Podcast appearances and mentions of brent kochuba

The options market is entering a new era. Quantitative strategies are no longer confined to institutional desks — they're being deployed by a new class of self-taught, tech-enabled participants leveraging data analytics, APIs, and algorithmic execution. This panel explores how this shift is reshaping intermediation, liquidity, and education. Moderator: Jermal Chandler, Head of Options Strategy, tastylive Panelists: Jessica Inskip, Director of Investor Research, Stockbroker.com Brent Kochuba, Founder, SpotGamma Steve Quirk, Chief Brokerage Officer, Robinhood This panel is proudly sponsored by Theta Data.

In this episode of Last Call, we break down one of the most confusing market backdrops in years: AI-driven earnings optimism, rising oil and inflation risk, stretched options positioning, and the market impact of a potential SpaceX IPO. Jack Forehand and Matt Zeigler are joined by Aahan Menon, Ben Hunt, and Brent Kochuba to examine what macro data, political narratives, options flows, and index mechanics are saying about where markets could go next.Follow Last Call on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Last Call on Apple Podcasts⁠Topics Covered:Why markets are looking through war, oil shocks and valuation concernsHow earnings estimates are driving sector performance in the AI tradeAahan Menon on growth, inflation, oil prices and macro regime signalsWhy demand destruction from higher energy prices can take longer than investors expectWhat a rising growth and rising inflation regime can mean for stocks, commodities and bondsBen Hunt on World War AI and the collision between AI market optimism and political backlashWhy opposition to AI data centers could become a major market and election issueBrent Kochuba on call buying, implied volatility and signs of options market frothWhy CORE 1M and skew signals may be warning of a downside spasmHow the SpaceX IPO could affect index flows, active managers and mega-cap stocksTimestamps:00:00 Intro: AI, inflation and options risk in one market05:40 Earnings estimates, AI optimism and why fundamentals still matter10:31 Aahan Menon on a difficult macro backdrop15:29 Why energy shocks and demand destruction take time20:24 Why inflation can persist even if the oil shock eases24:47 Ben Hunt on World War AI and the AI resource build-out30:00 AI CapEx as the pillar holding up market optimism34:00 The political backlash against AI data centers38:00 Why data center opposition matters for markets42:09 Why price action can distort the AI narrative47:48 CORE 1M, stretched call prices and downside spasm risk52:00 Why Nasdaq options are priced for upside crashes56:11 Index rules, human judgment and the SpaceX IPO01:00:34 The free float problem and rebalancing pressure01:05:22 Space data centers, valuation and the size of the AI opportunity

Brent Kochuba of SpotGamma joins Jack Forehand for the May 2026 OPEX Effect to break down what options positioning is saying after a massive AI and semiconductor-led market rally. They discuss SPX call volume, zero DTE options, dealer gamma, VIX expiration, NVIDIA earnings, oil risk, AI CapEx, and why options flows may help explain both the market's recent melt-up and the potential for a volatility shift after OPEX.Guest LinksBrent Kochuba on Xhttps://x.com/spotgammaSpotGammahttps://spotgamma.com/Topics CoveredWhy the market has ignored oil shocks and geopolitical risk while AI earnings dominate investor attentionHow AI CapEx, semiconductors and mega-cap tech have driven a powerful melt-up in stocksWhy options volume and zero DTE trading are increasingly important for all investorsHow dealer hedging, delta and gamma can affect stock market movesWhy options expiration can create short-term turning points in markets and volatilityWhat the May OPEX setup says about call-heavy positioning in the S&P 500Why single-stock options activity in NVIDIA, Tesla, Apple, Amazon and AI-related names mattersHow record SPX call volume is being driven by short-dated options flowsWhy Brent is watching VIX expiration, NVIDIA earnings and May 19 to May 20 for volatility expansionWhat oil, VIX, correlation and dispersion are signaling about market riskTimestamps00:00 Intro: SPX call volume, call-heavy positioning and transient options flows00:57 Are we in melt-up mode?05:29 AI, UFOs and how fast market narratives are changing09:00 Why options flows matter more for everyday investors13:39 Could SpaceX become the next huge options market?16:00 How dealer hedging, delta and gamma move through the market20:44 Why OPEX can become a turning point for stocks and volatility23:22 Why May OPEX is so call heavy28:07 The market rally into May expiration33:00 AI rebranding, meme behavior and downside headline risk36:07 Reviewing last month's oil and volatility setup40:17 How the war flipped market leadership back to tech44:13 Dealer gamma support in the S&P 50049:19 Single-stock gamma in NVIDIA, Tesla, Apple and Amazon51:06 Record SPX call volume and the role of zero DTE54:55 Semiconductor, AI and memory call volume57:50 From bearish positioning to peak-bull dispersion59:22 Oil, the S&P 500 and changing correlations01:03:06 COR1M, dispersion risk and when Brent considers hedging01:04:57 Brent's key takeaways for May OPEX and volatility expansion

This episode of Last Call breaks down one of the most confusing market environments in recent memory: why stocks continue to rise despite war, oil shocks, and growing macro risks. Through conversations with Jim Paulsen, Ben Hunt, Kevin Muir, and Brent Kochuba, we explore the tension between strong earnings, hidden risks in private credit and global growth, and the powerful role of flows and positioning in driving markets higher.Follow Last Call on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Last Call on Apple Podcasts⁠Topics CoveredWhy markets are ignoring war, oil shocks, and geopolitical riskThe “supernova” risk in private credit and why it hasn't hit markets yetHow supply-driven inflation differs from 1970s-style demand inflationWhy pessimistic sentiment may actually be supporting marketsThe role of earnings growth and valuation resets in fueling the rallyBull vs bear case for markets based on macro, earnings, and positioningWhy free cash flow trends may be more concerning than earningsHow options flows and dealer positioning are suppressing volatilityThe AI capex boom and its impact on market leadership and breadthThe growing divide between Mag 7 earnings and the rest of the marketTimestamps00:00 Intro and market overview01:37 Why markets are not falling despite negative news03:00 Buy-the-dip behavior and earnings resilience06:11 Ben Hunt on “supernova” risks in private credit08:00 Hidden credit crunch in middle market companies10:24 Why private credit matters for economic growth14:10 Oil supply shocks and global growth risks17:00 Why markets can ignore risks before they appear18:48 Jim Paulsen on market resilience and sentiment20:00 Why pessimism may reduce downside risk22:24 Inflation vs labor force growth framework24:00 Why current inflation is supply-driven, not demand-driven26:00 Potential shift from inflation focus to growth focus29:11 Kevin Muir on bull vs bear market setup31:00 War impact on rates, oil, and positioning33:00 Fed reaction and shifting rate expectations35:00 Why earnings remain the dominant market driver37:00 Why geopolitics often doesn't move markets40:00 Bear case: weak free cash flow and employment risk44:26 Brent Kochuba on options flows and positioning47:00 Why markets ignore rising rates and oil49:00 Call buying, dispersion, and tech leadership51:00 Energy as both hedge and AI-driven opportunity54:00 Correlation, volatility, and market structure56:00 Dealer positioning and suppressed volatility58:00 Earnings strength and narrow market leadership01:01:00 Free cash flow vs earnings debate01:01:55 AI capex and long-term market implications

This week's Excess Returns Weekly Wrap brings together insights from Jim Paulsen, Brent Kochuba, Anthony Wang, and Tom Hancock to break down what's really driving markets right now—from recession signals and oil shocks to AI economics and options flows. We explore whether current conditions look more like the start of a new bull market or something more fragile beneath the surface.We dive into unique indicators like the “Walmart signal,” shifting oil/VIX correlations, the real economics behind the AI boom, and what options markets are telling us about positioning and risk.Topics Covered:The Walmart vs. luxury retail indicator and what it signals about recession riskWhy oil is no longer driving volatility the way it did earlier in the crisisHow geopolitical shocks are (and aren't) translating into equity market stressThe role of options flows and the JP Morgan collar in shaping market movesWhy all market signals should be viewed as probabilities, not certaintiesAI and the “cost of intelligence going to zero” and what that means for productivityThe layering of AI economics and how cash flows through the systemWhy this AI cycle differs from the dot-com bubble (utilization, funding, cost curves)The importance of cash-funded capex vs. debt-driven speculationWhy low consumer confidence may actually be bullish for stocksIndicators that look more like the start of a bull market than the endThe role of sentiment, positioning, and underreaction in driving returnsTimestamps:00:00 Intro01:00 Weekly Wrap overview and guest lineup03:05 The Walmart indicator and recession signals06:20 Private credit stress vs traditional credit signals09:05 Interpreting economic indicators in context10:25 Oil and VIX correlation breakdown13:05 Why oil stopped driving volatility15:00 “Certainty about uncertainty” and market behavior16:10 AI and the collapsing cost of intelligence18:40 Agents, productivity, and the future of software21:05 AI skepticism vs long-term adoption curve22:30 AI capex, cash flow, and economic layering25:00 Why this AI cycle is more stable than dot-com27:00 Cash-funded investment vs debt-driven bubbles29:25 Bull market vs bear market signals today31:00 Consumer confidence as a contrarian indicator33:30 The role of sentiment and upside surprises34:25 The JP Morgan collar and market structure37:00 Trading probabilities vs certainty39:00 How options flows act as market “magnets”41:05 Comparing AI infrastructure to fiber buildout44:30 Utilization and demand in AI vs dot-com47:00 Network effects and scaling AI adoption01:09:30 Final thoughts and wrap-up

Subscribe to the OPEX Effect on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the OPEX Effect on Apple PodcastsThis episode of The Opex Effect breaks down why markets have remained surprisingly resilient despite geopolitical chaos, an oil shock, and extreme headline risk. Brent Kochuba joins Jack Forehand to analyze what's really driving the market beneath the surface—from options flows and gamma positioning to the collapse in volatility and what it signals for the next move.They explore how the options market is shaping price action in ways most investors miss, why the VIX collapsed despite elevated risk, and what positioning tells us about the path forward as we head into earnings and the next major options expiration.Topics covered:Why markets have stayed near highs despite war, oil spikes, and macro uncertaintyThe “taco trade” and why investors expect bad news to reverse quicklyHow options flows and dealer hedging are influencing stock pricesWhy call options are historically cheap heading into earningsThe mechanics of gamma, delta hedging, and market maker positioningWhy options expiration (OpEx) can act as a turning point for marketsThe divergence between oil prices and equity volatilityWhat the collapse in the VIX reveals about investor positioningThe role of zero-DTE options in reinforcing short-term market rangesKey resistance levels forming from call selling and what they mean for upsideTimestamps:00:00 Why markets aren't reacting to geopolitical chaos04:18 The “taco trade” and shifting market expectations07:30 How options flows influence stock market movements11:10 Why OpEx can drive market turning points13:05 Volatility compression and the gamma-volatility relationship15:30 How large options positioning shapes market behavior18:05 Why positioning has shifted toward calls20:00 Why this OpEx may be less impactful than prior ones22:00 Market positioning into earnings and key drivers ahead24:10 Using gamma maps to identify support and resistance27:00 Revisiting the JP Morgan collar trade and March lows30:00 Correlation spikes and the oil-volatility relationship33:00 Why oil has stopped driving equity volatility34:30 The breakdown between oil and VIX correlation36:00 Why volatility may reprice higher after OpEx37:05 The oil curve and expectations for a short-term shock39:40 One of the largest VIX collapses ever41:00 How options positioning drove the volatility unwind43:00 Why selling volatility has become a dominant strategy45:00 The feedback loop between rising markets and falling volatilityFor more information on SpotGamma and Brent's work:https://spotgamma.comFollow Brent on Twitter:https://twitter.com/spotgamma

This episode of our new market wrap show Last Call breaks down the biggest market drivers right now through three distinct lenses: macro, narrative, and flows. With an oil shock driven by geopolitical conflict, rising volatility, and conflicting economic signals, the discussion focuses on what actually matters beneath the surface and how investors should think about positioning in an environment where nothing is clearly priced in.Follow Last Call on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Last Call on Apple Podcasts⁠Jack and Matt bring together Andy Constan, Ben Hunt, Brent Kochuba, and Eric Pachman to analyze the ripple effects of higher oil prices, the “common knowledge” shift in markets, the role of options flows in driving short-term moves, and why traditional economic indicators like unemployment may be telling a misleading story.Andy Constan Twitterhttps://x.com/dampedspringBen Hunt Twitterhttps://x.com/EpsilonTheoryBrent Kochuba Twitterhttps://x.com/spotgammaEric Pachman Twitterhttps://x.com/epachmanTopics covered:How oil supply shocks impact GDP, inflation, and consumer spendingWhy higher oil prices act as a tax on the economy and shift growth dynamicsThe difference between supply shocks and demand shocks in energy marketsWhy central banks may be unable to respond to an oil-driven slowdownThe “common knowledge” framework and how narratives reshape marketsWhy the Strait of Hormuz has become the key global economic bottleneckOil exporters vs importers and how that divide is driving asset performanceWhy energy equities may outperform in a prolonged geopolitical conflictHow volatility is being driven by oil prices and geopolitical riskThe relationship between VIX and oil during crisis periodsWhy $100 oil could trigger a major volatility spike and equity selloffThe JP Morgan collar trade and how options positioning can pin marketsHow dealer hedging flows influence short-term price actionWhy markets may appear disconnected from negative newsThe limits of predicting what is “priced in” during uncertain environmentsWhy diversification matters more when macro visibility is lowHow unemployment data can mislead by excluding people leaving the workforceThe difference between unemployment rate and labor force participationStructural decline in rural economies and the migration to urban centersHow labor force trends explain the divergence in economic experiences across the USTimestamps:00:00 Oil shock as a GDP tax on consumers00:16 Strait of Hormuz as global economic chokepoint00:29 Why $100 oil could send VIX to 5000:39 Why unemployment rate may be misleading01:07 What Last Call is and how the episode is structured02:28 Macro, narrative, and flows framework for markets03:44 How oil supply shocks impact growth and inflation06:00 Why higher oil prices reduce discretionary spending07:00 Oil's impact on inflation and central bank policy09:39 Scenario analysis for oil prices and market outcomes12:28 Is the oil shock priced into markets?16:00 Why oil vs assets may be mispriced20:00 Ben Hunt on the “common knowledge” market shift25:00 Why the Strait of Hormuz changes everything29:00 Portfolio implications: long energy vs global equities33:00 Brent Kochuba on oil, VIX, and market volatility linkage36:00 Why $100 oil is the key risk threshold for equities40:00 JP Morgan collar trade and market pinning dynamics44:00 Why options flows can override macro narratives short term52:00 Eric Pachman on unemployment vs labor force reality59:00 Structural decline in labor force across US counties

This week's Excess Returns Weekly Wrap breaks down the biggest market drivers right now, including how markets price (or fail to price) war risk, why volatility signals are flashing unusual warnings, and what options market positioning is telling us about potential downside. Featuring Jared Dillian, Brent Kochuba and D.A. Wallach, the episode also explores how macro regime shifts are changing diversification, how the Fed is reacting to rising oil prices, and why biotech investing is essentially a portfolio of options.Topics Covered• Why markets struggle to price geopolitical risk and war probabilities• The concept of “willful ignorance” in market pricing of obvious risks• Implied vs realized volatility and what the VIX is signaling right now• Why volatility premium is near historic highs despite a relatively low VIX• How options flows and hedging activity influence stock market movements• The risk of a sudden volatility spike and what could trigger a VIX move to 40• The Fed's dilemma with rising oil prices and inflation vs demand destruction• Why oil shocks can be both inflationary and deflationary at the same time• The idea of “path of least embarrassment” in Fed policy decisions• Biotech investing explained as a “bag of options” with probabilistic outcomes• How drug development stages impact valuation and expected returns• Regime change in markets and why stock-bond correlations have flipped• The concept of non-stationary markets and constantly changing investing rules• Why most investors fail to adapt during regime shifts• The “Awesome Portfolio” and diversification across economic regimes• How options dealer positioning and gamma exposure can amplify market moves• Why OPEX (options expiration) can act as a turning point for markets• The shift from short-term to longer-term hedging in uncertain environmentsTimestamps00:00 Why markets fail to price obvious risks like war03:30 The Ukraine example and delayed market reactions09:50 Volatility premium vs VIX and why the spread is unusual12:00 How hedging activity drives implied volatility higher16:30 Oil shock and the Fed's policy dilemma18:40 Inflation vs demand destruction from higher energy prices23:00 Biotech investing as a portfolio of probabilistic outcomes27:00 Valuing drug pipelines using expected value and probabilities32:00 Regime change and the breakdown of stock-bond diversification35:00 Non-stationary markets and adapting to new investing rules47:00 The Awesome Portfolio and diversification across asset classes54:50 Options gamma and how dealer positioning impacts volatility57:00 Why a 2 to 3 percent drop could trigger a VIX spike to 40

Subscribe to the OPEX Effect on Spotify⁠⁠Subscribe to the OPEX Effect on Apple PodcastsThis episode breaks down the growing tension beneath the surface of today's markets, where volatility signals, options positioning, and macro risks like war and inflation are increasingly misaligned. Brent Kochuba and Jack Forehand explain why markets appear calm despite heavy hedging, and what that disconnect could mean for a potential volatility spike and downside move ahead.Brent Kochuba on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/SpotGammaSpotGamma Websitehttps://spotgamma.comTopics covered in this episode• Why volatility looks elevated beneath the surface even as markets remain relatively calm• The growing gap between implied volatility VIX and realized volatility and what it signals• How options expiration OPEX can create turning points in both price and volatility• Why current positioning is unusually put-heavy and what that means for downside risk• The role of market makers and hedging flows in driving market moves• How geopolitical risks like the Iran conflict are changing options behavior and hedging demand• Why correlation is spiking and what it says about investors moving from stock picking to asset allocation• The breakdown of traditional diversification including the 60/40 portfolio• How credit markets and liquidity risks could amplify equity volatility• The impact of zero DTE options and why traders are shifting to longer-duration hedges• The significance of the JP Morgan collar trade and key levels to watch into month-end• Why volatility spikes often follow periods of suppressed market movement• The potential for a sharp upside rally if geopolitical risks suddenly resolve• How options positioning can help both traders and long-term investors with timing decisionsTimestamps00:00 Volatility premium vs low market movement disconnect01:00 Why markets feel calm despite rising risks05:20 Explosion in options volume and impact of Monday Wednesday Friday expirations07:00 How market maker hedging flows drive price movements08:40 Dynamic hedging and why options impact evolves over time09:20 Why OPEX can trigger market turning points10:30 VIX expiration effects and short-term volatility suppression13:00 Negative gamma and how it amplifies market volatility14:10 Why hedging demand remains high despite OPEX clearing16:00 Jump risk scenario and potential VIX spike to 4017:10 Shift from zero DTE trading to longer-term hedging18:00 Put-heavy positioning across equities and indices20:40 Size and significance of the current OPEX event22:20 VIX spike dynamics around expiration23:40 JP Morgan collar trade and key SPX levels25:00 Why OPEX often marks short-term market lows or highs28:30 Review of prior OPEX signals and market setup30:00 Rising correlation and shift to asset allocation mindset32:00 Dispersion breakdown and implications for equities34:00 Software sector volatility and AI disruption narrative36:30 Using options signals for better timing decisions39:00 Correlation spike and risk-off behavior across markets41:30 Why investors are avoiding calls and piling into puts44:30 Cross-asset correlation breakdown and bond hedge failure48:00 Credit market risks and spillover into equities49:00 Extreme VIX vs realized volatility spread50:50 Why realized volatility remains unusually low52:30 Oil, inflation, and macro feedback loops

Follow Last Call on Spotify⁠⁠Follow Last Call on Apple PodcastsIn this episode of Last Call, Jack Forehand and Matt Zeigler look past the headlines to unpack what really moved markets this month. From the viral AI end of times scenario that sparked responses from Citadel, Fed Governor Waller, and Jeremy Siegel, to the growing stress in private credit and the rotation out of US mega cap stocks, this is a different kind of market wrap. Instead of recapping what the S and P 500 did, we explore what investors are actually doing with their money, how narratives shape positioning, and what the data says about whether this time is different.Featuring Brent Kochuba of SpotGamma, Ben Hunt of Epsilon Theory, Rupert Mitchell of Blind Squirrel Macro, and Meb Faber of The Idea Farm, this episode dives into AI, software stocks, options flows, credit cycles, global equity markets, gold, and the power of base rates in investing.Main topics covered:The viral AI bear case scenario and why a fictional narrative moved real marketsHow investors should think in probabilities, bull cases, base cases, and bear casesWhat options pricing and put call ratios reveal about real fear versus social media fearThe state of software stocks and whether extreme bearishness may have marked a short term bottomPrivate credit stress, rising default risks, and why every credit cycle ends when lenders say no moreAn on the ground anecdote from San Francisco illustrating how refinancing risk is playing out in real timeThe rotation from US mega caps into international stocks and why fiscal spending matters for equity marketsGold and gold miners as potential beneficiaries of global liquidity and currency shiftsWhy base rates matter when evaluating explosive AI revenue forecastsHistorical lessons from the Nifty Fifty, Japan's bubble, the dot com era, and other periods when investors believed this time is differentPortfolio construction tools including diversification, rebalancing, and trend following in bubble environmentsTimestamps:00:00 Introduction and the AI end of times narrative02:16 Why investors are responding to fiction and what we can learn from it08:00 Brent Kochuba on options flows and software stock positioning13:00 Has extreme bearishness in software marked a bottom19:55 Ben Hunt on private credit and the boom bust cycle27:00 A San Francisco refinancing story and when lenders say no33:08 Rupert Mitchell on global markets, fiscal spending, and gold44:22 Meb Faber on base rates, bubbles, and this time is different01:00:16 How to track AI's real world impact in corporate dataIf you enjoy deep dives into investing, AI, market structure, credit cycles, global equities, and evidence based portfolio construction, be sure to subscribe to Excess Returns for more conversations like this.

Subscribe to the OPEX Effect on SpotifySubscribe to the OPEX Effect on Apple PodcastsIn this episode of The Opex Effect, Jack and Brent break down the growing impact of options markets on stocks, volatility, and sector rotation. While the major indexes appear calm, massive moves beneath the surface tell a very different story. From software stocks and AI disruption to gold, silver, bonds, and the Nasdaq, they analyze how dealer hedging flows, gamma positioning, implied volatility, and options expiration cycles may be shaping market behavior more than headlines suggest. If you want to understand why markets can feel wildly volatile yet go nowhere, and how options positioning can influence short term price action, this episode provides a deep dive into the mechanics driving today's market environment.Main Topics CoveredWhy the market feels like the wildest calm market of all timeMassive single stock volatility versus muted index performanceSoftware stock weakness, AI disruption, and the so called SaaS apocalypseThe surge in options volume and the rise of zero DTE in major stocksHow dealer hedging, delta, gamma, and volatility flows impact equitiesThe historical tendency for markets to flip direction after options expirationRealized volatility versus intraday volatility and what is being hiddenBeneath the surface rotation into value, small caps, energy, and defenseGold and silver volatility spikes and what options volume signaled at the topRising demand for puts and what skew is telling us about downside riskCorrelation spikes, VIX behavior, and the risk of a volatility expansionHow positioning can create rapid market spasms in single stocks like Nvidia and TeslaWhy this environment may represent a staging area for a larger moveTimestamps00:00 Violently going nowhere and hidden volatility01:01 The wildest calm market of all time04:00 Introduction to The Opex Effect and options driven flows05:29 The growth of options trading and zero DTE impact11:00 Dealer hedging, delta, and how options move stocks13:42 Why options expiration can trigger regime changes16:22 Intraday volatility versus close to close volatility20:18 Extreme rotation beneath the surface21:00 Measuring expiration size with the lobster claw rating25:00 Single stock positioning and March expiration risk27:35 Core one month correlation warning signals33:00 Rising put demand and what skew reveals36:45 Asset rotation in bonds, gold, bitcoin, and tech43:06 Correlation spikes and crash risk setup46:40 The quickening of volatility and single stock spasms

Follow Last Call on SpotifyFollow Last Call on Apple PodcastsJoin Jack Forehand and Matt Zeigler for the premiere episode of Last Call, a new monthly market wrap show where we go beyond the headlines to deliver actionable investment insights — and have a little fun along the way.Instead of focusing on index performance or short-term moves, we step back and connect the dots between macro instability, narrative shifts, options market signals, private credit risk, AI capital spending, and the changing nature of the Magnificent Seven.Featuring conversations with Brent Kochuba from SpotGamma, Ben Hunt from Perscient, Kai Wu from Sparkline Capital, and clips from our recent interviews with Liz Ann Sonders and Aswath Damodaran, the episode blends market structure, behavioral finance, valuation discipline, and long-term investing context to help investors understand what is really driving today's market environment — and how to think about it going forward.Main Topics:• Why this is not a traditional market recap and how Last Call is designed to be more useful for investors• Instability versus uncertainty — and why today's market feels different• Loss of trust in institutions, policy, and global systems and its impact on markets• What options market flows reveal about hidden market risks and sudden volatility• How private credit has reached bubble-like conditions and why narrative risk matters• The debate over retail and retirement account exposure to private credit• Why valuation discipline looks different when correlations rise across asset classes• Aswath Damodaran on trimming positions, raising cash, and the difficulty of finding uncorrelated assets• How the Magnificent Seven are changing from asset-light to asset-heavy businesses• AI capital expenditure, historical spending booms, and why infrastructure builders often underperform• Whether this AI cycle is truly different from railroads, telecom, and past technology boomsTimestamps00:00 — Intro and opening clips01:10 — What Last Call is and why this format exists04:30 — Instability versus uncertainty in today's market09:58 — Loss of trust, gold, and historical parallels13:18 — Brent Kochuba on options flows and hidden market stress25:17 — How options dislocations explain sudden market drops25:40 — Ben Hunt on private credit narrative risk28:00 — Why private credit exposure is everywhere32:32 — Retail access versus restrictions in private credit36:19 — What happens if the private credit bubble breaks39:28 — Aswath Damodaran on raising cash and trimming positions47:08 — The changing nature of the Magnificent Seven47:42 — Kai Wu on AI capex and asset-heavy tech50:48 — Why high capital spending often leads to underperformance56:01 — Historical parallels from railroads to the dot-com boom

Brent Kochuba takes a look behind the scenes at the options flows driving the market heading into the December options expiration and the end of 2025. Subscribe on Spotify⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/4KR2YVJqk2lnVETMKDavJf⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-opex-effect/id1711880009⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPYvx_y92dvI1PSdiho0ALw

Subscribe on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/4KR2YVJqk2lnVETMKDavJfSubscribe on Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-opex-effect/id1711880009Subscribe on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPYvx_y92dvI1PSdiho0ALw

Billions are moving through the stock market every day—but not for the reasons most investors think.In this episode, Brent Kochuba of SpotGamma breaks down the hidden world of options dealer flows and explains how concepts like gamma, vanna, and charm are silently shaping market behavior. Whether you're a trader or long-term investor, understanding these behind-the-scenes forces is essential to making sense of today's volatility.We discuss:What dealer hedging flows are—and why they matterHow options flows move billions without a fundamental triggerThe role of gamma, vanna, and charm in stock price actionWhy expiration cycles often mark major market turning pointsReal-world examples: GameStop, Tesla, Nvidia, and the S&P 500What traditional investors miss by ignoring these dynamicsEven if you've never traded an option, this episode will change how you see the market.

In the ever-evolving world of financial markets, options trading has experienced rapid growth among retail and institutional investors alike. Examining new educational mediums and methodologies is at the heart of this discussion as we present multiple perspectives on how education in the options space is happening now and how it may transform in the future. This panel will dive into the latest developments in options education, highlighting the strategies, tools and platforms that are empowering the next generation of traders. Moderator: Jessica Inskip, Director of Investor Research, StockBrokers.com Panelists: Mark Benzaquen, Principal, Investor Education, OCC Jermal Chandler, Head of Options Strategy, tastytrade Brent Kochuba, Founder, SpotGamma

In this episode, Kris Sidial joins Jack Forehand and Brent Kochuba to break down the mechanics of tail risk hedging, why most volatility strategies fail, and how his team approaches dislocations in the market. We explore what's really driving volatility behind the scenes, the evolving market structure, and why the current environment may be far more precarious than it appears. If you've ever wondered how professional vol traders monetize chaos—or why volatility can stick around far longer than people expect—this episode is for you.Topics Covered:What tail risk funds are and why many of them underperformHow to build a long volatility strategy that doesn't bleed capitalWhy rebalancing is a critical component of portfolio resilienceLiquidity fragility and how it amplifies market movesRetail's role in the latest rally and the fading institutional bidStructural risks created by passive flows and policy shiftsMonetizing volatility spikesThe psychological traps that lead to poor volatility trading decisionsWhy volatility might stay elevated for far longer than most expect

SpotGamma's Brent Kochuba joins Oliver Renick to discuss the options market impact on stocks, with his take on “Gamma Analysis” in today's trading world. Then, Oliver and Brent look at real world “FOMO” examples of Gamma impact in GameStop (GME), Microstrategy (MSTR), Salesforce (CRM), Tesla (TSLA) and Nvidia (NVDA). ======== Schwab Network ======== Empowering every investor and trader, every market day. Options involve risks and are not suitable for all investors. Before trading, read the Options Disclosure Document. http://bit.ly/2v9tH6D Subscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribe Download the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185 Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7 Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watch Watch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-explore Watch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/ Follow us on X – https://twitter.com/schwabnetwork Follow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/schwabnetwork Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/schwab-network/ About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about

In this episode of Excess Returns, Jack Forehand and special guest host Brent Kochuba dive deep into the world of long volatility and tail risk strategies with Kris Sidial, founder of the Ambrus Group. Kris shares invaluable insights from his experience managing volatility-focused strategies and navigating major market events.

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of options and their impact on market dynamics. We start with an "Options Dealer Flows 101" primer, explaining key concepts like delta hedging, gamma, charm, and vanna to help viewers understand how options flows can drive stock prices. We then analyze the current market situation heading into the September 2024 options expiration, one of the biggest of the year. We explore the outsized influence of Nvidia options activity, discuss potential outcomes from the upcoming FOMC meeting, and examine how bond-equity correlations are shifting. We break down why understanding options flows is crucial even for long-term investors who don't trade options themselves. Using real-world examples, we illustrate how options positioning can create market volatility and reversals around key dates. Whether you're an options trader or just want to better understand what's moving markets, this episode provides valuable insights into the hidden forces shaping stock prices. Join us as we unpack the complex world of options and their far-reaching effects on the broader market. SPOTGAMMA'S NEW PRODUCT - TRACE THE MARKET https://spotgamma.com/trace-the-market-excess-returns/?aff=Excess

In this episode of Huddle +, Patrick catches up with Brent Kochuba, the founder of Spot Gamma, to break down the forces driving recent market volatility. They delve into the nuances of gamma and the dispersion trade, offering actionable insights for investors. Whether you’re a seasoned trader or just curious about the mechanics behind market moves, this discussion will equip you with the knowledge you need to stay ahead in these uncertain times. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of how to navigate and leverage volatility in today's market. Check out Spot Gamma: https://spotgamma.com Follow Brent on X: https://www.x.com/spotgamma *Got questions for Kevin and Patrick? Submit your questions to: nostupidquestions@markethuddle.com Visit our merch store!!! https://www.themarkethuddlemerch.com/ To receive our emails with the charts and links each week, please register at: https://markethuddle.com/

We have launched a new podcast called the OPEX Effect with Spotgamma's Brent Kochuba. The monthly podcast will look at the impact of options on the stock market and how long-term investors can better understand it. We have included the first episode in the Excess Returns feed, but if you would like to receive future episodes, please subscribe using the links below. SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-opex-effect/id1711880009 SUBSCRIBE ON SPOTIFY https://open.spotify.com/show/4KR2YVJqk2lnVETMKDavJf SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE https://www.youtube.com/excessreturns

There has been a lot going on in the options world that is impacting the stock market. The use of 0DTE (0 days to expiration) options has risen dramatically in recent months, options expirations have continued to be significant market moving events and an end of month trade by a JP Morgan fund many investors haven't heard of has also been a significant market driver. We also have a major options expiration coming up this week that might have significant implications for the market. With everything going on in the options world, we thought it would be a great time to bring back our friend and options expert Brent Kochuba. Brent is the founder of SpotGamma and has been our go to resource to understand how what is going on in options is impacting the overall market. We cover all the issues above and get Brent's take on what they might mean for investors. He also shares some great charts with us to help us better put everything into context. We hope you enjoy the discussion. SEE LATEST EPISODES ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.validea.com/excess-returns-podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FIND OUT MORE ABOUT VALIDEA ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.validea.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FIND OUT MORE ABOUT VALIDEA CAPITAL ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.valideacapital.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FOLLOW JACK Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/practicalquant⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-forehand-8015094⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FOLLOW JUSTIN Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/jjcarbonneau⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcarbonneau⁠

The options market ain't what it used to be.Sign up for The Lead-Lag Report at www.leadlagreport.com and use promo code PODCAST30 for 2 weeks free and 30% off.In this informative podcast, Brent Kochuba, a seasoned options trader, shares his insights into the world of options gamma and 0dte trading. Options gamma can be a tricky concept to grasp, but Brent breaks it down in an easy-to-understand manner, giving you a thorough understanding of the dynamics of options trading. He delves into the nuances of 0dte trading, explaining its risks and rewards, and how it can be used to make profitable trades. Brent shares tips and tricks on how to spot gamma and use that knowledge to make informed trading decisions. Whether you're a seasoned options trader or just starting out, this podcast is a must-listen for anyone looking to improve their trading skills. So, if you're ready to take your trading game to the next level, hit that play button now and join Brent Kochuba to learn more about options gamma and 0dte trading. Don't forget to subscribe to our channel for more informative podcast on trading strategies and techniques.Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCInl2wu4m5EjpgZP7kosVUg/joinDon't forget to like, share, and subscribe!Twitter: https://twitter.com/leadlagreport​​​​​Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leadlagreport​​Instagram: https://instagram.com/leadlagreport​​​Check out Lead-Lag Live on all your favorite podcast platforms.Nothing on this channel should be considered as personalized financial advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any securities. The content in this program is for informational purposes only. You should not construe any information or other material as investment, financial, tax, or other advice. The views expressed by the participants are solely their own. A participant may have taken or recommended any investment position discussed, but may close such position or alter its recommendation at any time without notice. Nothing contained in this program constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer to buy or sell any securities or other financial instruments in any jurisdiction. Please consult your own investment or financial advisor for advice related to all investment decisions.See disclosures for The Lead-Lag Report here: https://www.leadlagreport.com/static/termsandconditionsDavid C Barnett Small Business and Deal Making M&A SMBI discuss buying, selling, financing and managing small and medium sized businesses...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifyFoodies unite…with HowUdish!It's social media with a secret sauce: FOOD! The world's first network for food enthusiasts. HowUdish connects foodies across the world!Share kitchen tips and recipe hacks. Discover hidden gem food joints and street food. Find foodies like you, connect, chat and organize meet-ups!HowUdish makes it simple to connect through food anywhere in the world.So, how do YOU dish? Download HowUdish on the Apple App Store today:

Brent Kochuba from SpotGamma.com is back on the show to explain a recent article they posted about getting used to both the VIX being up while the market is up. Most of us think of the VIX as the "fear gauge" but it could also become the "fear of missing out" gauge 2023. This is an extremely valuable educational lesson so be sure to listen to it in its entirety. Here's the link to the article:https://spotgamma.com/get-comfortable-with-vix-up-market-up/SpotGamma Twitter: https://twitter.com/spotgammaWant to connect with your host and other listeners of this podcast?Go to https://StockMarketOptionsTrading.net and join the community for free right now. Want the support the podcast and interested in trading SPX weekly options?Come join me at https://www.patreon.com/VerticalSpreadOptionsTrading to get started. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/stockmarketoptionstradingTwitter: https://twitter.com/OptionAssassin

Brent Kochuba is the Founder of SpotGamma, a financial insights company, which applies its proprietary methodology toward modeling index and equity options and then provides unique content to its subscribers. SpotGamma has thousands of members and has been featured in publications such as The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg Markets. At SpotGamma, Brent oversees all of the product development and creative content.Previously, Brent was a portfolio manager with Seven North Capital Management where he focused on creating options-based investment strategies. Prior to that, he spent time as a derivatives broker at Wolverine Execution, Credit Suisse, and Bank of America. Brent  lives with his wife and children in Easton, Connecticut.  He holds a B.S. in Emerging Technologies from the University of Connecticut.In this episode of How To Trade It, Brent unpacks the relationship between Options and the Stock Market. You don't want to miss it!Subscribe to How To Trade It You'll want to listen to this episode, if you are interested in hearing Brent Kochuba discuss… [01:18] SpotGamma - analyzing the S&P500 and NASDAQ[03:04] Market Makers[06:47] Options expiration[10:17] Meme mania[14:45] Applying the data[20:23] Categories to watch[22:02] Daily Note[25:57] Summary of key points[28:48] Skew[31:07] A hidden danger for investorsMarket MakersThe Market Makers' whole job is to post bids and offers on the exchanges for both stocks and options. They are not a bank, nor a hedge fund.  Market Makers electronically send out and have orders resting on all of the exchanges, at all times.  Odds are, when you place an order in your eTrade or Robinhood account, you are actually buying or selling from one of the Market Makers. They are the primary liquidity providers in our market.  Citadel claims to have about 40-45% of the total option volume out there.   Resources & People Mentioned CitadelRobinhoodwww.SpotGamma.com/subscribe How to Trade It listeners can get TWO FREE WEEKS of any level of SpotGamma Subscription by using coupon code HTTI50 Connect with Brent Kochuba Website:     http://www.spotgamma.comYouTube:    https://www.youtube.com/c/spotgammaTwitter:       https://twitter.com/spotgammaSupport the show

On this episode of Engineering the Trade, Jermal Chandler is joined by special guest Brent Kochuba of SpotGamma to discuss the week that was for mega-tech earnings. Then, they give their take on how they are looking to trade the Fed meeting, mid-term elections and CPI report.

On this episode of Engineering the Trade, Jermal Chandler is joined by special guest Brent Kochuba of SpotGamma to discuss the week that was for mega-tech earnings. Then, they give their take on how they are looking to trade the Fed meeting, mid-term elections and CPI report.

In this episode of Show Us Your Portfolio, we speak with SpotGamma founder Brent Kochuba. We had Brent on the podcast previously in episode 151 where we discussed the impact of the options market and option dealer flows on stocks. In this episode, we talk about how Brent uses that expertise to construct his personal portfolio. We discuss his asset allocation, the volatility trigger he uses to manage equity market risk and some interesting things he invests in on the fixed income side. We also discuss charitable giving, obstacle course racing, Brent's biggest investment mistake and a lot more. We hope you enjoy the discussion. ABOUT THE PODCAST Excess Returns is an investing podcast hosted by Jack Forehand (@practicalquant) and Justin Carbonneau (@jjcarbonneau), partners at Validea. Justin and Jack discuss a wide range of investing topics including factor investing, value investing, momentum investing, multi-factor investing, trend following, market valuation and more with the goal of helping those who watch and listen become better long term investors. SEE LATEST EPISODES https://www.validea.com/excess-returns-podcast FIND OUT MORE ABOUT VALIDEA https://www.validea.com FOLLOW OUR BLOG https://blog.validea.com FIND OUT MORE ABOUT VALIDEA CAPITAL https://www.valideacapital.com FOLLOW JACK Twitter: https://twitter.com/practicalquant LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-forehand-8015094 FOLLOW JUSTIN Twitter: https://twitter.com/jjcarbonneau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcarbonneau

In this episode, Patrick Ceresna and Kevin Muir welcome Rob Arnott to the show to discuss value versus growth stocks, the yield curve and whether it's predicting or causes recessions, and why Rob thinks inflation will stay persistently high. Then Brent from SpotGamma is here to talk OPEX. Visit Research Affiliates: https://www.researchaffiliates.com Download Brent's Charts 📈📉https://bit.ly/3L13IFL ⭐️Visit our merch store!!! 👉https://www.markethuddlemerch.com/ ⭐️ *Got questions for Kevin and Patrick? Submit your questions to: 📩nostupidquestions@markethuddle.com To receive our emails with the charts and links each week, please register at: https://markethuddle.com/

Brent Kochuba from Spotgamma joins Anthony to discuss the best way to use options data in your strategy! They go over everything from understanding the Greeks, the best way to use options data to give traders market directional leads, how to use the VIX to determine the S&P 500 market direction and what the options […]

Brent Kochuba from Spotgamma joins Anthony to discuss the best way to use options data in your strategy! They go over everything from understanding the Greeks, the best way to use options data to give traders market directional leads, how to use the VIX to determine the S&P 500 market direction and what the options […]

Brent Kochuba, the founder of SpotGamma, has expertise predicting the future movements of equities and indices. While a lot of what he does is a bit technical, if you want to know where things are going in the future... Brent is your guy. Short Squeeze, Gamma Squeeze, and volatility. All things that Brent tracks daily. Listen to this episode to find out how the pros look at the increase volatility we have seen in the markets. Today's Panelists: Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth Barbara Friedberg | Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance Megan Gorman | The Wealth Intersection   Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moneytreepodcast Follow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/money-tree-investing-podcast Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MTIPodcast For more information, visit the show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/spotgamma-brent-kochuba

Excited to have Brent Kochuba back on the show to help explain call and put walls in regards to the options market. Here's a link to a study they did on the subject: https://spotgamma.com/option-wall-stats/ Spotgamma.com provides powerful insights from the options market through their proprietary stats and indicators. Be sure to check them out. Want the latest in trading research and support the podcast at the same time? Come join me at https://www.patreon.com/VerticalSpreadOptionsTrading to get started. Additional Resources: Stock Market Options Trading Free Community: https://www.stockmarketoptionstrading.net/ Stock Market Options Trading YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/stockmarketoptionstrading J. Eric O'Rourke Twitter: https://twitter.com/OptionAssassin

Brent Kochuba is the Founder of SpotGamma, a financial insights company, which applies its proprietary methodology toward modeling index and equity options and then provides unique content to its subscribers. SpotGamma has thousands of members and has been featured in publications such as The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg Markets. At SpotGamma, Brent oversees all of the product development and creative content. Prior to SpotGamma, Brent was most recently a portfolio manager with Seven North Capital Management where he focused on creating options-based investment strategies. Prior to that, he spent time as a derivatives broker at Wolverine Execution, Credit Suisse and Bank of America. Brent now lives with his wife and children in Easton, Connecticut. Brent holds a B.S. in Emerging Technologies from the University of Connecticut. Brent joins me on Tech Talks Daily to discuss why tech, stock, and options analysis work so well together. We also attempt to demystify the options market and empower investors at all levels.

In this episode, Patrick Ceresna and Kevin Muir welcome Brent Kochuba from SpotGamma to the show to talk about the chunky option expiration that's coming up and be sure to stick around because Brent will even share the single stock idea that piqued Kevin's interest! Download Brent's Charts 📈📉 https://bit.ly/3NP7geo ⭐️Visit our merch store!!! 👉https://www.markethuddlemerch.com/ ⭐️ *Got questions for Kevin and Patrick? Submit your questions to: 📩nostupidquestions@markethuddle.com To receive our emails with the charts and links each week, please register at: https://markethuddle.com/

Many investors think that options are just a vehicle that affects the portfolios of sophisticated investors. But their impact on the market goes well beyond that. In this episode, we talk to SpotGamma founder Brent Kochuba about the influence that options have on the stock market, and what that means for everyday investors. We discuss the role of options dealer hedging on flows within the market, why options expirations can often market major market turning points and what options tell us about market volatility. We hope you enjoy the discussion. MORE ABOUT SPOTGAMMA https://spotgamma.com ABOUT THE PODCAST Excess Returns is an investing podcast hosted by Jack Forehand (@practicalquant) and Justin Carbonneau (@jjcarbonneau), partners at Validea. Justin and Jack discuss a wide range of investing topics including factor investing, value investing, momentum investing, multi-factor investing, trend following, market valuation and more with the goal of helping those who watch and listen become better long term investors. SEE LATEST EPISODES https://www.validea.com/excess-returns-podcast FIND OUT MORE ABOUT VALIDEA https://www.validea.com FOLLOW OUR BLOG https://blog.validea.com FIND OUT MORE ABOUT VALIDEA CAPITAL https://www.valideacapital.com FOLLOW JACK Twitter: https://twitter.com/practicalquant LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-forehand-8015094 FOLLOW JUSTIN Twitter: https://twitter.com/jjcarbonneau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcarbonneau

As investors get access to a diversified portfolio, it is important to know the options available to you. Today on The Yield, Peter Kerr, CFA, is joined by Brent Kochuba, Founder of Spot Gamma, a financial insights company, which applies its proprietary methodology toward modeling index and equity options and then provides unique content to its subscribers, for a conversation about current market trends and understanding your financial options.Key Takeaways:[1:30] Spot Gamma's aim in approaching market volatility and derivative markets. [4:02] The timeline of Spot Gamma's predictive analytics. [6:40] Quarter end flowers and other players that have an impact outside of option markets. [8:46] Do market peaks follow the same cycles as market lows? [9:52] Typical buys and sellers of call and put options. [12:30] Hypothetically speaking, how would someone choose to invest in an option, stock, or put?[15:50] Why options act the way they do and different use cases for hedging purposes. [19:30] Common mistakes people make when trading individual accounts. [24:58] Making (or losing) money in both buying and selling a long call. [30:20] Who would be a good fit for this kind of investing? [32:35] The dynamic of hedging and multipliers. [37:01] Is option trading a discipline of technical or fundamental analysis? Mentioned in This Episode:Yieldstreet

Summary: How do you avoid sudden declines when volatility is increasing in the markets? I have Brent Kochuba on the show to talk about this, and his expertise with navigating options strategies is helpful in determining how to go about trading at this particular time. Tune in for tips on analyzing the markets and for predictions on what's to come. Highlights: -Amazon lost 14% of its share value -How do you avoid sudden declines amidst the increase in volatility in the markets? -Brent Kochuba navigates options strategies -Anytime people get nervous in the markets, they buy put options -They look at people trading put options to predict volatility -Now, individual stocks are getting hit hard -Tesla took a hit -One of the big worries of the market right now is how many times the Fed will raise rates; a lot of tech stocks are getting beat up -With stagflation, the economy starts slowing down, unemployment rates go up, and there is high inflation Useful Links: Financial Survival Network Spot Gamma

BIO: Brent Kochuba is the Founder of SpotGamma, a financial insights company that applies its proprietary methodology toward modeling index and equity options and then provides unique content to its subscribers. STORY: Brent joined a former client as a trader in his fund. Five days after he started working at the fund, the market opened a limit down and halted trading. The fund lost so much money, and the only way out was to liquidate and shut down. LEARNING: Know whom you're dealing with. Speak up and ask for clarification when things don't make sense.   “If you're in a position that is going to make you a lot of money, the risk is likely to be high too.”Brent Kochuba  Guest profilehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-kochuba-22509a1/ (Brent Kochuba) is the Founder of https://spotgamma.com/ (SpotGamma), a financial insights company, which applies its proprietary methodology toward modeling index and equity options and then provides unique content to its subscribers. SpotGamma has thousands of members and has been featured in publications such as The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg Markets. Worst investment everBrent had been in the institutional broker space for about 15 years when one of his clients—whom he knew reasonably well—decided to start his own fund. Brent chose to leave his then employer to work for this gentleman at this fund. This was in August of 2015. At the time, the gentleman ran a small account. He would short put options—insurance contracts that people often buy to protect themselves if the market declines. Brent was a trader, and the gentleman was the portfolio manager. Brent had been on the trading desk with the gentleman for five days, and on the third Friday of August, massive trades suddenly started to go off right at the close of trading. Two days later, the market opened a limit down and halted trading. The fund was losing money because the market was dropping. Frantically, they tried to hedge their portfolio but couldn't and were forced to liquidate and shut down. Lessons learnedKnow whom you're dealing with. Speak up and ask for clarification when things don't make sense. The more money you stand to make from a position, the higher the risk. Andrew's takeawaysBanks will always take away the umbrella just when it starts raining. Actionable adviceUnderstand what it is you're involved in. Instead of looking for the shortcut, go with the tried and true ways of succeeding. No.1 goal for the next 12 monthsBrent's company is part of a documentary coming out on MSNBC and Peacock. His goal for the next 12 months is to use this platform to educate people on the power of options and investing in the market.   [spp-transcript]   Connect with Brent Kochubahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-kochuba-22509a1/ (LinkedIn) https://www.youtube.com/c/spotgamma (YouTube) https://spotgamma.com/blog/ (Website) Andrew's bookshttps://amzn.to/3qrfHjX (How to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock Market) https://amzn.to/2PDApAo (My Worst Investment Ever) https://amzn.to/3v6ip1Y (9 Valuation Mistakes and How to Avoid Them) https://amzn.to/3emBO8M (Transform Your Business with Dr.Deming's 14 Points) Andrew's online programshttps://valuationmasterclass.com/ (Valuation Master Class) https://academy.astotz.com/courses/how-to-start-building-your-wealth-investing-in-the-stock-market (How to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock Market) https://academy.astotz.com/courses/finance-made-ridiculously-simple (Finance Made Ridiculously Simple) https://academy.astotz.com/courses/gp (Become a Great Presenter and Increase Your Influence) https://academy.astotz.com/courses/transformyourbusiness (Transform Your Business with Dr. Deming's 14 Points) Connect with Andrew Stotz:https://www.astotz.com/ (astotz.com) https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewstotz/ (LinkedIn) https://www.facebook.com/andrewstotzpage (Facebook) https://www.instagram.com/andstotz/ (Instagram)

In this episode, I got to speak with Brent Kochuba, Founder of SpotGamma.com where he explains to me some advanced concepts of what makes the stock market really move by way of the options market. After listening, head over to https://spotgamma.com/about/ to learn more about Brent and the proprietary technology and methodology we discuss in this episode. Want to support the podcast and get access to my latest research? Head over to https://www.patreon.com/VerticalSpreadOptionsTrading to get started. Join the podcast community over at https://www.stockmarketoptionstrading.net to ask questions and connect with other retail traders.

Australian investors love US tech stocks. Many of them are household names, though they've taken shareholders on a bit of a ride lately. Brent Kochuba, founder of SpotGamma, joins Sean Aylmer from the US to talk through some of the biggest companies in the world, from Apple and Tesla to Meta and Alphabet. Support the show: https://fearandgreed.com.au/all-episodes See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leading retail industry analyst Dana Telsey, chief research officer at Telsey Advisory Group, says that the retail industry is poised to overcome high inflation, rising interest rates, supply-chain issues stretched by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and more thanks to culture and structural changes, the closing of struggling stores and lagging shopping centers and a resilient, healthy consumer. Telsey acknowledges how retail struggled during the first quarter of the year, but noted that she has high hopes for the remainder of the year, especially as big events and celebrations return to help drive additional shopping. Talking technical analysis, Brent Kochuba, founder of SpotGamma.com, says that current neutral sentiment among traders is a warning sign that a market decline could be in the offing, particularly if the Standard & Poor's 500 remains below the 4,500 level, allowing volatility to build up, potentially generating downward pressure. In the Book Interview, Mary Childs -- co-host of Planet Money on National Public Radio -- discusses her recent book "The Bond King: How One Man Made a Market, Built an Empire, and Lost It All," all about legendary fund manager Bill Gross.

Brent Kochuba of Spot Gamma joins the podcast to discuss his view that there will likely be an equities rally into the March 17 options expiration. This podcast was recorded Wednesday afternoon, March 9, 2022, and made available to premium subscribers that same day. Become a premium subscriber today by visiting Contrarian.Supercast.com or our Substack. There are many benefits beyond getting podcasts a few days (or more) early and not having to deal with annoying ads or announcements. Content Highlights Stocks have been selling off with the Nasdaq now officially in a bear market. But the guest is short-term bullish for reasons that can be traced to market makers hedging counterparty risk (2:39); What about all the uncertainty with Russia-Ukraine? (5:57); Stocks are up since the start of the Russian invasion on Feb. 24, likely because markets were hedged going in due to Fed tightening concerns (9:28); What to make of the March 9 rally? A brief primer on gamma, vanna, and charm aka delta decay (11:02); Similar gamma squeezes caused rallies in the past around options expiry (15:20); Background on the guest (21:31); The hedges investors have put on ahead of the FOMC meeting next week should lead to more risk-off. The lower bound for the S&P 500 is 4,100 (24:36); Recent days have seen a change in options flow: Nvidia (NVDA) and crypto names such as Coinbase (COIN) have benefited along with Amazon (AMZN) and the Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) (26:50); Liquidity is important and recent months have seen some of it leave the system (30:06). More Information on the Guest Website: SpotGamma.com; Twitter: @SpotGamma; YouTube: SpotGamma; Not intended as investment advice. Do your own research, make your own decisions!

What can the Tesla (TSLA) options volume and open interest tell investors about its stock price moving forward? Brent Kochuba says that TSLA is the reverse of PTON as the stock keeps moving higher. Some of the recent trading trends include more options activity at the start of the week with tapering off towards the end. He says that we are seeing negative delta trading today in TSLA, which can imply that traders are selling calls. Tune in for the full interview.

In this episode Imran Lakha, founder of OPTIONS INSIGHT, talks to Brent Kochuba, founder of Spotgamma.   Brent has been an options trader for many years working on both the sell-side as a market-maker and on the buy-side for a family office.  He setup Spotgamma two years ago to provide data on options market positioning in equity markets and his models have become an almost must have for derivatives traders in the industry.     In this conversation, they discuss why positioning matters so much for trying to predict short term moves in markets and how these can be amplified when options get involved.  An obvious example is the dramatic impact of options flows on the some of the recent "gamma squeezes" in meme stocks such as Gamestop and AMC, which Brent monitors closely in his models.    They discuss some of the embedded assumptions in Brent's model, and how overlaying the skew of the volatility surface over gamma open interest can help to identify dealer positioning and also predict the impact of large expiries on the underlying stocks or indices.   Finally, they touch on crypto markets and whether positioning data is as readily available or as predictive in the still relatively new market.   To learn more about OPTIONS INSIGHT please visit www.options-insight.com or email enquiries@options-insight.com     NONE OF THE MATERIAL IN THIS PODCAST SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS INVESTMENT ADVISE, IT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY.  ALWAYS CONSULT A REGISTERED INVESTMENT PROFESSIONAL BEFORE MAKING INVESTMENT DECISIONS. THE VIEWS AND OPINIONS EXPRESSED ON TRADER CHATS ARE THOSE OF THE PARTICIPANTS AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THOSE OF THE HOST.  OPTIONS INSIGHT OR IMRAN LAKHA SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FROM LOSSES RESULTING FROM INVESTMENT DECISIONS BASED ON INFORMATION OR VIEWPOINTS PRESENTED ON TRADER CHATS.

This week, Patrick is free-loading in Europe somewhere so Kevin holds down the fort alone but with great guests! First, … Continue ReadingBiggest Thing in Macro (guests: Lyn Alden, Brent Kochuba, Kuppy)

The Interview: Imran Lakha of Options Insight and Brent Kochuba of SpotGamma are veterans of the options market, and they join Real Vision to shed light on how options exert a hidden pressure on the stock market. Most associate the phrase “gamma squeeze” with GameStop, but Kochuba notes that gamma squeezes are very common, noting the various ways in which dislocations in dealer gamma can drive price action in indices such as the S&P 500 but also in single-name equities like Tesla and Apple. He describes his quantitative method to identify levels of gamma resistance in single-name equities and index futures, using detailed charts levels to spot what he names "call walls" and "volatility triggers." Kochuba and Lakha make sense of the drastic transformation the options market has undergone over the past year, and they speculate on the future of this highly sophisticated asset class. Lastly, Lakha shares with Kochuba his findings in the nascent world of crypto derivatives. Recorded on May 3rd, 2021. Key learnings: The explosion in single-stock option volumes means that options are now playing a huge role in driving price action in the equity market. Kochuba argues that this new environment offers the venturesome trader an opportunity to exploit the option market makers' to hedge their exposure. Lakha notes that Bitcoin and Ethereum exhibit call skew, which offers opportunities that are rarely seen in traditional capital markets. Lakha's website is https://www.options-insight.com/ and Kochuba's analysis can be found here: https://spotgamma.com/. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Become an ARMR Insider: https://armrreport.com/ Week in Review: As the Mechanical Bull Market rolls on we captured massive Alpha using Gamma information & sharing it with ARMR Insiders during our live screen share to start each trading day. I will share how we apply Gamma information to turbo charge our trading & investing strategies as well as discuss the source...Spot Gamma Special Note: We will be hosting a fireside chat with the founder of Spot Gamma, Brent Kochuba, on Thursday 2/18 afternoon for all ARMR Insiders. Stock Market Direction: Looks like all time new highs are in the offing. Now we go into the "Manage Success Mode" in the ARMR Investing Way process.... Cannabis Couch: How to handle to tremendous volatility US Cannabis vs Canada  DISCLAIMER: All of ARMRreport, our trades, strategies, and news coverage are based on our opinions alone and are only for educational purposes. You should not take any of this information as guidance for buying or selling any type of investment or security. I am only sharing my biased opinion based off of speculation and personal experience. An individual trader's/investor's results may not be typical and may vary from person to person. It is important to keep in mind that there are risks associated with investing in the stock market and that one can lose all of their investment. Thus, trades/investments should not be based on the opinions of others but by your own research and due diligence.

In episode #103, Patrick Ceresna and Kevin Muir welcome Josh Young from Bison Interests to talk about the macro picture … Continue ReadingApplying Chicago School to Energy Markets (guests: Josh Young, Brent Kochuba)

In episode #97, Patrick Ceresna and Kevin Muir first welcome Spot Gamma’s Brent Kochuba to the show to discuss deeper … Continue ReadingWeaponized Gamma (guests: Brent Kochuba, Angie Setzer)

In episode #63, Patrick Ceresna and Kevin Muir welcome Brent Kochuba from SpotGamma.com, where he shares gamma analysis from the … Continue ReadingThe Original SEC (guest: Brent Kochuba)