The Options Insider Radio Network

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The Option Block 1461: Wizards, Drones, and Massive Relief Rallies Apr 17, 2026

Show notes

Is this the "Golden Age" of derivatives trading, or are we just off the rails? In this episode, Mark Longo and the "All-Star Panel" break down an explosive week that saw the S&P 500 rally nearly 700 handles off the lows. With the VIX coming back to earth and new all-time highs on the horizon, the team explores whether the market has finally exhausted the bears.

On the Block:

The Macro View: A look at the 10% gain in the S&P 500 since late March and why the "Dudes" (Big Tech names like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft) are leading the charge.
RMC Recap: Henry "The Flowmaster" Schwartz returns from the Cboe Risk Management Conference with insights on the state of the industry and retail vs. RIA flow at Schwab.
Zero DTE Debate: Is selling zero-day options becoming too crowded, or is there still a "free weekend" to be had?

The Odd Block:

Merlin, Inc. (MRLN): A newcomer specializing in AI-powered autonomous flight (drones). Why is the stock up 300% from its lows?
Compass Therapeutics (CMPX): Massive volume in biotech. Is someone betting on a binary event?
Lucid Group (LCID): While the rest of the market rallies, the EVs are getting shellacked. We look at the bearish flow and potential "line in the sand" puts.

The Hot Options Report: 04-16-26 Apr 17, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to a wild Thursday edition of The Hot Options Report! Today, host Mark Longo dives deep into a massive day of volume where it took over 650,000 contracts just to break into the Top 10. We kick things off with a unique look at the "House Nay" Scan from TheHotOptionsReport.com, revealing the most recent stock sales disclosed by members of the House of Representatives, including a flurry of activity from New Jersey's Thomas H. Keen.

On this episode, we break down the hottest options action in:

The Semi Sector: Intel (INTC) continues its parabolic run, up nearly 50% this month, while AMD clocks an 8% gain. We analyze the aggressive call buying and "home run" trades hitting the tape.
Earnings Watch: Netflix (NFLX) sees massive volume ahead of its after-hours report—is the "Widow Maker" living up to its name?
The Big Tech Tape: Inside the flow for Microsoft (MSFT), Amazon (AMZN), and Apple (AAPL) as they battle key strikes heading into Friday's expiration.
Market Leaders: High-stakes "rolls of the bones" in MicroStrategy (MSTR) and the battle for the "Par Strike" in Nvidia (NVDA) and Tesla (TSLA).

Whether you're tracking Congressional trades or chasing the next monster rally, get the data you need to stay ahead of the tape.

Check out more at: TheHotOptionsReport.com

The Futures Rundown 72: Energy, Crypto, Agriculture & Commodity Futures Breakdown Apr 16, 2026

Show notes

On this episode of The Futures Rundown, Mark Longo breaks down a fascinating week where equities are hitting all-time highs and the VIX is facing a serious "bloodletting." We dive into the "Dark Side" to see what's crashing (looking at you, OJ and NatGas) and flip the script to find out why Silver and Cocoa are finally finding some love.

In this episode, we explore:

The Trading Pit: Why a 200k contract day feels like "watching paint dry" and what's leading the volume (hint: it's the Micros).
Energy & Metals: Crude oil's threat to par, the Brent/WTI spread, and the "classy" move in Aluminium.
Crypto Corner: Ether and Bitcoin's year-to-date struggle vs. this week's "inhale."
The Leaderboard: Why Heating Oil is the king of the mountain (+75%) while Cocoa remains the year's biggest loser despite a weekly bounce.

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The Hot Options Report: 4-15-26 Apr 15, 2026

Show notes

The options market is hitting a fever pitch as tech giants propel major indices to fresh record highs. In this episode of The Hot Options Report, host Mark Longo breaks down an absolute "banger" of a day where it took nearly 600,000 contracts just to crack the Top 10.

We kick things off with a deep dive into the "Acts of Congress" scan, revealing the latest stock disclosures from Capitol Hill, including trades in Integris (IDYA), Amcor (AMCR), and Marriott (MAR). Mark discusses why these disclosures matter and the ongoing debate surrounding Congressional stock trading.

The main event belongs to Tesla (TSLA). With Elon Musk doubling down on the "AI5" chip milestone, Tesla shares skyrocketed over 7.5%, triggering a massive surge of 6.26 million options contracts. Is this the start of a new AI-driven bull run for Musk's flagship, or a temporary spark?

Also in this episode:

Robinhood (HOOD): Why the SEC's repeal of the Pattern Day Trading (PDT) rule sent the stock up 10% and what it means for retail traders.
Nvidia (NVDA): Chasing all-time highs with over 4.2 million contracts traded.
Tech Rally: Analyzing the heavy flow in Oracle (ORCL), Palantir (PLTR), Meta (META), Microsoft (MSFT), and Apple (AAPL).
Amazon (AMZN) & SoFi (SOFI): Contrasting the tech laggards with the breakout momentum in fintech.

Join us for a high-velocity look at the trades dominating the tape and impacting your account.

Visit TheHotOptionsReport.com for more options data.

Options Boot Camp 386: Tax Tips for Options Traders Apr 15, 2026

Show notes

It's Tax Day on the network! Mark Longo and Dan Passarelli tackle the most requested topic of the season: how to keep the IRS out of your options profit. From the simplicity of the IRA "end run" to the mathematical beauty of 60/40 tax treatment on Section 1256 contracts (like SPX), the drill instructors break down how to optimize your tax bill.

In this episode, we cover:

The IRA Advantage: Why tax-deferred accounts are an options trader's best friend.
Section 1256 Contracts: How to get long-term tax rates on short-term trades.
The Complexity of Basis: Why multi-leg spreads can become an accountant's nightmare.
Double Calendars: Dan clarifies the "Friday-Monday" spread strategy discussed in previous episodes.
Defending The Wheel: Dan responds to critics who call his favorite strategy "garbage."
Listener Mail Call: Binging 13 years of options education and overcoming the "overwhelming" start.

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The Hot Options Report: 04-14-26 Apr 14, 2026

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The options tape is on fire! Despite geopolitical tensions in the Straits of Hormuz, the market staged a massive rally this Tuesday, April 14, 2026. On today's Hot Options Report, Mark Longo breaks down a wild session where over half a million contracts were required just to break into the Top 10.

Inside This Episode:

The MA 50+ Scan: We highlight the top movers breaking their 50-day moving average by over 5%, including IONQ, ARAI, and AAL.
Intel (INTC): After a 40% monthly rally, Intel gives some back. Why are traders still piling into the May 70 calls?
Nvidia (NVDA): Regaining its throne at the #1 spot with 3.16 million contracts as it inches closer to its all-time high.
Big Tech Movers: Rapid-fire analysis of heavy volume in Oracle (ORCL), Meta (META), Micron (MU), and Microsoft (MSFT).
The Weekly Outlook: A look at the "midweek" contracts for Meta and the aggressive July upside bets in Netflix (NFLX).

Stop guessing and start scanning. Check out the tools mentioned in the show at TheHotOptionsReport.com .

The European Market Brief 22: Throw Out The Old Conflict Playbook Apr 14, 2026

Show notes

Is the traditional geopolitical risk playbook dead? In this episode of The European Market Brief, Mark Longo is joined by Morad Askar, Founder of EdgeClear, and Matt Koren, Equity and Index Derivatives Sales and Global VSTOXX Lead at Eurex, to dissect the unprecedented market activity following recent escalations in the Middle East.

While the "old playbook" suggests a flight to quality in gold and a spike in oil, the recent blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has sent the markets into a tailspin of "trade the tweet" volatility that defied standard expectations. The team explores why European derivatives—particularly VSTOXX and EURO STOXX 50—saw volumes surge to 2x their annual average, and why the "buy the dip" mentality is being tested like never before.

Topics covered include:

The Volatility Regime: Why VSTOXX hit levels near 35 while VIX lagged behind.
The Transatlantic Spread: How energy dependency makes European markets more vulnerable to Middle East conflict than the US.
Retail vs. Institutional Flow: The shift toward order book liquidity and the rise of daily options in Europe.
Risk Management: Why "holding through the weekend" has become a dangerous game for professional traders in a 24/7 news cycle.

Whether you're trading DAX, Bunds, or looking for cross-border volatility opportunities, this episode provides the "new" rules for an evolving, headline-driven market.

The Crypto Rundown 314: Bitcoin is Only for Widows and Orphans Apr 14, 2026

Show notes

Is the volatility dream dead, or is Bitcoin just growing up? In this episode, host Mark Longo is joined by Mr. Bill Ulivieri of Cenacle Capital Management to break down a surprisingly "sleepy" couple of weeks in the digital asset space.

As Bitcoin rallies toward the $72k mark, the crew explores why implied volatility (IV) is cratering and whether BTC has officially transitioned into a "risk-free" asset suitable only for "widows and orphans."

In this episode, we dive into:

The Bitcoin Breakdown: BTC's climb to $72,352 and why 30-day IV has dropped nearly 10 points.
IBIT Analysis: How the flood of equity flow into Bitcoin ETFs is "killing the juice" for option traders.
Altcoin Universe: A look at the Top 10 market caps, the persistence of Tron, and why Ethereum feels like the "next TLT."
The "Degen" Corner: Introducing C-CUP (the T-Rex 2x Long Daily Target ETF) for those who find Circle too boring.
Stacks (STX): Why Bill is eyeing this "forgotten" token as a massive AI + Bitcoin infrastructure play.
Mainstream Adoption: The impact of the new Visa Bitcoin Rewards card and what it means for annual supply.

The Hot Options Report: 04-13-26 Apr 13, 2026

Show notes

Markets are heating up this Monday as geopolitical tensions and massive tech rallies collide. In this episode of the Hot Options Report, Mark Longo breaks down a wild session where Tesla (TSLA) reclaimed its throne at the top of the options leaderboard with 2.84 million contracts traded.

Despite whispers of a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz driving oil past $100, the equity options tape remained focused on high-growth tech and massive individual movers. We dive into the unusual activity fueling Oracle's (ORCL) 12% surge, the parabolic "rampage" in Intel (INTC), and the last-minute expirations that left some paper "sweating" in Nvidia (NVDA) and Microsoft (MSFT).

Inside This Episode:

The Lucky 7 Scan: A deep dive into PG&E (PCG), Repligen (REPL), and the SPDR S&P Bank ETF (KBE)—names where volume exploded to 7x their daily average.
Tesla's Dominance: How the 355-strike calls became the hottest ticket in the market as TSLA pushed toward $353.
Big Tech Breakdown: * Micron (MU): Why paper is betting on a run to $450 by the end of the week.
- Intel (INTC): With the stock up 65% year-to-date, are traders finally stepping in front of the freight train?
- Oracle (ORCL): Breaking down the 644,000 contracts that followed today's double-digit breakout.
Ouchie of the Day: A look at the Meta (META) and Apple (AAPL) 0DTE (zero days to expiration) plays that went down to the wire.

Stay Ahead of the Tape: Check out the full scan results and more data-driven insights at TheHotOptionsReport.com .

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The Option Block 1460: Stealthy U-Boats and Sneaky Finns Apr 13, 2026

Show notes

Markets shrug off geopolitical chaos yet again as the Option Block crew dives into stealthy U-boats, sneaky Finns, and surging stocks. Mark Longo, "Uncle" Mike Tosaw, and Andrew "The Rock Lobster" Giovinazzi break down the latest action in equities, volatility, earnings season, unusual options flow, and strategy in today's volatile environment.

In this episode:

U-Boat trivia sparks another heated 80s challenge battle
Markets rally despite escalating Middle East tensions
VIX slips below 20 while traders pile into downside puts
Goldman Sachs earnings reaction and major financial earnings preview
Unusual options activity in Coupang (CPNG) and Nokia (NOK)
Intel, Tesla, Palantir, Oracle, and CoreWeave heating up
Strategy Block: How to trade elevated volatility with covered calls and vertical spreads
Around the Block: What to watch into the next session

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