypto, and equity indexes. The discussion covers whether today's volatility is creating opportunity or chaos, why retail traders continue to dominate Nasdaq Micro futures, and what the return of single-stock futures could mean for active traders. In this episode: Why crude oil has returned to its pre-war equilibrium WTI, Brent and the outlook for energy markets Gold, silver and whether precious metals have finally found fair value Coffee, cocoa, cattle and the surprising commodity landscape Why Nasdaq Micro futures continue to dominate trading volume Retail traders, prop firms and index futures activity Bitcoin, Ethereum and crypto futures trends The return of CME single-stock futures and why traders should pay attention

Can one of the world's greatest long-term investors teach options traders a thing or two? To celebrate the 400th episode of Options Boot Camp, Mark Longo welcomes Dan Passarelli and special guest Russell Rhoads for a fascinating deep dive into Warren Buffett's real options strategies. While Buffett famously called derivatives "financial weapons of mass destruction," the reality is far more nuanced. The panel explores how Berkshire Hathaway has used cash-secured puts, covered calls, long-dated index options, warrants, and over-the-counter derivatives to build positions, generate income, and manage risk. The discussion also covers Buffett's famous global index put trades, why he prefers selling puts to enter positions, how he thinks about valuation, risk management, and knowing when to admit mistakes. Whether you're a buy-and-hold investor or an active options trader, this milestone episode offers timeless lessons on patience, discipline, and using options as investing tools rather than speculation. In this episode: Celebrating 400 episodes of Options Boot Camp The truth behind Buffett's "financial weapons of mass destruction" quote Why Buffett sells cash-secured puts Covered calls and long-term investing Buffett's legendary global index put trades OTC derivatives vs. listed options Risk management lessons every options trader can use Buffett's biggest investing mistakes—and what they teach us

NVIDIA once again ruled the options market, generating more than 5 million contracts and dwarfing nearly every other name on the tape. But the biggest story after the close belonged to Tesla, as traders placed aggressive earnings bets before the company's quarterly results. On this episode, Mark Longo breaks down the hottest options activity of the day, including NVIDIA's continued dominance, Tesla's pre-earnings positioning, Apple's remarkable streak of heavy options volume, SpaceX's ongoing slide, and a surprising rally from Super Micro Computer. Plus, we examine some of the day's most active zero-day options and whether traders made the right moves. Explore the same scans and data featured on the show at TheHotOptionsReport.com.