The Options Insider Radio Network

Epizodai

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  Volatility Views 697: Nothing Makes Sense 03.10.2026 1val 1min

  Weak jobs data sends stocks higher, VIX futures remain stubbornly elevated above spot, and volatility products deliver some puzzling results. Mark Longo, Dr. Russell Rhoads and Jim Carroll examine the conflicting signals driving the equity and volatility markets. The panel breaks down VIX futures term structure, persistent contango and the risks surrounding a narrow, tech-led rally. They also debate the prospect of perpetual VIX futures and how funding rates and arbitrage could affect existing futures, options and volatility trading strategies. Plus, Russell's Weekly Rundown explores unusual VIX options activity, including far out-of-the-money calls and deep in-the-money put spreads. The crew examines a sizable October-to-November call spread roll, compares the volatility ETP landscape across VXX, UVXY, UVIX, SVIX, SVXY and SVOL, and discusses a brokerage restriction that interrupts Russell's weekend volatility trade. Then it's time for another fiercely contested round of VIX forecasts in the Crystal Ball.
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  The Hot Options Report: 10-02-2026 02.10.2026 11min

  A bullish finish to the trading week kept the options tape busy—but many of the day's most active calls still expired worthless. Mark Longo breaks down the hottest stock options activity in Nvidia, Tesla, Nike, Apple, Micron, AMD, Amazon and more. Nvidia reached a new intraday all-time high and led the options volume rankings, while Tesla rallied and Nike slid before recovering from its session lows. Mark examines the busiest strikes, average option premiums and intraday moves to explain how buyers and sellers fared heading into expiration. Plus, explore bullish scan results from QuikOptions and the risks of trading options on expiration day. Explore more options tools at TheHotOptionsReport.com.
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  TWIFO 516: Ag Meltdown, Equity Whipsaws and Crude Oil Skullduggery 02.10.2026 53min

  What's driving the selloff in agricultural futures—and what are equity and energy options traders positioning for next? Mark Longo and guest Kevin Green of the Schwab Network explore the latest futures options trades, volatility shifts and market developments across CME Group markets. In this episode: • Equity whipsaws: E-mini S&P 500 options activity, short-dated expirations and weak market breadth beneath the mega-cap rally. • Corn selloff: USDA grain stocks data, harvest pressure and increased options volume. • Soybeans and soybean meal: Supply concerns, export demand, changing skew and active downside puts. • Crude oil skullduggery: WTI put spreads, shipping incentives and Kevin's questions about reported Strait of Hormuz oil flows. • Natural gas: A sharp weekly decline, winter demand and the potential for weather-driven volatility. • Copper: Production disruptions, supply constraints and the risks posed by rising yields.
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  The Hot Options Report: 10-01-2026 01.10.2026 11min

  Earnings moves put Micron and Nike in focus as traders position for Friday's options expiration. Mark Longo breaks down Micron's post-earnings rally, Nike's after-hours slide and Nvidia's return to the top of the options volume rankings. On this edition of The Hot Options Report, we explore active calls and puts in NVDA, MU, NKE, TSLA, AAPL, INTC, Alphabet, Amazon and Meta. Apple's pullback attracts call selling, Tesla's late-session decline favors call sellers, and Nike put buyers appear positioned for the initial earnings reaction. Find out which trades looked favorable at the closing bell—and which still needed a big move before expiration. Plus, Mark highlights the QuikOptions stock split and reverse split scanner. Explore more options tools at TheHotOptionsReport.com.
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  The Option Block 1504: Bloody Red, Bullish Green and Wild FRMI Upside 01.10.2026 58min

  Stocks turn from red to green during the show, but the unusual options activity offers plenty of its own surprises. Mark Longo, Henry Schwartz of Cboe and Mike Tosaw of St. Charles Wealth Management break down the market reversal, VIX and VVIX, and the options trades catching their attention. In the Odd Block, the panel digs into a sizable January call purchase in Fermi (FRMI) despite the stock's steep decline, speculative upside call buying in eToro (ETOR), and aggressive call sweeps in Uniti Group (UNIT). They also explore: Heavy options activity in QQQ and IWM, plus the latest single-stock trading. Henry's takeaways from the Robinhood Summit, including extended options trading hours, automated trading and prediction markets. Mike's outlook for the S&P 500, Treasury yields and selling silver puts. The debate over Nvidia's stock buyback and whether listeners expect more upside. An unusual story about an investor passing up dividends to avoid crossing an ownership disclosure threshold. Plus, the panel shares what it's watching heading into the next session.
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  Wide World of Options: What Everyone Gets Wrong About Options 01.10.2026 30min

  Options trading is full of myths that keep smart investors on the sidelines — or worse, lead them to avoidable mistakes. In this episode of Wide World of Options, host Mark Benzaquen sits down with Dan Passarelli, founder of Market Taker Mentoring, to separate fact from fiction. From misconceptions about risk and complexity to the myths that even experienced traders still believe, Dan breaks down what's really going on beneath the surface of options trading — and what investors should understand about how options really work. 
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  The Futures Rundown 93: Consumable Futures Are Going Crazy 01.10.2026 32min

  Coffee rallies, corn tumbles and cattle futures tell a different story from the prices consumers pay for beef. Mark Longo welcomes Kevin Green of Schwab Network to break down a volatile week across agricultural commodities, Treasury futures and energy markets. On this episode of The Futures Rundown: Coffee, cattle, dairy and grain futures lead a wild week in consumable commodities. Kevin examines the USDA report behind the selloff in corn. Beef imports and demand for American-raised cattle reshape the outlook for producers. Heavy Treasury futures activity puts the spotlight on rising yields and bond volatility. Widening credit spreads raise questions about a relatively calm equity market. Natural gas seasonality, LNG demand and winter weather shape Kevin's outlook. Crude oil, heating oil and refining constraints round out the energy discussion. Plus, Kevin shares how trading cattle futures helped inspire his growing family cattle operation.
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  Options Boot Camp 410: Demystifying the MOVE Index 01.10.2026 34min

  What can bond market volatility tell you that the VIX can't? Mark Longo and Dan Passarelli break down the MOVE Index and explain why equity options traders should keep an eye on Treasury yield volatility. Learn what MOVE measures, how its Treasury options components are weighted, and why comparing its level directly with VIX can be misleading. Mark and Dan also explore what it means when stock and bond volatility diverge, how to interpret implied daily moves, and the usefulness and limitations of MOVE as a market indicator. Plus, the latest listener poll on NVIDIA's stock buyback and a Market Taker Question of the Week: Do shorter-term options always offer sellers faster time decay?
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  The Hot Options Report: 09-29-2026 29.09.2026 12min

  Short-dated calls face a tougher finish as several big tech stocks retreat from their intraday highs. Mark Longo breaks down the day's busiest options, including Nvidia's leading volume, Apple's sharp selloff and Meta's rebound. We examine active calls in NVDA, TSLA, MSFT, AAPL and META, weighing trade prices, intraday moves and what buyers need heading into Wednesday's expiration. Plus, Oracle rallies as traders target an ambitious call strike, and Amazon, Intel and AMD round out the countdown. Explore options scans and analytics at TheHotOptionsReport.com.
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  The Crypto Rundown 240: Solana Holds Its Ground as Bitcoin Fades 29.09.2026 28min

  Bitcoin pulled back after a midweek rally, while Solana held on to much of its recent gains. Mark Longo breaks down the latest crypto options activity in IBIT, MSTR, ETHA, BMNR and PURR, including a sharp drop in MSTR volatility and an unusually long dated PURR call trade. Plus, a look at Circle's continued slide, renewed interest in Litecoin, and the listener poll asking which crypto asset you'd hold through year end.
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  The Hot Options Report: 09-28-2026 29.09.2026 14min

  Nvidia's stock buyback put $NVDA at the top of Monday's options activity, while a late retreat left its most active calls out of the money. On this episode of The Hot Options Report, Mark Longo follows the call selling and intraday reversals in Tesla, Meta, Apple, Micron, AMD and more. Plus, a look at recent stock sales disclosed by members of the House of Representatives. Go to TheHotOptionsReport.com for more options data.
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  The Option Block 1503: Magical Dwarves and Dubious Buybacks 28.09.2026 58min

  Nvidia's stock buyback sparks a debate on The Option Block: is it a sensible use of cash, or a warning sign near the highs? Mark Longo, Andrew Giovinazzi and Mike Tosaw also discuss rising yields, the market's resilience and the busiest names on the options tape. In the Odd Block, they examine unusual call activity in Alamos Gold ($AGI) and Aemetis ($AMTX). Then Mike walks through the adjustments he made to a Meta ($META) collar and explains how the position changed as the stock moved. Plus, a seven dwarves trivia question gives this episode its magical opening.
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  Volatility Views 696: The Volatility Censors Strike Again!!! 25.09.2026 1val 1min

  VIX kept drifting lower even as the market swung through another eventful week. Mark Longo is joined by Russell Rhoads, Mark Sebastian and Brian Overby to examine the gap between current volatility and the risk priced into VIX futures. The panel digs into heavy VIX call activity, unusual weekly options trades, the potential effect of midterm election options on VIX, and ways to structure a volatility trade when upside calls are expensive. They also revisit SVIX and UVIX, debate whether Treasury yields could become a bigger source of market stress, and make their VIX predictions for next week. Plus, Russell gives the editor a little extra censoring work.
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  The Hot Options Report: 09-25-2026 25.09.2026 12min

  Friday's options tape stayed busy through the close. Mark Longo breaks down the most active names, with $TSLA taking the top spot ahead of $NVDA. He looks at Tesla's intraday swings, $AAPL calls that finished in the money, and $MSFT calls that fell just short of their strike. Plus: reversals in $META and $MU, options activity in $INTC, $AMZN and $MSTR, and recent congressional purchases on the House Yay Scan. Want to dig into the data yourself? Explore more options data and run your own scans at TheHotOptionsReport.com.
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  TWIFO 515: Tech Explodes and Crude Sinks While the 10-Yr Yield Soars 25.09.2026 54min

  What happens in futures options when Treasury yields climb, technology stocks rally and crude oil falls? Mark Longo and Mike Tosaw of St. Charles Wealth Management dig into the activity across CME Group markets. They examine the surge in 10-year Treasury yield and a sizable roll in 10-year note puts, then turn to options activity in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100. In energy, they break down WTI crude's decline, the interest in crude puts and calls, and a sharp move higher in natural gas. Mike also looks at the technology rally through Meta, AMD and Micron.
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  The Hot Options Report: 09-24-2026 25.09.2026 10min

  Meta's rally kept rolling, and traders piled into calls ahead of Friday's expiration. On this episode of The Hot Options Report, Mark Longo breaks down the busiest options names, including META, INTC, TSLA, AAPL, AMD, MU and NVDA. He looks at the strikes drawing the most activity, where each stock finished relative to those strikes, and what Friday's session could mean for the trades. Mark also checks the Quick Bull unusual activity scan. Get more options data at TheHotOptionsReport.com.
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  The Option Block 1502: Wild Whipsaws and the Rise of the Options Manifold 24.09.2026 56min

  A sharp intraday reversal sends Mark Longo, Mike Tosaw, and Cboe's Henry Schwartz scrambling to keep up with the options tape. They discuss the swings in SPX, VIX, SPY, QQQ, and IWM, along with the pressure that rising interest rates and oil prices could put on stocks. Henry also brings back a curious idea from a Cboe quant conference: the "options manifold." Then, in the Odd Block, he digs into unusual call activity in Unity (U), Banco Bradesco (BBD), CCC Intelligent Solutions (CCC), and Papa John's (PZZA), including a trade that shows why a print at the bid may not tell the whole story.
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  The Futures Rundown 92: Revenge of Super El Nino 24.09.2026 39min

  What could a powerful El Niño mean for the futures markets this winter? Mark Longo welcomes Jim Roemer, founder of Best Weather Inc., to examine the weather patterns affecting agricultural and energy commodities. They discuss the outlook for sugar, cocoa, wheat and soybeans, including how South American crops and Chinese demand could shift the picture. Jim also explains why a warm winter could matter for natural gas and heating oil, and how traders can use futures and options to manage weather risk. Plus, Mark runs through the week's biggest futures movers and most active contracts.
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  Options Boot Camp 409: The Madness, Mystery and Mayhem of Expiration 23.09.2026 49min

  When does an option actually stop trading, and what happens when expiration arrives? Mark Longo and Dan Passarelli trace how the calendar grew from monthly expirations to weeklies, daily SPX options, and Monday and Wednesday expirations in select stocks and ETFs. Along the way, they explain why traditional SPX monthly options can stop trading on Thursday yet settle on Friday morning, how cash settlement differs from physical settlement, and why expiration day can catch traders off guard. They also share stories from the trading floor and answer listener questions.
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  The Hot Options Report: 09-23-2026 23.09.2026 12min

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