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The European Market Brief 30: The Wild World of European Rates Options Aug 26, 2026

Show notes

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.

The Crypto Rundown 237: The Greatest Week in Crypto History? Aug 25, 2026

Show notes

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

The Option Block 1494: Radioactive HYPE...and Yurts! Aug 24, 2026

Show notes

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.

The Hot Options Report: 08-24-2026 Aug 24, 2026

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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.

The Hot Options Report: 08-21-26 Aug 21, 2026

Show notes

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.

Volatility Views 692: We Dare You to Sell Vol Aug 21, 2026

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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.

TWIFO 510: Intervention Week! Aug 20, 2026

Show notes

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.

The Hot Options Report: 08-20-26 Aug 20, 2026

Show notes

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).

The Option Block 493: Was There Something Fishy in MRNA Options? Aug 20, 2026

Show notes

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.

The Futures Rundown 88: Is This The Bottom For Gold and Silver? Aug 20, 2026

Show notes

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?

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