The Options Insider Radio Network

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.

NVIDIA holds the top spot on another light summer day for options volume, but AI-related names continued to dominate the tape. On this episode of The Hot Options Report, Mark Longo breaks down the biggest options movers of the session, including explosive rallies in AMD, Micron, Intel and Nebius after major AI-related developments. You'll also hear the latest unusual options activity in Apple, Tesla, SpaceX, Amazon and Netflix, along with a look at QuikOptions' Quick Bull Scan, which highlights several names flashing potential short-term bullish signals.

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.