The Futures Rundown

The futures markets are heating up, and energy is leading the charge. In this episode, host Mark Longo is joined by Jermal Chandler, Head of Options Strategy at tastytrade, to break down a wild "Fed Day" and explain why Crude Oil has become the "current VIX" of the marketplace. From the impact of global conflicts on the Strait of Hormuz to the surprising sell-off in Silver, we dive deep into the movers and shakers of the week. Are sky-high valuations keeping traders awake, or is the "buy the dip" mentality still reigning supreme? Inside this episode: The Trading Pit: Why WTI and Brent are dominating the volume charts. The Fed Factor: Analyzing the latest decision to sit on rates and what it means for the 10-year yield. Movers & Shakers: A look at the massive rallies in Heating Oil and RBOB Gasoline versus the slump in Cocoa and Crypto. Futures Free-for-All: We reveal the results of our listener poll—what is the #1 risk traders are actually worried about? Whether you're trading micros, ETFs, or large-cap futures, this rundown gives you the macro perspective you need to stay ahead of the curve. Contact the Show: Twitter/X: @Options Guest Info: Catch Jermal Chandler daily on the tastytrade network or follow him @JermalChandler.

Energy is the "800-pound gorilla" in the markets this week. As geopolitical tensions escalate in the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz becomes a critical flashpoint, products like crude oil, heating oil, and RBOB are dominating the tape. Is this a permanent shift or a temporary shock? In this episode, host Mark Longo is joined by Brian Pieri, founder of Energy Rogue, to break down the "geopolitical premium" currently baked into energy prices. We dive deep into why energy is truly inescapable for any futures trader and why one specific product—heating oil—is outperforming the rest of the complex by nearly 30% in a single week. In this episode, you'll learn: The Strait of Hormuz Crisis: Why 20-25 million barrels a day are at risk and what "naval escorts" actually mean for supply. Crude Oil Outlook: Brian's case for why WTI and Brent might actually head back to the $60s despite the headlines. The "Heating Oil" Phenomenon: Analyzing the massive spread between gasoline (RBOB) and distillates. The Trading Pit: Winners and losers in Silver, Palladium, and a surprising rally in Bitcoin futures. Resources: Analyze the markets with Brian: EnergyRogue.com Futures Brokerage: tastytrade.com/podcasts Join the Network: TheOptionsInsider.com/Pro

The futures markets are moving fast this week. From a 20% surge in Lithium to the continued "annihilation" of Cocoa bulls, Mark Longo and Dan Gramza break down the top 15 most active contracts and the year-to-date movers you need to watch. In this episode: Crypto Uncertainty: Why Bitcoin and Ether are struggling to find sustainable footing despite recent bounces. Agricultural Deep Dive: Exploring the global supply chains of Coffee (Arabica vs. Robusta) and the unique production systems of Cocoa in West Africa. Energy Outlook: Why Crude Oil is currently an "anticipation market" rather than a supply-demand story. Metals Momentum: Is Silver finally ready to lead Gold, or is it just a byproduct of industrial demand for solar cells? If you're ready to move from listening to trading, head over to tastytrade.com/podcasts to get started with the tastytrade platform.  

The futures markets are living multiple lifetimes in just a few short weeks! Join host Mark Longo from the Options Insider Radio Network and special guest Carley Garner of DeCarley Trading as they navigate the volatile landscape of the early 2026 markets. In this episode, the duo dives deep into the "symmetrical madness" of the week, analyzing why thin markets like Oats and Orange Juice are leading the charge while heavy hitters like Bitcoin and Cocoa face massive pullbacks. Is the Bitcoin double-top signaling a broader correction for the Nasdaq and S&P 500? And is Coffee poised to follow in the footsteps of Cocoa's historic boom-and-bust cycle? Highlights include: The Trading Pit: Breaking down the 16% surge in OJ and the surprising resilience of Oats. Crypto & Equities: Carly discusses the correlation between Bitcoin and the Nasdaq—and why $30,000 might be on the horizon. The Ags & Softs: A deep dive into the 45% year-to-date crash in Cocoa and why "Coffee is the new Cocoa." Energy Update: Why the "textbook" Nat Gas trade actually worked this year. The Active 15: A look at the volume leaders, from the Japanese Yen to the Treasury five-year note. Guest: Carley Garner, DeCarley Trading Host: Mark Longo, The Options Insider Media Group This episode is brought to you by tastytrade. Recently named the #1 Options Trading Platform for 2026 by StockBrokers.com and the Best Overall Options Broker by Investopedia. Go to https://tastytrade.com/podcasts.    

Is the "Gold Rush" of 2025 just the beginning? In this episode of The Futures Rundown, host Mark Longo is joined by Dana Samuelson, Founder and President of the American Gold Exchange, to dissect one of the most unprecedented years in the history of precious metals. From gold shattering all-time highs to silver's "Black Friday" volatility and the rise of the "debasement trade," we dive deep into the forces driving the 2026 commodities market. Whether you're a seasoned futures trader or a physical metal collector, this episode provides the expert insight you need to navigate these "scary" markets. In This Episode, We Explore: The Unprecedented Bull Run: Why Dana Samuelson, a 46-year market veteran, calls the recent action in gold and silver unlike anything seen since 1980. The "Debasement Trade": How global tariffs, the shifting status of the US Dollar, and central bank demand are fundamentally altering gold's value proposition. Silver's Wild Ride: A look at the "Indian Influencer" effect, industrial demand from the EV battery sector (Samsung), and why silver is facing a physical supply squeeze. The Gold-to-Silver Ratio: Analyzing the massive divergence and subsequent "catch-up" trades that rocked the second half of 2025. Bitcoin vs. Gold: Is BTC truly "Digital Gold"? We discuss the bifurcation of investors and where both assets fit in a modern portfolio. The Trading Pit: A breakdown of the week's movers, including Nat Gas reversals, the Yen's resurgence, and the most active contracts on the CME (10-Year Notes, Nasdaq Micros, and more). "We've seen industry going directly to the supply chain source to secure silver for the future... we've never seen anything like this." — Dana Samuelson

The metals markets are reeling after a historic "Metals Apocalypse," and The Futures Rundown is here to pick up the pieces. Host Mark Longo is joined by Jermal Chandler, Head of Options Strategy at tastytrade, to break down the massive volatility crushing Silver and Bitcoin while an unlikely sector—Dairy—dominates the leaderboard. In this episode, we dive into: The Trading Pit: A post-mortem on the Silver route and why the "90 handle" is the new psychological battleground. The Crypto Slide: Bitcoin and ETH are breaking key technical levels—is this a "risk-off" moment or something deeper? The Dairy Palooza: Why Cash-Settled Cheese, Butter, and Non-fat Dry Milk are the surprise winners of 2026. Top 10 Most Active: Rates and Equities continue to lead the tape, with the Micro Nasdaq 100 taking the crown. Futures Free-for-All: We answer listener questions on whether Silver or Bitcoin hits the 100 handle first and how to trade Silver volatility using strangles. Go to https://tastytrade.com/podcasts for more information.

This episode of The Futures Rundown explores the explosive, and frankly "crazy," price action currently dominating the metals complex. Host Mark Longo is joined by Brett Friedman, Managing Partner at Winhall Risk Analytics, to dissect the unprecedented surge in silver, the "tail of two tapes" on Fed Day, and the lurking geopolitical wild cards that could upend the markets in early 2026. Inside This Episode: The Silver "Freight Train" Silver has officially decoupled from reality, outperforming the S&P 500 by eight times in 2025 and starting 2026 with a staggering 61% year-to-date gain. Brett Friedman breaks down why this move is the most intense silver "craziness" he's seen in a career spanning multiple decades. Key Discussion Points: What is Driving Silver? We move beyond the standard supply deficit narrative to look at momentum trading, social media frenzy (Google Trends), and why implied volatility is hitting triple digits. The "Bubble" Checklist: Is silver in a bubble? Brett explains the "constant feeding" requirement and why the metal is currently thriving on global uncertainty. Fed Day Reality Check: A look at the top 10 most active futures products. While metals dominate the headlines, the volume remains concentrated in NASDAQ Micros (MNQ) and 10-Year Notes. Lurking Wild Cards: Why the upcoming Supreme Court decision on tariffs and a potential government shutdown are the "uncertainty triggers" the market is ignoring. Energy Complex Update: Why crude oil is stuck in a sideways band despite tensions in Iran and Ukraine, and the "demand destruction" currently hitting the cocoa and orange juice markets.

Mark Longo breaks down a tumultuous week 3 of 2026 as geopolitical tensions over Greenland drive massive futures volume. The first three weeks of 2026 have been a geopolitical whirlwind. From "snatch and grab" maneuvers in Venezuela to carrier strike fleets moving toward Iran, and now a brewing trade war over Greenland, the futures markets are lighting up with volatility. Mark Longo takes you into the trading pit for a breakdown of what's limit up and what's crashing. Inside the Trading Pit: The Metals Super-Cycle: Silver continues its rampage, up another 7.6% this week after a 25% gain last week. Is it unstoppable? Energy Update: An arctic polar vortex is sending Natural Gas soaring over 21% this week. Meanwhile, Heating Oil jumps 6.25% as the cold snap hits the Midwest. Lithium's Wild Ride: Up nearly 11% this week and a staggering 42.4% year-to-date. Mark explores what's driving this electric move. The Crypto Slide: Bitcoin and Ether futures both outpaced the downside this week, dropping 6% and 9% respectively. Ag & Softs: Cocoa continues to get cheaper for your breakfast table, down nearly 15% this week and 26% for the year. Volume King: The Nasdaq 100 Micro steals the throne with over 2.1 million contracts on the tape. Watch the Year-to-Date Leaders: We analyze the rotation out of large-cap tech and the surprising strength in commodities like Palladium and Platinum. 0:00 – Introduction: 19 Years of the Network! 1:30 – Geopolitical Update: Venezuela, Iran, and Greenland 3:45 – Top 5 Gainers: Silver, Nat Gas, and the "Shiny Stuff" 6:10 – Top 5 Losers: The Crypto Pain & Cocoa's Collapse 9:20 – Volume Report: Nasdaq Micros vs. The 10-Year Note 11:50 – Year-to-Date Movers: Lithium's 42% Rampage 14:00 – Closing Remarks: Join us for This Week in Futures Options Brought to you by tastytrade.com/podcasts

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 Join the Pro Team: TheOptionsInsider.com/Pro #FuturesTrading #SilverShortSqueeze #GoldPrice #Commodities #VIX #MacroInvesting #SilverPrice #EnergyFutures #Tastytrade #FuturesRundown

Happy New Year! We are kicking off 2026 on The Futures Rundown by giving the "Big Adios" to the wild, untamed year that was 2025. Mark Longo and Dan Gramza of Gramza Capital Management reunite to break down the final ledger of a year that was anything but boring in the pits. From the absolute explosion in Silver (+140%) and Platinum to the brutal sell-off in Orange Juice and Rough Rice, we count down the Top 10 movers of the year. We also dive into the recent geopolitical shifts in Venezuela and why the crude oil market isn't reacting the way many expected. In this episode, we explore: The Precious Metals Clean Sweep: Why Silver was the late-bloomer that ended the year up a staggering 140%. The 2025 Leaderboard: Deep dives into the winners like Lithium, Copper, and the surprising strength of the Brazilian Real. The "Big Adios" Losers: Breaking down the 50% drop in OJ and the continued struggles for the Widowmaker (Natural Gas). Energy Outlook 2026: Dan Gramza explains the infrastructure and political hurdles facing Venezuela's oil production and what it means for WTI and Brent prices. The Crypto Futures Flip: Analyzing the volatile year for Bitcoin and Ether futures and why spot vs. futures performance varied so widely. Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Dan Gramza's Daily Videos: DanGramza.com Join the Pro Community: TheOptionsInsider.com/Pro Episode Sponsor: Tastytrade.com/podcasts

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?

Futures markets and commodity trading expert Carley Garner joins Mark Longo on 'The Futures Rundown' for a deep dive into metals, energy, and ag products. In this episode, we tackle risk management during volatile times, analyze year-to-date performance, and explore key market movements, including silver volatility and seasonal trends in coffee futures. Carly offers sage advice, covering everything from liquidity issues to an intriguing dive into the Japanese Yen. We also discuss the contentious topic of binaries and predictions markets, plus debate the essential question: Is cranberry sauce a side or a topping?

In this Thanksgiving Eve episode of the Futures Rundown, host Mark Longo navigates the complexities of the futures markets, breaking down the top futures trading activity for the week. The episode covers a diverse array of futures, including Ethereum, sugar, silver, S&P mid-caps, small caps, and more. The show also delves into the CME's new Solana futures contracts, exploring their specifics and implications for traders. To wrap up, a lively discussion on Thanksgiving side dishes ensues, with a poll questioning whether cranberry sauce is a side dish or merely a topping.

HOST: Mark Longo, The Options Insider In this episode, host Mark Longo delves into the latest trends and activities in the futures markets. The discussion starts with a review of the week's top performers, including Midwest Steel, oats, and heating oil, and highlights the significant gains in lithium and VIX futures. Conversely, it also covers the major downturns, with lumber, cocoa, and Bitcoin experiencing notable declines. The episode features an in-depth look at trading volumes, revealing a busy day in the trading pits with the Ultra T-Bond, NASDAQ 100, and three-month SOFR among the top traded assets. The show also addresses broader market trends, year-to-date performances, and engages with audience questions about the potential impact of binary options on intraday futures volume. 

HOST: Mark Longo, The Options Insider In this episode of the Futures Rundown, host Mark Longo examines the latest activities and trends in the futures market. The episode highlights the top and bottom performers of the week, focusing on commodities like platinum, gold, nat gas, and silver. Mark also discusses the trading volume levels and notable trading products.

HOST: Mark Longo, The Options Insider Media Group GUEST HOST: Dan Gramza, Gramza Capital Management In this episode, Mark Longo and Dan Gramza explore the latest activities in various futures markets, including stocks, currencies, interest rates, metals, and commodities like crude oil, natural gas, soybeans, and more. Key highlights include market movements, technical analysis, and predictions for future trends. Listener questions about crypto sell-offs and specific commodity movements are also addressed.

In this episode, hosted by Mark Longo, listeners are guided through the complexities of the futures markets. The episode discusses top futures trading activities, including the recent impacts of rate cuts by Powell and Company. It highlights significant movements in high-grade copper, hard red winter wheat, soybean meal, heating oil, and more. The show also examines active trades and trends in the market, addressing items like the S&P 500 PE ratio and how geopolitical events influence trading decisions. The episode concludes with a question-answer session tackling listener inquiries and market trends.

HOST: Mark Longo, The Options Insider Media Group GUEST: Kevin Green, Schwab Network In this episode, host Mark Longo and special guest Kevin Green from the Schwab Network analyze the latest trends in the futures markets. They discuss the recent performance of key assets, including crude oil, natural gas, and precious metals like gold and silver. The show also explores the impact of market volatility on trading volumes, with particular attention to the activity in equity futures, treasuries, and the rise of micro contracts. Additionally, the episode features a detailed discussion on the year's top performers and losers in the futures markets.  

Host: Mark Longo, The Options Insider Media Group Guest: Dan Gramza, Gramza Capital Management   This episode dives deep into the current state of gold, discussing its impressive year-to-date performance and its role as a barometer for economic sentiment. Other key topics include the dynamics of feeder cattle, the impact of interest rates on market trends, and the ongoing strength of the US dollar. They also touch on notable fluctuations in exotic markets like orange juice and oat futures. The episode further examines trading volumes, sector-specific movements, and potential future trends in markets, including cryptocurrencies.

In this episode, Mark Longo and guest Morad Askar delve into the complexities of the futures markets. They discuss the recent market activities, including significant movements in NatGas, precious metals, and the stock market's reaction to the government shutdown. The episode also covers year-to-date movers, highlighting key players like gold and crypto, and explores the ongoing debate between gold and VIX as indicators of market sentiment. Additionally, they provide insights into various trading strategies and the benefits of using micros and why certain futures might not be suitable for all investors. 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 03:58 Market Analysis: Government Shutdown and Market Reactions 07:03 Futures Market Movers: Ups and Downs 14:14 Top 10 Contracts and Trading Insights 18:14 NASDAQ's Dominance in Equity Volume 18:33 Year-to-Date Movers: Precious Metals and Crypto 21:18 Downside Movers: A Rough Year for Some Commodities 22:22 Futures Market Insights and Trading Advice 23:29 Crypto Futures and Hedging Strategies 24:56 Debating Market Sentiment: Gold vs. VIX 25:33 Futures Free-for-All: Audience Q&A 32:56 Wrapping Up: Final Thoughts and Contact Info