The Options Insider Radio Network

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

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

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

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

NVIDIA shrugs off the dog days of summer and takes the options crown once again on this episode of The Hot Options Report. Host Mark Longo breaks down the day's hottest options action, including a nearly six-million-contract session in NVIDIA, heavy trading in Tesla, Apple and Meta, a big post-earnings move in Dell, strength in Micron, and a rough session for Palantir. Plus, we dig into the zero-DTE options action in SPX and XSP and examine some of the most active short-dated calls across the market. For more options data, go to TheHotOptionsReport.com.

The yen makes a surprise return to the futures spotlight as intervention talk heats up and trading activity surges. On this episode of The Futures Rundown, host Mark Longo breaks down the latest action across the futures markets, including the unusual spike in yen futures volume amid renewed speculation about support from the Bank of Japan. We also examine the wild moves in energy, with WTI, Brent and heating oil charging higher, while gold, silver and platinum head in the opposite direction. Plus, we run through the most active futures contracts on the tape and check in on the biggest winners and losers of the year across energy, metals, rates, crypto, volatility and more.

Is the earnings volatility worm finally starting to turn? On this episode of Options Boot Camp, Mark Longo and Dan Passarelli dig into the latest earnings options data and examine whether the recent run of dominance for premium buyers may finally be losing steam. They break down how actual earnings moves are stacking up against what the options market priced in, whether traders should be rethinking the buy-vs.-sell premium equation, and how Dan approaches earnings trades using time spreads, double calendars and other volatility strategies. Plus, the Boot Camp instructors tackle IV Rank, zero-DTE butterflies, buy writes, options volume by exchange, binary options and prediction markets, and much more.

Is the earnings volatility worm finally starting to turn? On this episode of Options Boot Camp, Mark Longo and Dan Passarelli dig into the latest earnings options data and examine whether the recent run of dominance for premium buyers may finally be losing steam. They break down how actual earnings moves are stacking up against what the options market priced in, whether traders should be rethinking the buy-vs.-sell premium equation, and how Dan approaches earnings trades using time spreads, double calendars and other volatility strategies. Plus, the Boot Camp instructors tackle IV Rank, zero-DTE butterflies, buy writes, options volume by exchange, binary options and prediction markets, and much more.

GoPro comes roaring back onto the options radar with a massive stock surge, unusual trading activity and plenty of speculation about what could be next for the struggling action-camera company. Is AI—or even a potential defense pivot—helping breathe new life into GPRO? On this episode of The Hot Options Report, we break down the hottest options activity from the first trading day of September, including the eye-opening action in GoPro (GPRO) and a countdown featuring PG&E (PCG), Intel (INTC), Meta (META), SpaceX, Amazon (AMZN), Micron (MU), Tesla (TSLA), Apple (AAPL) and the reigning options-volume king, NVIDIA (NVDA). We also look at where traders were piling into short-dated calls and puts, which trades worked intraday before reversing, and whether option buyers or sellers ended up with the upper hand. For more options data, go to TheHotOptionsReport.com.

We're kicking off the week with drones, drunkards and plenty of unusual options action on this episode of The Option Block. Mark Longo is joined by Andrew "The Rock Lobster" Giovinazzi from Option Pit and "Uncle" Mike Tosaw from St. Charles Wealth Management to break down the latest moves across the options markets. On this episode, we discuss: A red start to the week and what the VIX is telling us The latest action in Tesla, NVIDIA, Apple, Micron and other heavily traded names Some surprising activity in small-cap options A wild surge in Draganfly (DPRO) calls as drone stocks light up the tape Aggressive put buying in Revolve Group (RVLV) The upcoming earnings volatility picture for Dell, Ollie's Bargain Outlet, Five Below, Snowflake and Lululemon Using index puts to hedge a stock portfolio Whether low volatility and stocks near their highs make this an attractive time to consider portfolio protection What the crew is watching as we move beyond the dog days of summer Plus, W.C. Fields, Dean Martin, Johnny Carson and a surprisingly difficult round of legendary-drunkard trivia It's another packed episode of options activity, strategy, market analysis and questionable humor on The Option Block.

Options sellers take the wheel on a wild Friday as the final trading day of the week delivers surprisingly heavy options volume for the dog days of summer. On this episode of The Hot Options Report, we break down the most active names across the options market, including NVIDIA (NVDA), Tesla (TSLA), Apple (AAPL), Amazon (AMZN), SpaceX, Micron (MU), Microsoft (MSFT), Meta (META), Strategy (MSTR) and Intel (INTC). NVIDIA once again takes the options volume crown, but the post-earnings celebration doesn't last long as the stock reverses sharply after an early rally. We also examine a recurring theme across the tape: short-dated options that moved into the money during the session only to finish worthless at expiration. Go to TheHotOptionsReport.com for more options data.

The theta clock is ticking on the volatility markets! On this episode of Volatility Views, Mark Longo is joined by Brian Overby from OptionsPlaybook.com and Henry Schwartz from Cboe for a deep dive into a surprisingly quiet volatility landscape. With VIX dipping into the 14 handle and VVIX hovering near unusually low levels, has volatility simply gone to sleep for the dog days of summer—or is premium getting too cheap to ignore? The crew discusses whether this is an attractive time to buy volatility, why VIX spikes have become increasingly difficult to monetize, and how traders can potentially take advantage when those brief volatility explosions finally arrive. They also break down the VIX futures term structure, some massive VIX options positions and intriguing upside trades, plus the latest action in SVIX, UVIX, UVXY and VXX. Brian also shares an interesting options strategy in SpaceX before the crew heads into the Crystal Ball to forecast where VIX might be headed next. And somewhere along the way, Henry introduces what may be the next must-have accessory for every options trader—the Theta Clock.

NVIDIA takes center stage on this episode of The Hot Options Report following blockbuster earnings and a surge in options activity. Mark Longo breaks down the hottest names and most active options trades across the market, including massive volume in NVDA, another busy session for Tesla, heavy short-dated call activity in Apple, bullish action in Intel and Palantir, and an enormous options roll in PG&E. We also check in on Micron, Amazon and more while highlighting the strikes, expirations and unusual flows driving the options market. Go to TheHotOptionsReport.com to run your own options reports.

On this episode of This Week in Futures Options, Mark Longo breaks down a surprisingly active week across the CME Group markets, with the Nasdaq and agricultural products taking center stage. We kick things off with the Movers & Shakers Report, including big moves in wheat, corn, natural gas and Bitcoin, along with weakness across crude oil, heating oil and platinum. Then we turn to the Nasdaq following NVIDIA earnings, where options activity is heating up across short-dated strikes as traders position for the next move in tech. We examine the most active calls and puts, zero-day activity, downside positioning and some intriguing longer-dated upside action. From there, it's time to get our hands dirty in the ag markets, where corn is coming off three-year highs amid massive options volume. We break down what's driving the move, the dramatic upside skew, volatility across the term structure and the strikes attracting the most attention. Finally, we head into Chicago wheat, where another strong rally is generating interesting options activity, aggressive call skew and some notable call spreads and ratio spreads.

Nvidia delivers and the options market responds! On this episode of The Option Block, Mark Longo, Uncle Mike Tosaw and Henry "The Flowmaster" Schwartz from Cboe break down the latest action across the options markets. The crew digs into Nvidia's big post-earnings move and what it means for the broader AI trade, while VIX slides back below 15 and volatility continues to get crushed. They also explore whether historically inexpensive optionality makes this an interesting time to hedge portfolios. Then it's off to the unusual options activity, including some intriguing flow in nuclear reactor play X-energy (XE), speculative activity in Richtech Robotics (RR), and longer-dated call action in AvePoint (AVPT). The crew also examines heavy VIX call activity, a massive PCG options roll, and plenty more from across the market. Plus, the show pays tribute—with a little Option Block humor—to the voice behind Optimus Prime.

On this episode of Options Boot Camp, Mark Longo and Dan Passarelli tackle the challenges and opportunities of trading options in a low-volatility market. Should you still be selling premium when volatility is cheap, or does low vol make buying options more attractive? Are single-stock options offering better opportunities than index options in the current dispersion environment? The Boot Camp instructors break down how they're approaching these markets and where they're still finding opportunities. Then they examine the strange recent VIX glitch that briefly sent the cash index soaring while VIX futures barely moved. What caused it? Could traders actually take advantage of it? And could resting "wishlist" orders help you capitalize when markets briefly get out of line? Plus, the instructors discuss the biggest forces driving the market right now, revisit perpetual futures, and share an update on the potential Options Boot Camp reboot. Topics include: Trading options in a low-volatility environment Buying options vs. selling premium when volatility is cheap Single-stock options vs. index options Dispersion and individual-stock volatility The mysterious VIX glitch Why VIX futures didn't follow the cash spike Using resting "wishlist" orders for unusual market moves Perpetual futures and market liquidity What's driving the market right now

Rates are back on the menu, and this time we're diving deep into the wild world of European rates options. Mark Longo is joined by Rex Jones from Eurex and veteran trader and market educator Dan Gramza to explore the European fixed income options landscape—from Bund, Bobl and Schatz options to Buxl, OAT and BTP options. The crew breaks down how European rates markets differ from their U.S. counterparts, where volatility is showing up across the yield curve, and how traders are approaching today's lower-volatility environment. They also discuss short strangles, call and put spreads, condors and other options strategies; country-versus-country opportunities; sovereign spread risk; institutional execution and high-touch trading; Eurex Passive Liquidity Protection; and what could wake up European rates volatility heading into the fall. Plus, Dan explains why low volatility doesn't automatically mean it's time to buy options and shares what he looks for before putting on his preferred three-week short strangle.

Was this the greatest week in crypto history? On this episode of The Crypto Rundown, host Mark Longo is joined by Pat Wood, President and CEO of DelphX Capital Markets, to break down an explosive week across the cryptocurrency markets. Bitcoin comes roaring back with a massive rally and surging ETF inflows, while activity and volatility heat up in IBIT and MSTR. We examine what the move means for Bitcoin traders, whether this rally has staying power, and why Pat believes the next generation of digital asset treasuries needs to think beyond simply buying and holding. Then we venture into the Altcoin Universe, where the rally is spreading fast. Ethereum finally wakes up, Solana shows signs of life, XRP surges, and HYPE/Hyperliquid continues to generate serious buzz. We also examine the wild options activity in ETHA, BMNR, Circle (CRCL), and PUR, including the rush for upside exposure as crypto traders embrace the rally. Plus, we discuss: Bitcoin's monster weekly rally and whether it can continue The resurgence in IBIT options volume and volatility MSTR, Michael Saylor and the future of digital asset treasury strategies Using covered calls and collars in crypto Ethereum's dramatic comeback The latest action in Solana, XRP, Dogecoin and other altcoins The growing excitement surrounding Hyperliquid and HYPE Why crypto market structure may be entering a new phase

On this episode of The Option Block, we're feeling the HYPE as we break down the latest action across the options markets. We discuss the renewed surge in crypto and HYPE, what the market is watching ahead of NVIDIA earnings, and some unusual upside activity in VIX options. Then we head into the Odd Block for a radioactive blast from the past as Denison Mines (DNN) returns to the spotlight amid renewed interest in uranium and nuclear stocks. Is aggressive call buying a sign that the uranium bulls are getting ready for another run? Uncle Mike also explores potential options-based alternatives for the conservative portion of a portfolio, including protective puts and collars, before we wrap things up with what the panel is watching for the rest of the week. Plus: Bitcoin, MSTR, SMR, earnings volatility, fixed income alternatives, geopolitical uncertainty…and, naturally, yurts. Featuring: Mark Longo, Mike Tosaw and Andrew Giovinazzi.

NVIDIA takes the options crown as a rough Monday leaves call buyers feeling the heat. On this episode of The Hot Options Report, we break down the most active names across the options market, including NVIDIA, Tesla, Apple, Micron, Intel, Amazon, Meta, Alphabet and Microsoft. With NVIDIA earnings looming, NVDA leads the options volume charts while the stock pulls back and its hot 210 calls ultimately expire worthless. Tesla also slides as its heavily traded 360 calls finish out of the money, while Micron takes another wild ride and Apple, Amazon, Meta, Alphabet and Microsoft all contribute to a recurring theme: same-day calls that offered brief opportunities before fading into the close. Plus, we check out unusual options activity in IBIT, Walmart and Snap on the Little Sweeps scan. Which options were traders buying and selling? Where did the biggest volume hit? And who came out ahead on a challenging day for call buyers? Find out on this episode of The Hot Options Report. Go to TheHotOptionsReport.com to run your own options reports.

It may have been a quiet Friday in the dog days of summer, but options traders were still making some big bets. On this episode of The Hot Options Report, we break down the most active names and notable trades lighting up the options tape, including Tesla, Nvidia, Apple, SpaceX, Strategy, Palantir, Micron, Amazon, Robinhood and SoFi. We also head into the 10K Club to uncover some of the biggest options trades of the day in Chevron, XLF, Warner Bros. Discovery and more. Plus, we look at a recurring theme across the market: aggressive short-dated call buyers who had opportunities to cash in during the session—but in many cases watched those options ultimately expire worthless. Go to TheHotOptionsReport.com to run your own options reports.

On this episode of Volatility Views, host Mark Longo is joined by Russell Rhoads, Mark Sebastian, and Jim Carroll to ask whether the volatility market is practically daring traders to sell vol. The crew breaks down a wild week featuring Treasury intervention, Scott Bessent's message to the bond market, and the growing debate over whether a "Bessent put" is helping keep volatility contained. With VIX struggling to gain much traction and the VIX futures curve sitting in healthy contango, is the market signaling that short vol is still the place to be—or is complacency setting traders up for a surprise? They also dig into the latest VIX options activity, including massive VIX rolls, heavy upside call trading, the continuing fascination with cheap VIX puts, and some unusual trades way out on the volatility curve. Plus, the team checks in on SVIX, UVIX, UVXY and VXX, examine an earnings season where realized moves have finally fallen short of expectations, and look ahead to Nvidia and the potential volatility catalysts waiting around the corner.

It's Intervention Week on This Week in Futures Options as markets react to a wild mix of policy moves, geopolitical risk and shifting expectations across the futures landscape. Host Mark Longo is joined by Bobby Iaccino, Co-Founder and Chief Market Strategist at Path Trading Partners, to break down the latest action in futures and options across gold, silver, equities, crude oil, natural gas and more. On this episode, we discuss: The intervention-fueled moves shaking up markets Gold's latest rally and heavy call activity Whether gold could have significantly more upside ahead Why silver remains one of the trickiest markets to trade Growing downside hedging in the S&P 500 Whether "buy the dip" has fundamentally changed bear markets AI spending, the Fed and geopolitical risk as market catalysts Why crude oil may not be the biggest problem in energy right now The growing importance of diesel and refinery capacity What the options market is signaling about WTI crude Natural gas seasonality and a surge in options activity The Nasdaq selloff and whether traders are already positioning for more downside Why Jackson Hole could provide the market's next major catalyst Plus, we examine the hottest options activity across CME Group's futures markets and discuss where volatility and skew may be pointing next.

Walmart earnings helped spook the broader market on a wild Thursday, sending shares lower and putting short-dated puts in the options spotlight. On this episode of The Hot Options Report, we break down the most active names and hottest options trades across the market, including Walmart (WMT), Moderna (MRNA), Micron (MU), Intel (INTC), Strategy (MSTR), Apple (AAPL), SpaceX, Tesla (TSLA) and NVIDIA (NVDA).

On this episode of The Option Block, we dig into the wild action in Moderna (MRNA) following its massive biotech-fueled surge and ask the question on every options trader's mind: Was there any unusual options activity ahead of the big news? The Flowmaster goes back through the MRNA tape looking for clues and weighs in on whether there was any suspiciously well-timed options activity before the stock exploded higher. We also break down the latest action in SPX, VIX, IWM and the broader options market, including a massive VIX upside trade, heavy put activity in the small caps, Walmart's post-earnings selloff, and the latest moves in Micron, Strategy, Tesla, NVIDIA and SpaceX. Plus, we venture into the Odd Block for unusual options activity in Webull (BULL) and biotech name Precigen (PGEN), discuss the renewed strength in gold, silver and crypto, and debate what is really driving the markets right now — AI spending, rates, geopolitics or the looming midterm elections. Featuring Mark Longo, Henry "The Flowmaster" Schwartz from Cboe and Uncle Mike Tosaw from St. Charles Wealth Management.

Is the bottom finally in for gold and silver? On this episode of The Futures Rundown, host Mark Longo is joined by Dana Samuelson, Founder and President of American Gold Exchange, for a deep dive into the wild precious metals market. Gold and silver have been on a roller coaster in 2026, but after recent intervention in the currency and Treasury markets, Dana believes the lows may finally be behind us. We break down what has been driving the metals markets, why gold initially struggled during the Iran conflict, and whether the next major move could be higher. We also discuss: Why rising Treasury yields pressured gold The impact of intervention in the yen and Treasury markets Whether the bottom is really in for gold and silver What physical gold and silver investors are doing right now The outlook for platinum and palladium Why Dana is watching crude oil and diesel for the next potential market shock The latest movers across futures, including Bitcoin and Ethereum Why wheat is emerging as another market to watch Plus, we break down the biggest weekly and year-to-date movers across the futures markets. Is this the beginning of the next leg higher for precious metals—or just another bounce in an already wild year?

What the heck are PERPS—and why are they suddenly everywhere? On this episode of Options Boot Camp, Mark Longo and Dan Passarelli tackle one of the hottest topics in the derivatives world: perpetual futures, better known as perps. They break down how perpetual futures work, why they don't have expiration dates, how they differ from traditional futures contracts, and why eliminating expiration also eliminates the need to constantly roll positions. Then they dive into the all-important funding rate—the mechanism designed to keep perpetual futures prices aligned with the underlying market. Using easy-to-follow examples, the hosts explore what happens when a perp trades at a premium or discount to the underlying, who pays the funding rate, how professional traders may respond, and why the mechanics can vary significantly from one trading venue to another. They also discuss the growing interest in perps across the derivatives industry, the comparison between perpetual futures and 0DTE options, and why options traders should understand this increasingly important product. Plus, in the Mail Call, the crew discusses whether it might finally be time to revisit and remaster some of the earliest Options Boot Camp episodes for a new generation of options traders. Topics include: What are perpetual futures (perps)? Perpetual futures vs. traditional futures Why perps don't expire How funding rates work Positive vs. negative funding rates Perps trading at premiums and discounts Arbitrage and price convergence Perpetual futures vs. 0DTE options The growing role of perps in derivatives trading Revisiting the early days of Options Boot Camp

Strategy (MSTR) comes roaring back as crypto heats up, while Tesla (TSLA) steals the options crown from NVIDIA (NVDA) at the top of the most-active options list. On this episode of The Hot Options Report, we break down the biggest names and most interesting trades lighting up the options market, including heavy activity in MSTR, TSLA, NVDA, AAPL, AMZN, INTC, MU, MSFT and more. We also check out today's Lucky Seven scan, highlighting stocks and ETFs experiencing a major surge in options volume, and dig into some of the short-dated calls attracting traders' attention. Which trades paid off, which calls expired worthless, and where is the options action heating up next? Find out on today's Hot Options Report. Go to TheHotOptionsReport.com to run your own options reports.

It's the dog days of summer, and the options market is feeling the heat — or lack thereof. On this episode of The Hot Options Report, we break down an unusually quiet day on the options tape as chip stocks come under pressure. NVIDIA (NVDA), AMD, Micron (MU), and Intel (INTC) all move lower, but options traders are already positioning for potential rebounds. We also dig into the latest options activity in Apple (AAPL), Tesla (TSLA), Amazon (AMZN), Meta (META), Microsoft (MSFT), and SpaceX, including short-dated calls and puts attracting attention across the market. Plus, we take a quick trip through the crypto markets to see what's moving in Zcash, Aave, Toncoin and more. Go to TheHotOptionsReport to run your own options reports.

On this episode of The Crypto Rundown, host Mark Longo welcomes back Brandon Mulvihill, Co-Founder and CEO of Crossover Markets, for a wide-ranging conversation about the evolving crypto marketplace. They explore the growth of institutional crypto trading, why Brandon believes crypto has more of a supply-chain problem than a demand problem, and how custody, credit, execution and regulation could shape the next phase of institutional adoption. Brandon also discusses the growth of Crossover Markets and CROSSx, the launch of CROSSx Disclosed, and what increasing involvement from traditional financial institutions could mean for digital assets. Then the conversation turns to two of the hottest areas in the market: crypto perpetuals and prediction markets. Are perps really a revolutionary new product—or are they essentially the latest evolution of CFDs? And will prediction markets maintain their momentum as regulation and traditional sports betting continue to evolve? Plus, we break down the latest action in Bitcoin, IBIT, Strategy (MSTR), Ethereum, ETHA, BMNR, Circle, HYPE, Solana, XRP, Dogecoin and more.

On this episode of The Option Block, Mark Longo is joined by Uncle Mike Tosaw of St. Charles Wealth Management and Andrew "The Rock Lobster" Giovinazzi of Option Pit. The crew kicks things off with a little Lusitania-inspired trivia before diving into a market caught between AI enthusiasm, geopolitical uncertainty, rising rates and the latest signals from the Fed. On the show: Why interest rates may still have room to move higher The increasingly tangled web of AI and NVIDIA financing What stubbornly elevated VVIX may be telling us A massive VIX options trade targeting September upside The latest options activity in NVIDIA, Tesla, Micron, SpaceX, Apple, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Intel and AMD What the options market is pricing in for another busy week of retail earnings Unusual options activity in Kingsoft Cloud Holdings (KC) and Comstock (LODE) Using covered calls to help manage sequence-of-return risk in retirement A September VIX trade from the Rock Lobster What the crew is watching next in the S&P 500, bonds, rates and volatility Plus, the latest installment of the Option Block trivia battle and plenty more options talk along the way.

Micron and SpaceX bring some heat to an otherwise quiet August options market. On this episode of The Hot Options Report, we break down the most active options trading across the market, including a strong rally in Micron, continued strength in SpaceX, and notable activity in NVIDIA, Tesla, Apple, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Intel and AMD. We also look at which calls and puts were attracting traders, where intraday moves gave option buyers opportunities to cash in, and which trades ultimately faded by the closing bell. Plus, we kick things off with a look at the latest names triggering the Golden Cross technical scan. Go to TheHotOptionsReport.com to create your own options reports.

The volatility survivors are back! After surviving tornado sirens, wild weather and another relentless week of declining volatility, Mark Longo is joined by Russell Rhoads, Mark Sebastian and special guest Rich Excell to break down everything happening across the volatility landscape. On this episode, the crew discusses the continued grind higher in equities and lower in VIX, why the bond and stock markets appear to be watching two very different movies, and whether volatility could completely melt down as we head deeper into the dog days of summer. They also dig into the growing fascination with VIX puts, including the suddenly popular 15 strike, unusual activity across the VIX options market, a massive September-to-October/November VIX call roll, the latest action in SVIX, UVIX, UVXY and VXX, Russell's intriguing weekly VIX trades, and much more. Plus, could VIX actually trade with a 12 handle before Jackson Hole? And what are our volatility survivors forecasting for next week?

On this episode of This Week in Futures Options, host Mark Longo is joined by Carley Garner of DeCarley Trading for a trip through a futures market full of rallies that may not be quite as bullish as they appear. Carley makes the case that some of the biggest moves in crude oil, silver and other markets may be little more than dead cat bounces. We dig into the latest futures options activity across metals, energy and equities, including the unusual positioning showing traders heavily short natural gas while asset managers are historically long S&P futures. We also break down: Why Carley remains skeptical of the rallies in silver and gold The latest options activity and volatility in crude oil Why extreme short positioning in natural gas has Carley looking at calls What record-long positioning could mean for the S&P More unusual vertical spreads popping up in equity index options Why grain rallies may still be opportunities for the bears The latest options flow in corn following the crop report

Micron keeps delivering fireworks as its wild run puts call sellers back in the hot seat. On this episode of The Hot Options Report, we break down the most active names and hottest options trades lighting up the market. We dig into the action in Micron (MU) as traders once again pile into the thousand-strike calls. Plus, Tesla (TSLA) rallies while SpaceX (SPCX) comes back to Earth, NVIDIA (NVDA) claims the top spot on the options volume leaderboard, and Intel (INTC) attracts aggressive call activity. We also check in on the options action in Palantir (PLTR), Netflix (NFLX), Amazon (AMZN), Super Micro Computer (SMCI), Apple (AAPL) and more. Which options buyers are sitting pretty heading into expiration—and which sellers are still sweating? You can run your own reports at TheHotOptionsReport.com.

On this episode of The Option Block, host Mark Longo is joined by Mike Tosaw of St. Charles Wealth Management and Henry "The Flowmaster" Schwartz from Cboe for another deep dive into the latest action across the options market. The markets are pushing toward fresh highs while volatility continues to retreat, but is everything really as calm as it seems? The crew examines VIX slipping below 15, persistent strength in VVIX, the explosion in options volume, and how the growing supply of volatility from yield products and defined-outcome ETFs may be changing market dynamics. Then it's time to release the SHAZ! The Odd Block uncovers unusual options activity in Sharon AI Holdings (SHAZ), a wildly volatile name with some intriguing bullish call spread activity. The crew also investigates notable options trades in On Holding (ONON) and MGM Resorts (MGM). Plus, we break down the latest options activity in NVIDIA, Tesla, SpaceX, Micron, Intel, Apple, Amazon and more; examine what the latest earnings data is really telling us; and discuss what traders should be watching as markets hover near all-time highs with volatility near the lows. In this episode: VIX falls below 15 as stocks push toward record territory Why VVIX may be sending a different signal How structured products and volatility supply could be affecting the market The latest SPX, SPY, QQQ and IWM options activity NVIDIA, Tesla and SpaceX lead the single-stock options leaderboard SHAZ unleashes some truly unusual options activity Bullish call spreads surface in SHAZ A potentially significant put sale in ONON Bullish options activity in MGM What the latest earnings data says about the broader earnings season Rates, bonds, geopolitical risk and what to watch next

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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