The Options Insider Radio Network

Is Silver the new meme stock? Are Small Caps finally ready to lead the pack? Join Mark Longo of The Options Insider and special guest Rich Excell from the University of Illinois (and the Stay Vigilant Substack) as they break down a historic week in the futures options markets. From parabolic moves in metals to a massive rotation within the equity space, the guys analyze the data you can't find anywhere else. Inside This Episode: The Great Equity Rotation: Why tech is taking a backseat as the Russell 2000 (RUT) explodes. Is this the "mean reversion" trade of the decade? Silver's Parabolic Run: Silver is up over 20% in a week. We look at the "price insensitive" buying and the wild 120/125 call spreads hitting the tape. Treasury Volatility Collapse: With Treasury price vol hitting anemic lows, Rich explains why he's looking at asymmetric put butterflies to hedge against a yield backup. Movers & Shakers: A 70/30 split to the green side at CME Group this week. We analyze the carnage in Nat Gas versus the "heater" in Platinum and Soybean Oil. Crypto Divergence: Why the tech use cases for Ethereum and Solana are starting to outpace Bitcoin in the eyes of the market. Technical Deep Dives: Skew Analysis: Why silver calls remain bid despite the massive price surge. RUT Options: Analyzing the heavy flow in the March 2500/2400 put spreads. CVOL Insights: Tracking the surge in Metals vol versus the "nothing burger" in Treasury yield vol. Connect with the Show: Follow Rich Excell: @ExcellRichard or his Substack, Stay Vigilant . Track the Data: CME Group QuikStrike/TWIFO Go Pro: TheOptionsInsider.com/Pro

The markets are showing a splash of green as we break down a wild week in trading with The Flowmaster Henry Schwartz (Cboe Global Markets) and Uncle Mike Tosaw (St. Charles Wealth Management). From the unprecedented 20% weekly surge in Silver to the aggressive rotation out of Mag 7 tech and into Biotechs and Small Caps, this episode covers the critical moves every options trader needs to know. Plus, we look ahead to a heavy earnings week and reveal the panel's official 2026 VIX Crystal Ball predictions. On This Episode: The Trading Block: The "Meme-ification" of Silver The Silver Surge: Why Uncle Mike thinks Silver has officially entered "meme stock" territory after a staggering 20% move in one week. Market Rotation: Is the Mag 7 reign over? We discuss the rotation into the Russell 2000 (IWM) and the energy sector. Volatility Check: VIX comes back to earth toward the 15 handle, but the VVX remains "frothy" at 98. The Odd Block: Unusual Activity in Small-Cap Tech and Bio Ardelyx (ARDX): Aggressive call buying in this biotech after a legal dismissal. Is there a clinical catalyst on the horizon? T1 Energy (TE): A massive sweep in the February 10 calls. Why Henry is keeping a "steely gaze" on alternative energy. Clearway Energy (CWEN): Unusual March 40 call buyers as the clean energy sector sees a resurgence. The Mail Block: The 2026 VIX Crystal Ball The panel places their official bets on where the VIX will close on December 31st, 2026. Around the Block: Earnings & Geopolitics Earnings Watch: Initial results from Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, and Taiwan Semi (TSM). Looking Ahead: Previewing moves for Netflix (NFLX), United Airlines (UAL), Intel (INTC), and Charles Schwab (SCHW). The Global Picture: Keeping an eye on Venezuela, Iran, and the upcoming STA Conference in Chicago.

It's a massive Thursday on the Hot Options Report (THOR) as host Mark Longo breaks down one of the most active trading sessions of 2026 so far. With nearly 800,000 contracts required just to break into the Top 10, the tape was on fire. We dive into the "on-again, off-again" dance between Nvidia and China, Intel's wild 25% year-to-date run, and a strange wave of deep-in-the-money and out-of-the-money puts dominating the tape in Apple, Microsoft, and Netflix ahead of Friday's expiration. The Top 10 Breakdown #1: NVIDIA (NVDA): Still the undisputed king with 2.76M contracts. Rallying 2% on China export optimism, traders are eyeing the $190 strike for tomorrow's close. #2: Tesla (TSLA): A tug-of-war at $438. Over 100k contracts traded at the $450 strike. Can the bulls reclaim that level by the bell? #3: Netflix (NFLX): "The Widowmaker" puts up 1.3M contracts. Significant interest in the $105 OTM puts expiring tomorrow. #4: AMD: Substantial volume in the $235 calls despite a close below $228. Are traders "rolling the bones" or getting trapped? #5: Apple (AAPL): 1.08M contracts. Unusual activity in the $270 ITM puts as the "Fruit Company" sells off. #6: Meta (META): Bucking the "tech wreck" to rally back to $620. Funky paper hitting the $650 OTM puts. #7: Microsoft (MSFT): A rough start to the year continues. We analyze 75,000 contracts of the deep-in-the-money $495 puts. #8: MicroStrategy (MSTR): "The Monster" gives back some gains. 875,000 contracts on the tape with heavy action in the $175 calls. #9: Intel (INTC): Up 25% YTD but cooling off today. Is the "closing paper" at the Jan $50 strike a sign of a local top? #10: AbbVie (ABBV): Breaking into the Top 10 on X-Div action with 171k contracts in the Jan $210 calls. Key Takeaways & Market Intel Semiconductor Sentiment: Between Nvidia's China news and Intel's massive YTD surge, chips continue to drive the lion's share of options volume. Expiration Fever: A recurring theme of massive put volume across Big Tech (Apple, Microsoft, Netflix) suggests high-stakes positioning ahead of the Friday options expiration. Market Heat: Why 800k contracts is the "new normal" for the Top 10 in 2026. Resources & Links Get the Data: TheHotOptionsReport.com Go Pro: TheOptionsInsider.com/Pro (Join us for Vol Death Match 2.0!) Follow on Twitter: @Options

Is the "Silver Rampage" the start of a massive new commodity super cycle? On this episode of The Futures Rundown, Mark Longo is joined by the newly minted VIX Crystal Ball Hall of Famer, Rich Excel, to break down one of the wildest weeks in commodity history. While the "Tech Wreck" pulls down equities, the metals are lighting up the tape with silver posting a massive 19% gain in a single week. We dive deep into why "price insensitive buyers" are driving spot prices higher and what it means for your trailing stops. Inside This Episode: 0:00 - Intro & The VIX Hall of Fame Induction 3:45 - Metals Dominance: Why Gold led and Silver is finally catching up with abandon. 7:15 - The Energy Flare-Up: WTI, Brent, and Heating Oil's 10%+ weekly surge. 11:00 - Silver Squeeze 2026: Are we looking at $100 Silver? Analyzing the 100+ IV. 16:30 - Ag Markets & The Breakfast Table: Why OJ and Cocoa are cratering while everything else pops. 21:10 - VIX Crystal Ball 2026: Rich Excel gives his official "Revolutionary" year-end prediction. 26:45 - Hogwarts for Traders: How the derivatives experts are positioned for Q1. Resources for Traders: Brought to you by Tastytrade: tastytrade.com/podcasts Join the Pro Team: TheOptionsInsider.com/Pro #FuturesTrading #SilverShortSqueeze #GoldPrice #Commodities #VIX #MacroInvesting #SilverPrice #EnergyFutures #Tastytrade #FuturesRundown

Is the tech wreck just beginning, or are these "power puts" in Microsoft a sign of a short-term bottom? On today's Hot Options Report, Mark Longo breaks down a high-velocity Wednesday where the "Fruit Company" saw heavy opening flow and MicroStrategy (MSTR) continues to be the primary lightning rod for crypto volatility. In this episode, we slice through the tape to look at: The Top 10 Countdown: From Microsoft (MSFT) giving back to the market gods to Nvidia (NVDA) holding the #1 spot despite lighter volume. The Big Tech Sell-Off: Analyzing the massive opening flow in the Meta 670 Puts and the "Power Puts" in MSFT. Bucking the Trend: Why AMD and Intel (INTC) managed to rally while the rest of the sector saw red. The Apple Play: A deep dive into the AAPL $260 At-The-Money calls—was this a bold bet or a massive mistake? MicroStrategy (MSTR) Madness: How MSTR briefly hit the $190 strike and what it means for the crypto-option correlation in 2026. Dividend Plays: Why Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) exploded for 1.37 million contracts. Data Highlight: Want to see the flow we didn't have time to cover? Slice and dice the entire market yourself at TheHotOptionsReport.com . High-fidelity data at a price you can't beat. Contact Information: Visit the Network: TheOptionsInsider.com Get the App: Available on iTunes and Google Play. Follow the Data: TheHotOptionsReport.com

Options Boot Camp Episode 373 explores two major themes shaping today's options market: the rapid rise of IBIT options volume and the most misunderstood options trading strategies. Hosts Mark Longo and Dan Passarelli break down why strategies like cash-secured puts, long puts, straddles, butterflies, and iron condors are frequently misused by traders, often due to poor education and unrealistic expectations. The discussion explains why "being okay with assignment" is not the same as wanting assignment, and how that distinction can dramatically change trading outcomes. The episode also examines how IBIT options rivaling VIX in volume has reshaped Bitcoin options trading, altered volatility skew, and attracted institutional and premium-selling participants to crypto markets. Designed for traders of all experience levels, Options Boot Camp delivers practical options education, real-world examples, and clear explanations of complex strategies. Produced by the Options Insider Radio Network.

The Hot Options Report for January 13, 2026 delivers a daily breakdown of the most active stocks in the options market, highlighting where traders are placing the biggest bets across calls and puts. Hosted by Mark Longo of the Options Insider Radio Network, this episode analyzes unusual options activity and high-volume trades in Nvidia (NVDA), Tesla (TSLA), Intel (INTC), AMD (AMD), Meta Platforms (META), Apple (AAPL), Microsoft (MSFT), Netflix (NFLX), Alphabet / Google (GOOGL), and Stride Inc. (ASST). Listeners get insight into: The most active options contracts of the day Opening vs. closing options flow In-the-money calls and deep ITM puts Short-term market sentiment and volatility How institutional traders may be positioning If you trade stock options, follow options flow, or track unusual options activity, The Hot Options Report provides actionable insight into what's moving the market after the closing bell. Explore the full data set and run your own reports at TheHotOptionsReport.com. Produced by the Options Insider Radio Network.

The tape is active, but is it explosive? Join Mark Longo on the Hot Options Report as we tear through the Top 10 most active names for Monday, January 12th. We're deep into the second full week of 2026, and the institutional paper is starting to show its hand. From Nvidia's massive Feb call overriding to Tesla's relentless tug-of-war at the 450 strike, we're breaking down the flow you need to know. On the Tape Today: The Big Two: Nvidia ($NVDA) and Tesla ($TSLA) battle for the #1 spot—see where the "smart money" is placing bets. The Comeback Kids: Alibaba ($BABA) explodes 10%—is the 170 call flow a sign of more to come? Plus, Oracle ($ORCL) regains its luster. Tech Check: We're tracking the paper in Apple ($AAPL), Amazon ($AMZN), and Netflix ($NFLX). Is that "closing paper" or a fresh volatility play? The Underdogs: Why Intel ($INTC) and SMCI are sneaking back into the Top 10. Don't trade in the dark. Get the institutional data that lighting up the options chains. Get More Heat: Full Data: TheHotOptionsReport.com Go Pro: TheOptionsInsider.com/Pro

Is Bitcoin losing its "Digital Gold" status to traditional metals? Host Mark Longo and Bill Ulivieri of Cenacle Capital Management kick off 2026 by breaking down a frustratingly quiet crypto market. While BTC and ETH move like "widows and orphans" stocks, a new institutional player—The Canton Network—is appearing on the horizon. In this episode, we dive into: The BTC Breakdown: Analyzing the massive gap between Bitcoin and Gold performance. Volatility Shifts: How IBIT and TradFi are killing the legendary "crypto upside skew." Altcoin Universe: Why Ethereum is "sleeping" and what's next for Solana and Circle (CRCL). The "Drumroll" Moment: Bill introduces the Canton Network—the institutional play for US Treasuries on the blockchain. The 2026 Crystal Ball: Mark and Bill place their bets on where the VIX ends the year. This episode is brought to you by Amberdata. Eliminate infrastructure headaches and access granular digital asset data today at www.amberdata.io .

Kick off the second full trading week of 2026 with Mark Longo (The Options Insider Media Group) and Uncle Mike Tosaw (St. Charles Wealth Management) as they navigate a market that seemingly "doesn't give an F" about geopolitical turmoil. From potential military interventions to the Fed chair vs. the President, the panel breaks down why the S&P 500 continues to climb a wall of worry while the VIX remains suppressed. In this episode, we break down: The Trading Block: A look at the "Mad New Year" so far. Why is the VIX ignoring the headlines? Plus, a deep dive into the massive volume in Tesla ($TSLA), Nvidia ($NVDA), and the return of the Feb 15 VIX puts. The Odd Block: Unusual activity in newcomers Standard Lithium ($SLI) and Amprius Technologies ($AMPX). Is someone getting "AMP'd" up for a breakout? Smurfette Returns: We revisit the corrugated packaging play Smurfit WestRock ($SMURF). Is the Feb 50 call a smart overwrite or a speculative gamble ahead of earnings? Strategy Block: Uncle Mike discusses the current bond environment and why it might finally be time to look at covered calls on $IEF or $TLT for extra yield. Around the Block: What to expect from the official kickoff of earnings season with the big banks (JPM, WFC, BAC) reporting later this week.