Podcast
This Week in Futures Options
Hosted by The Options Insider Radio Network · EN
Gold, crude oil, corn, soybeans and more - with so many tradeable products the futures options market is an intimidating place. How can you possibly keep track of the latest trading activity across so many different products? Don't worry - we've got you covered. Welcome to This Week in Futures Options - the program designed to help active futures options traders stay on top of this ever-changing marketplace. Each week we'll break down the top trades, hot products, volatility explosions and much more. Whether you're an experienced veteran or a newcomer looking to separate the wheat from the lean hogs, This Week in Futures Options has the information you can't find anywhere else...
39episodes
Episodes
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TWIFO 507: Crude and Equities Roar and Whimper
2d ago01:02:58Tap to summarizeCrude oil takes another wild ride while equities whipsaw around earnings, the Fed, and geopolitical uncertainty on this episode of This Week in Futures Options. Mark Longo is joined by Dan Gramza of Gramza Capital Management to break down the latest action across the futures and futures options markets. They discuss the dramatic reversal in crude oil, the outlook for the major equity indices following a volatile week for tech, unusual December upside options activity in the Nasdaq-100, and what the options market is signaling in natural gas. Plus, single stock futures are back! Mark and Dan discuss CME Group's new single stock futures on names including NVIDIA, Tesla, and Apple, why previous attempts at SSFs struggled in the U.S., and whether this new generation of products could finally catch on. They also examine the big move in the Japanese yen, central bank intervention, and the latest options activity across FX. It's another packed tour of the movers, volatility, skew, and unusual options activity lighting up the futures markets this week.
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TWIFO 506: Feeling Apocalyptic
1w ago00:51:05Tap to summarizeAre markets starting to price in the unthinkable? This week on This Week in Futures Options (TWIFO), Mark Longo and Russell Rhoads dive into one of the most fascinating weeks we've seen across the futures options landscape. Energy markets continue their explosive rally as crude oil surges back above $90, equity markets stumble, volatility begins to stir, and traders place some of the most unusual gold options trades we've ever seen. The hosts analyze massive WTI crude oil put spreads, aggressive call buying, downside hedging in the S&P 500, the evolving relationship between VIX and equity volatility, and the extraordinary December gold option structures featuring 10,000, 15,000 and even 20,000 strike calls. In this episode: Movers & Shakers across CME Group markets Why energy continues to dominate futures trading Unusual WTI crude oil options activity S&P 500 downside hedging and volatility positioning Is VIX sending the right signal? The most bizarre gold options trades of the year What extreme options positioning may be telling traders
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TWIFO 505: Wild Equities, Raging Rates and Surprising Crypto Puts
2w ago00:55:51Tap to summarizeOn this episode, we are joined by Mike Tosaw of St. Charles Wealth Management to analyze the biggest futures options stories from around the globe. In this episode: The week's biggest Movers & Shakers across metals, energy, agriculture and equity indexes Is silver finally becoming a buying opportunity after its sharp selloff? Gold, wheat, crude oil and the commodity contracts making the biggest moves Mike's outlook on the S&P 500 and whether equities are building a base for another breakout Why interest rates and the 10-Year Treasury could become the dominant market story in the months ahead A deep dive into the massive options activity in Treasury futures Bitcoin and Ether futures options, including Mike's surprisingly bullish Bitcoin options strategy despite his long-held skepticism toward crypto The hottest futures options trades, unusual activity and volatility trends from CME Group
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TWIFO 504: A wild week in Energy, Ags, FX, Equities and More
3w ago00:51:15Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Mark Longo and Carley Garner of DeCarley Trading dig deep into the data using the CME Group TWIFO tool to explore major volatility shifts, unexpected open interest spikes, and unique options trading strategies across multiple asset classes. What's Inside This Episode: The Movers & Shakers Report: A surprising look at the top gainers and losers over the last two weeks. Why did oats quietly take the #1 spot on the light side, and what triggered the Nikkei (in Yen) to plummet 14.8% to the dark side? Energy (Crude Oil & Natural Gas): A breakdown of WTI crude oil navigating Middle East geopolitical headlines, shifting call skews, and high-volume short-dated options. Plus, Carley explains why Natural Gas (the "Widowmaker") might be prepping for a 70–80 cent liquidation drop and how to play it with cheap puts. Equities (NASDAQ & S&P 500): Is this a "Teflon market" driven purely by AI complacency, or are we tracking a technical pattern mirroring the early 2026 meltdown? The hosts dissect a heavy round of 30k NASDAQ call options and the logistics of trading symmetrical butterflies in high-dollar indices. Foreign Exchange (FX & Japanese Yen): The Yen hits a 40-year low against the USD. Carley breaks down why FX options are surprisingly cheap, the probability of a Bank of Japan (BOJ) intervention, and how to structure low-risk micro/mini futures combinations. Agricultural Markets (Corn & Livestock): Grains get a temporary boost from weather rallies and Chinese buying rumors. Discover why the team is leaning short on Dec corn with long puts, and why live cattle charts are flashing ominous warning signs reminiscent of the 2014 macro blow-off top.
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TWIFO 503: Silver Slumps, Crude Crashes and Nasdaq Chaos
Jun 2600:25:42Tap to summarizeThe commodity roller coaster kept traders busy this week as crude oil gave back much of its recent geopolitical premium, silver suffered another sharp selloff, and Nasdaq futures options lit up the tape following a volatile week for equities. On this episode of This Week in Futures Options, Mark Longo breaks down the biggest movers across the futures options landscape, including: Why silver volatility remains elevated despite a brutal correction Massive activity in WTI crude oil 65 puts as traders reposition Nasdaq 100 futures options reacting to earnings, inflation data and heavy market swings The biggest movers on the light side and dark side across CME markets Volatility, skew and unusual options activity across metals, energy and equity indexes What traders were buying and selling ahead of the America 250 holiday week
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TWIFO 502: Crude Oil Carnage, Gold Trouble and the SpaceX Effect
Jun 1901:00:59Tap to summarizeThis week on This Week in Futures Options, Mark Longo welcomes first-time guest Jim Iurio, CEO of JI Financial Strategies, for a wide-ranging discussion covering the biggest movers and opportunities across the futures options landscape. Crude oil volatility has collapsed as geopolitical fears ease, gold traders are eyeing potential downside targets, the Nasdaq and Russell 2000 continue to show surprising strength, and SpaceX remains the talk of the trading world. Jim shares his technical outlook on energy, metals, equities and crypto while offering a variety of options strategies for traders looking to navigate today's markets. In this episode: • Crude oil's dramatic reversal and what comes next • Why Jim believes crude could ultimately trade much lower • Gold's surprising weakness during geopolitical turmoil • Put fly opportunities in gold and silver • Nat gas setups and key technical levels • Nasdaq and Russell 2000 outlooks • Liquidity, momentum and the current equity rally • The SpaceX options phenomenon and IPO enthusiasm • Bitcoin, Ethereum and crypto market analysis • Movers & Shakers across energy, metals and equity indexes
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TWIFO 501: Equities Roar ahead of SpaceX Launch
Jun 1200:35:16Tap to summarizeOn this episode of This Week in Futures Options, host Mark Longo is joined by Catherine Yoshimoto (FTSE Russell) for an in-depth look at the latest Russell Reconstitution changes, the return to semi-annual rebalancing, surging small-cap performance, and the explosive market interest surrounding the upcoming SpaceX IPO. In this episode, you'll discover: The biggest movers and shakers across CME Group markets Why silver, platinum and gold led the downside this week Small caps' impressive resurgence and the Russell 2000's renewed leadership The return to semi-annual Russell Reconstitution and what it means for investors Record-breaking growth in U.S. equity market capitalization Russell 2000 options flow, volatility and unusual put activity How skew dynamics in small-cap options differ from other major indices NVIDIA, Alphabet and the changing hierarchy of America's largest companies The unprecedented attention surrounding the SpaceX IPO and index inclusion debate FTSE Russell's methodology and fast-entry IPO rules explained New E-mini Russell 3000 futures A preview of the upcoming Russell 9000 Global Index What all of these developments could mean for futures and options traders
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TWIFO 500: The 500th Episode Spectacular
Jun 501:04:47Tap to summarizeThis Week in Futures Options reaches an incredible milestone as we celebrate 500 episodes of breaking down the markets that move the world. To mark the occasion, Mark Longo welcomes longtime TWIFO contributor Nick Howard of Bantix and QuickStrike for a special look back at more than a decade of futures options trading. Together they explore the biggest winners and losers since the show's debut, from the explosive rise of technology, precious metals, and equity indexes to the struggles of bonds and currencies. Plus, special congratulatory messages from friends of the show including Carley Garner, Catherine Yoshimoto, Dan Gramza, Derek Sammann, Kevin Green, Mike Tosaw, Rich Excell, Russell Rhoads, Scott Bauer, and Sean Smith. In this special episode: The best and worst performing futures markets of the past decade Silver, gold, equities, energy, and tech sector performance Bonds, rates, and currencies through a historic market cycle QuickStrike updates and futures options technology insights Listener questions and memories from 500 episodes A celebration of the guests and listeners who made TWIFO possible Whether you've been with us since the beginning or are discovering TWIFO for the first time, this milestone episode is a celebration of the futures options markets and the community that has grown around them.
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TWIFO 499: Equities and Nat Gas Soar While Crude Plummets
May 2900:57:50Tap to summarizeDan Gramza joins Mark Longo on TWIFO 499 to break down a wild week across futures options. Equities continue to rally, nat gas lights up the tape, crude oil and Brent tumble, and metals remain stuck in a choppy range. Plus, a look at hot options activity in Russell 2000, natural gas, WTI crude, gold and silver.
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TWIFO 498: Enduring Equities, Sordid Silver and Crude Theta Bombs
May 2200:54:37Tap to summarizeThis episode dives into the futures options landscape with special guest Bobby Iaccino (Path Trading Partners). The crew breaks down the relentless equity rally, small-cap rotation, crude oil "theta bombs," natural gas seasonality gone haywire, and the sharp reversal in silver. Plus: active trades in Russell puts, nat gas calls, crude upside bets, and Bobby's surprise euro short idea.
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