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The Hot Options Report: 01-15-2026 Jan 16, 2026

Show notes

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

The Futures Rundown 61: Werewolves Beware! The Silver Rampage Continues Jan 15, 2026

Show notes

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
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#FuturesTrading #SilverShortSqueeze #GoldPrice #Commodities #VIX #MacroInvesting #SilverPrice #EnergyFutures #Tastytrade #FuturesRundown

The Hot Options Report: 01-14-2026 Jan 14, 2026

Show notes

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.
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Options Boot Camp 373: IBIT vs. Stranger Things plus Misunderstood Options Strats Jan 14, 2026

Show notes

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: 01-13-2026 Jan 13, 2026

Show notes

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 Hot Options Report: 01-12-2026 Jan 12, 2026

Show notes

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

The Crypto Rundown 305: A Hot New Altcoin On The Horizon? Jan 12, 2026

Show notes

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 .

The Option Block 1436: Getting AMP'd up to Sell Smurfette Jan 12, 2026

Show notes

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.

Energy Options Report: Crude Oil "Washout" Potential - Venezuela's Infrastructure & WTI Skew Breakdown Jan 12, 2026

Show notes

Is the energy market preparing for a $20 crude oil "washout"? In this episode, we tackle the geopolitical chaos in Venezuela and why the energy tape isn't reacting the way the headlines suggested it would.

Join host Mark Longo along with Dan Gramza (Gramza Capital Management) and Carley Garner (DeCarley Trading) for a deep dive into the energy complex. We break down the reality of Venezuela's deteriorating infrastructure, the "capitulation" patterns in WTI crude oil, and Dan Gramza's incredible victory in our 2025 VIX Crystal Ball contest.

The Venezuela "Oil Spigot" Myth: Why Dan Gramza believes it will take 5–7 years to rebuild Venezuela's energy infrastructure despite the current political shift.
Crude Oil Capitulation: Carley Garner explains why WTI crude never bottoms out quietly and why the $55 support level is the "danger zone" for a potential plunge into the $40s or $20s.
WTI Options Analysis: Tracking the massive flow in the Feb contract—specifically the 55-strike "double puts" and the disappearance of the geopolitical call skew.
Energy Skew & Volatility: Why the initial "tariff tantrum" and supply headlines have left the energy market in a state of neutral indecision.

The Hot Options Report: 01-09-2026 Jan 09, 2026

Show notes

Is the "Turnaround Trade" finally here for Intel? Host Mark Longo breaks down a massive day in the options market as we close out the first full trading week of 2026. From Intel's 11% rocket ship to Tesla's battle at the $445 strike, we're tracking the institutional paper and retail frenzy dominating the tape.

What was lighting up the tape today? We dive into the Top 10 most active names, including a dense day of volume for Alphabet (GOOGL), Palantir (PLTR), and Amazon (AMZN). Plus, we look at the unusual long-term August paper hitting Netflix (NFLX) and why MicroStrategy (MSTR) bulls might be sweating after a 6% slide.

Episode Highlights:

Intel ($INTC) Fever: The stock that was $20 just months ago hits $45.55. We break down the winning 45-strike calls.
Tesla ($TSLA) Tug-of-War: With over 3.2 million contracts traded, we look at the 445-strike action and why put buyers are feeling the pain.
Nvidia ($NVDA) Check-in: A quarter-million contracts on the 185 strike—did the sellers win the day?
The "Widow Maker" Returns: Analyzing the massive August 110 call buys in Netflix.
Penny Sweaters: Why paper was hitting the bid on Open ($OPEN) and Apple ($AAPL) calls.

Don't miss a beat! Get all the data used in today's show and more at TheHotOptionsReport.com . Kick the tires and light the fires on your trading for 2026.

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