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TWIFO 478: Crude Embargoes and Winter Wheat Dec 19, 2025

Show notes

Is the energy market ready for a supply shock? On the final TWIFO of 2025, Mark Longo breaks down the surge in Energy CVOL as the U.S. intensifies pressure on Venezuela. With a crude oil embargo ratcheting up, we examine how WTI Crude is reacting and what the "Smart Money" is pricing into the February options skew.

We also shift our focus to the Ag complex, specifically Chicago Wheat (SRW), where we're seeing a surprising "Precious Metals-style" skew. From zero-cost collars in March Wheat to the massive 15% explosion in Palladium, we break down the movers and shakers at CME Group to close out the year.

Movers and Shakers: The CME Group Heatmap

The Dark Side: Natural Gas leads the decline (off 7.04%), followed by BTC Crypto (off 6%) and S&P Tech (off 4.5%).
The Light Side: Palladium is the standout winner (up 15.1%), with Platinum (up 5.6%) and Silver (up 2.2%) following the shiny metal trend.

Product Breakdown: Energy & Ag

WTI Crude Oil: Analyzing the shift to a 5% put bid in February. Is the market fading the Venezuela rally?
Chicago Wheat: Breaking down the 550 call vs. 500 put volume. Why are traders loading up on March upside?
CVOL Update: Energy Volatility roars to the high of the week (63.68) while Treasury Yield Volatility hits multi-month lows.

The Hot Options Report: 12-18-2025 Dec 18, 2025

Show notes

The Hot Options Report: Tesla Par Calls & Micron's AI Surge

Date: December 18, 2025

Host: Mark Longo

Can Tesla actually hit $500? In this episode, Mark Longo breaks down a high-volume Thursday where Tesla (TSLA) reclaiming the top spot was just the beginning. We dive into the massive retail and institutional interest in the Tesla 500 par calls and why traders are shelling out big premiums despite the strike being out of the money.

We also analyze the tech recovery sparked by Micron (MU) earnings and a cooler-than-expected CPI report. From Palantir's (PLTR) roaring return to life to the funky in-the-money put action in Netflix (NFLX) and Oracle (ORCL), we track the smart money moving through the tape.

The Top 10 Most Active Options Today

#1 Tesla (TSLA): 2.97M contracts. Breaking down the 179,000 contracts at the 500 strike.
#2 Nvidia (NVDA): 2.86M contracts. Tracking the 180 calls as AI sentiment shifts.
#3 Netflix (NFLX): 973K contracts. Analyzing the bizarre $114 puts and Jan-26 positioning.
#4 Apple (AAPL): 953K contracts. Can the fruit company cross the 275 threshold by tomorrow?
#5 Amazon (AMZN): 791K contracts. Bullish sentiment holds at the 230 strike.
#6 Micron (MU): 785K contracts. Earnings reaction: 10% pop and 260 strike dominance.
#7 Palantir (PLTR): 777K contracts. Drawing a line in the sand at the 190 calls.
#8 Broadcom (AVGO): 758K contracts. Funky flow as AVGO goes Ex-Dividend.
#9 The Monster (MSTR): 756K contracts. Breaking down the 200 par puts.
#10 Oracle (ORCL): 673K contracts. High-parity put action at the 220 strike.

Resources & Links

Live Data: TheHotOptionsReport.com
Join the Pro Community: TheOptionsInsider.com/Pro
Follow Mark on X: @OptionsInsider

The Option Block 1431: Silver Thieves, Options Records and Suspicious DJT Trades Dec 18, 2025

Show notes

The Option Block: Silver Thieves, Options Records & Suspicious DJT Trades

The All-Star Panel convenes for the final Thursday of 2025! Host Mark Longo is joined by Henry "The Flowmaster" Schwartz (Cboe) and "Uncle" Mike Tosaw (St. Charles Wealth Management) to break down a wild year-end session.

The Trading Block

The 15 Billion Milestone: Henry Schwartz predicts when the 15,000,000,000th options contract of 2025 will trade.
Silver's Historic Run: Mike Tosaw discusses the "thief in the night" move in SLV as it hits new highs, and why he's finally fading the metal.
Market Rotation: A look at the aggressive move back into tech (XLK, Micron, Palantir) following cooler CPI data.

The Odd Block

DJT "Skullduggery": We analyze suspicious call buying in DJT (Trump Media) immediately preceding a 40% jump on fusion merger news.
Leslie's Inc (LESL): Why is someone grabbing thousands of calls in a stock that has dropped 95% this year?
Ticker Autopsy: A look back at the failed $210k bet on IPA (now HYFT).

The Futures Rundown 59: Partying With Cheese and Lithium... Plus Silver, ETH and Crude Oil Dec 18, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Futures Rundown on The Options Insider Radio Network, host Mark Longo is joined by Jamal Chandler, Head of Options Strategy at Tastytrade. Together, they dissect the final trading weeks of 2025, providing a deep dive into the high-volatility moves across metals, energy, and digital assets.

Market Deep Dives:

Precious Metals: Why Silver ($SI) has become the inescapable asset of 2025, hitting new highs near the $65 level, and the massive year-to-date runs in Gold ($GC), Platinum, and Palladium.
The Energy Complex: Analyzing the "Bruhaha" in Crude Oil ($CL) following Venezuelan embargoes and the steep correction in Natural Gas ($NG).
Crypto Trends: Is a "Crypto Winter" coming for Ether ($ETH)? We break down the 15% weekly drawdown and the maturity of the crypto ecosystem.
Agricultural Movers: A look at the surprise rallies in Lithium and Cash Settled Cheese, alongside the underperformance of Coffee and Orange Juice.

Key Segments:

The Trading Pit: A review of the most active contracts, including the Nasdaq-100 Micro and 10-year notes.
Year-to-Date Movers: Which assets took the "rocket ship to the moon" and which are ending 2025 as the biggest losers?
Prediction Markets: The implications of binaries on everything from sports to the Oscars.
Listener Polls: Is it time to buy the dip in Silver or get out before 2026?

Options Boot Camp 369: What to Do When The Wheel Turns Against You Dec 18, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Options Boot Camp, hosts Mark Longo and Dan Passarelli (Market Taker Mentoring) dive deep into the mechanics of the Wheel Strategy—one of the most popular frameworks for generating consistent options income. Whether you are selling cash-secured puts or managing covered calls, the "Wheel" is a powerful tool for any trader's playbook, but what happens when the market moves against you?

Mark and Dan break down the specific scenarios traders face when a trade goes south, offering a masterclass in position management and cost basis reduction.

Key Topics Covered in This Episode:

Managing Losing Trades: What to do when your initial put sale goes in-the-money.
Stock Repair Strategies: How to use the "Repair Manual" to recover from underwater positions without adding more capital.
Averaging Down vs. Rolling: The pros and cons of lowering your entry price in a declining market.
The Importance of Objectives: Why a clear "exit plan" is the most critical part of the Wheel Strategy.
Advanced Covered Calls: Strategic strikes for when you've been assigned the underlying stock.

The Hot Options Report: 12-17-2025 Dec 17, 2025

Show notes

This episode of the Hot Options Report delivers an expert options market analysis of high-volume contracts across Amazon (AMZN), AMD, Netflix (NFLX), Alphabet (GOOGL), Oracle (ORCL), Palantir (PLTR), Broadcom (AVGO), Nvidia (NVDA), and Tesla (TSLA). As part of the Options Insider Radio Network's "Quintuple Mania" series, we provide insider insights into unusual options activity, specifically breaking down Amazon's 220 strikes, Oracle's deep in-the-money puts, and the heavy flow surrounding Tesla's 500 calls. Our traders analyze significant trade values and the broader market implications of December volatility, offering a detailed review of institutional sentiment and derivative strategies for retail traders. Join us for this special edition of back-to-back market coverage, focusing on the high-conviction trades and implied volatility shifts currently driving the tech and AI sectors as we head into year-end.

For traders looking to dive deeper into the numbers behind these moves, you can access more comprehensive options data at TheHotOptionsReport.com.

The European Market Brief 15: The Wild Year Review & The 2026 Outlook Dec 17, 2025

Show notes

What defined European markets in 2025, and what trading trends will dominate 2026? In this year-end episode of the European Market Brief, host Mark Longo joins industry experts from Eurex, Advantage Futures, and Indiana University for a deep dive into market performance and future outlooks.

The panel moves beyond a simple review to analyze surprising shifts in market structure, from the explosion of prediction markets to the demand for 24-hour trading access.

Tune in to hear the panel discuss:

2026 Market Predictions: Where the experts see European opportunities next year.
Volatility Strategies: Why interest in trading volatility remained high in 2025.
Futures Debates: The evolving roles of cash vs. physically settled futures.
New Frontiers: Opportunities in credit indices and round-the-clock trading.

Featured Guests:

Russell Rhoads, Indiana University Kelley School of Business
Mike O'Malley, Advantage Futures
Lee Bartholomew, Eurex

The Hot Options Report: 12-16-2025 Dec 17, 2025

Show notes

Join Mark Longo from The Options Insider for the essential breakdown of options volume and market momentum.

The Top Options Volume Action (Single Name Equities)

Tesla (TSLA) Dominates: Tesla recaptures the #1 spot with nearly 3 million contracts traded (2.89M), rallying over 3%. The hottest trade? A huge volume spike in the expiring $500 Calls, signaling major bullish bets on further upside this week.
Nvidia (NVDA) Volume Cools: The typical options volume king falls to #2 with 1.43 million contracts traded—less than half its recent average. The focus remains on the near-term $180 Calls.
Contrarian Flow in Palantir (PLTR): Despite rallying 2.5%, Palantir saw significant defensive action with nearly 37,000 contracts traded in the near-term $180 Puts.

High-Interest Stock & Options Breakdown

Pfizer (PFE) Sells Off: PFE drops 3.4%, landing on the most active list with notable volume in the February $23 Puts, suggesting a line in the sand may have been drawn by put sellers.
Tech Sector Rally: Both Oracle (ORCL) and Netflix (NFLX) showed small rallies, accompanied by high volume in short-dated calls, including Oracle's expiring $190 Calls and Netflix's out-of-the-money $100 Calls.
MicroStrategy (MSTR) Upside Bets: The monster stock sees a pop and a focus on next week's $175 Calls, signaling traders are looking for continued momentum into the end of the year.
Amazon (AMZN) & Apple (AAPL) Volume: Both tech stalwarts remained highly active with large call volume trades, including Amazon's $225 Calls and Apple's $275 Calls.

Resources & Next Steps

Options Data Source: Today's data is powered by QuikOptions. Go to TheHotOptionsReport.com for more options data.
Join The PRO Network: Don't miss out on Pro Q&As, giveaways, live streams, and the upcoming Vol Death Match 2.0! Learn more and subscribe: TheOptionsInsider.com/PRO

The Crypto Rundown 301: White Walkers and The Shadows Dec 16, 2025

Show notes

Mark Longo welcomes Greg Magadini of Amberdata for The Crypto Rundown to dissect the crypto market's weakness following the latest Fed meeting. As Bitcoin (BTC) drops back below the $90,000 level and altcoins like Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL) pull back, the hosts analyze critical volatility indicators and options flow to determine if a full "crypto winter" is approaching, or if it's time to buy the dip.

Key Discussion Points & Trading Insights

Is Winter Coming? Bitcoin has pulled back $4,000 post-FOMC, leading to a highly divided audience poll on whether to buy the dip or prepare for more downside.
Vol Skew Analysis: The volatility surface has fundamentally reshaped since the summer, with long-dated Put Skew (puts more expensive than calls) priced in all the way out to 180 days. Greg explains how this positioning suggests IBIT holders are well-hedged.
Critical Inflection Point: Analysis of Gamma Exposure profiles pinpoints the $85,000 strike as the key downside level for dealers, separating consolidation from a major crash risk.
Understanding Shadow Term Structure: Greg explains this cool Amberdata tool, which acts as a time-lapse for volatility, allowing traders to compare current term structure to historical trends.
Hottest Crypto Options: Dissection of trades in IBIT (Bitcoin ETF) and the highly speculative MSTU (leveraged MicroStrategy). Learn why the MSTU upside is a favorite sell for premium collectors.
Altcoin Universe: Analysis of Ethereum (ETH) falling below $3,000, Solana (SOL) (SOL) at $125, and their relative volatility against each other.
Trading Strategy: Greg explains why he prefers to sell long-term puts on assets like Circle (C) to finance long-term call spreads, capturing high Vega exposure before expected volatility repricing.

Volatility Data Covered:

BTC, ETH Volatility (7-Day, 30-Day, 180-Day)
BTC, ETH Vol Skew & Risk Reversal
IBIT Options Flow (Dec 52/54 Vertical)

The Hot Options Report: 12-15-2025 Dec 15, 2025

Show notes

Join Mark Longo for the Hot Options Report as he breaks down the final full trading week of the year. This episode tracks the flow in the single-name equity options market, dominated by a massive Tesla rally and surprising downside action in several key tech stocks. Learn which strikes were hottest and what the implied sentiment suggests for year-end trading.

Today's Top Options Trading Stories

Tesla (TSLA) Roars Back: A huge rally on Monday drives Tesla to the number one spot in volume, fueled by a massive amount of activity in the TSLA 500 Calls expiring this week. The question remains: can the stock hit that key par strike by Friday?
The Tech Titan Tumble: Major names like Apple (AAPL), Broadcom (AVGO), Oracle (ORCL), and the "Widowmaker" Netflix (NFLX) all finished the day in the red, seeing significant volume as they slipped from recent highs.
Nvidia (NVDA) Bucks the Trend: Despite overall market weakness in large-cap tech, Nvidia managed a gain, placing second in volume with heavy interest in the NVDA 180 Calls.

Hot Trade Insights

SoFi (SOFI): Continued weakness drives interest in the 28 Calls, possibly indicating traders using an attractive one-week Covered Call strategy.
MicroStrategy (MSTR): The massive sell-off led to heavy trading in the 165 Puts for over $5.00, suggesting traders are either buying protection or betting on continued downside.
Covered Calls: A significant theme emerges with high volume in out-of-the-money calls for weekly expiration across multiple names (AAPL, NFLX, AMZN, etc.), suggesting traders are willing to sell premium or expect a limited rally this week.

For more options data, go to TheHotOptionsReport.com

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