The Options Insider Radio Network

They unpack a $2.5B smuggling scandal tied to AI chips and the huge sell-off that followed. Large options sweeps and nearly $1M in premium flow through SPY, IWM and NVDA LEAPS get highlighted. Heavy put activity and notable strikes across SMCI, Intel, Micron and Amazon are broken down. Volatility and big contract moves in NVDA, Tesla, Microsoft, Apple and SoFi round out the coverage.

Russell Rhoads, VIX expert and author who builds volatility models and ETP strategies, breaks down market swings from Middle East conflict and a surprising shift to a 2027 rate pivot. He explains geopolitical-driven backwardation in VIX term structure. Russell also reviews big VIX option flows, his Gretchen model hit, and a weekend UVIX open-to-open trading edge.

In this episode, Mark Longo and Dan Gramza dive deep into the massive dislocations hitting the futures and options markets as Middle East tensions escalate. While WTI remains surprisingly range-bound, the Brent spread has widened to levels not seen in over a decade. Why isn't gold acting as a safe haven, and what is the "put bomb" currently dropping in the S&P 500? In this episode, we cover: Movers & Shakers: Heating Oil and Lumber lead the bulls, while Silver and Platinum take a massive hit. Energy: The 11-year high in the Brent/WTI spread, the impact of the Strait of Hormuz, and a look at the massive 1x3 vertical calls in Brent. Equities: Why the S&P 500 remains "orderly" despite the volatility, and a look at the heavy 6500 put activity. Metals: The missing "flight to quality"—why Gold is selling off during a geopolitical crisis and what the 35+ vol means for traders. Nat Gas: Assessing the damage to global LNG facilities and the neutral zone between $2.90 and $3.30.

The "Thursday Effect" strikes again as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East send markets tumbling and volatility spiking. Host Mark Longo is back in the Chicago studio to break down a "Blood-Red Thursday" alongside "Uncle" Mike Tosaw and Henry "The Flowmaster" Schwartz. The panel dives into the massive VIX rolls, the curious lack of a "flight to quality" in bonds and gold, and why the S&P 500 is struggling to hold the 6500 level. Plus, we look at why traders are suddenly piling into coal and spirits. In this episode, we discuss: The Trading Block: Market reaction to Middle East escalations, surging oil, and the VIX hitting 25. VIX Watch: A massive 250,000-contract roll in May/August 47.50 calls. The Odd Block: Unusual activity in Alliance Resource Partners (ARLP) and a speculative flurry in Brown-Forman (BF.B). Mail Block: What's keeping traders up at night? Geopolitical risk vs. sky-high valuations. Around the Block: What to watch as we head into the weekend, including FedEx earnings and the "Oil VIX" (OVX).

In this episode of The Hot Options Report, host Mark Longo breaks down a "weird and wild" Thursday session. As the broader markets feel the heat, the options tape is flashing some highly unusual signals—specifically a massive wave of deep in-the-money (ITM) puts across major tech and energy names. On the Docket Today: Micron Earnings Carnage: Did the "500-strike dream" for Micron (MU) turn into a nightmare? We analyze the post-earnings fallout and what those expiring calls mean for the tape. The Scan of the Day: We dive into the "Hidden Figure" scan, identifying stealthy, near-dated institutional flow in Nvidia (NVDA), Comcast (CMCSA), and Bank of America (BAC). The ITM Put Mystery: Why are traders flooding the tape with deep ITM puts in Meta, Amazon, and Apple? Is this a massive move to get long stock at specific levels, or a unique hedging regime? Energy on Fire: With oil markets literally heating up, we look at the newcomer to our Top 10, Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ). The Top 10 Countdown: From the "Monster" (MSTR) to Nvidia reclaiming the top spot, we track the volume leaders and the specific strikes moving the needle. Check out the tools mentioned in the show: Visit TheHotOptionsReport.com to explore the scans and data driving today's episode.

Jermal Chandler, Head of Options Strategy at tastytrade and daily market commentator. He explains why crude oil is acting like the market’s volatility gauge. They cover energy surges across WTI, Brent, RBOB and heating oil. Conversations also touch on Fed Day moves, rising 10-year yields, surprising silver weakness, and geopolitical strain around the Strait of Hormuz.

A Fed Day session where traders held back but options volume stayed hot. A massive dividend-driven trade in Restaurant Brands and a wild Micron play ahead of earnings. Heavy action in Nvidia, Tesla and AMD with smart-money premium selling. Zero-day drama in Meta and SoFi keeps the tape spicy.

High-energy breakdown of trading oil markets, from WTI and Brent futures advantages to the quirks of futures-linked ETFs. A look at USO’s design problems and the 2020 fallout. Discussion of using XLE or majors like Chevron as equity surrogates. A tour of volatility plays tied to geopolitical risk and how traders hedge or generate income around crude swings.

Andreas Stillert, Eurex STIR product lead, explains Europe’s dual-rate system in bite-sized terms. Dan Collins, Aurel rates head, brings market-structure and trading-flow perspective. They discuss the sudden pivot from priced cuts to possible hikes, the dramatic options skew flip from calls to puts, and how geopolitics and oil are stoking inflation and volatility.

Bitcoin is back on the move, and the options market is telling a new story. Following the FIA Boca conference, we're digging into the data to see if this rally has legs. Topics discussed: Market Update: Bitcoin's run toward $75k. The Greeks: Weekly vs. Monthly volatility shifts. ETF Impact: Analyzing the massive IBIT options volume. Altcoin Rundown: Price action in ETH, SOL, Doge, and Shiba Inu. Brought to you by Amberdata. Visit amberdata.io to download the digital asset data guide.