Volatility Views 675: Did the Ceasefire Kill Volatility?

On this episode, Mark Longo, Russell Rhoads (the "Dr. VIX"), and Andrew Giovinazzi of Option Pit dive into a wild week in the vol markets. After a massive relief rally triggered by ceasefire headlines, the crew explores whether the "guns going silent" has permanently dampened the VIX or if we're just in a "hurry up and wait" market. In this episode, we cover: The Ceasefire Surge: How the S&P 500 roared back past 6,800 and what it meant for VIX cash and Volley. Volatility Review: A breakdown of the 10-point VIX drop in two weeks and the "spicy" CPI numbers hitting the tape. The Weekly Rundown: Russell breaks down a "Hall of Fame" trade—turning 9 cents into $1.60—and the rise of deep-in-the-money put spreads. Futures & Curves: Is the return of contango an opportunity or a trap? Plus, a look at the October "Midterm Vol" and the front-month April futures. The Crystal Ball: The team places their bets on where the VIX will land next week. Will we see a sub-20 handle or a weekend reversal? Check out more from the Options Insider Radio Network: * Pro Q&As and Exclusives: TheOptionsInsider.com/Pro Trading Tools: Tastytrade.com/podcasts

The "warm turns" mid-week as the post-Iran conflict pattern continues to haunt the markets. In this episode, Mark Longo, Mark Sebastian, and Dr. Russell Rhoads break down why the VIX is finally showing its teeth and whether the 30 handle is the new normal. Inside this episode: The Volatility Review: A deep dive into the "Weekend Trade" dynamics, the spike in VVIX, and why the "bus drivers" of this market—Oil and Bonds—are screaming for attention. The Looming Specters: Analysis of the OECD's revised inflation forecasts and why the "R-word" (Recession) is starting to echo across Europe and the US. VIX Options Insight: Are the 15 puts dead? We look at the massive flow into April 20 and 19 puts, and the debut of some "psychologically relevant" strikes. Russell's Weekly Rundown: Dr. VIX explores the "most important election of our lifetime" trade and highlights a rare appearance of the April 39 calls. ETP Check-in: The shifting liquidity from UVXY to UVIX and how to manage the "ulcer index" in a backwardation environment. Download the Options Insider Mobile App today on iTunes and Google Play to stay ahead of the curve. Go to https//:tastytrade.com/podcasts to learn about tastytrade.

In this episode of Volatility Views, the crew breaks down a week of intense market swings driven by escalating Middle East conflict and a stunning shift in the Fed's long-term rate outlook. We also pay tribute to the legendary Chuck Norris (1940–2026) and discuss why his passing—and the spirit of Lone Wolf McQuade—is the perfect metaphor for today's "fighting" markets. Key Topics Covered: The 2027 Pivot: Why the market is suddenly pricing in a "higher for much longer" regime, with the next potential rate move shifting toward late 2027. Geopolitical Volatility: How the Iran-Israel conflict and threats to oil supply chains are keeping the VIX term structure in a state of nervous backwardation. The Gretchen Bullseye: Russell Rhoads' model nails the VIX Cash settlement at 26.26. We look at the next prediction for the week ahead. The UVIX "Open-to-Open" Edge: A deep dive into Russell's new back-tested strategy for trading volatility ETPs over the weekend. VIX Option Flow: Analyzing the massive April 80 call interest and why the "May 47.5" trade just rolled to August. Featured Guests: Mark Longo (The Options Insider) Andrew Giovinazzi (Option Pit) Russell Rhoads (VIX Expert & Author) Links: Get more at TheOptionsInsider.com/Pro

It's a spooky Friday the 13th on the Options Insider Radio Network! This week, the panel gathers to dissect a market that is being haunted by more than just superstitions. From explosive moves in energy to a bond market that is sending shockwaves through the 60/40 portfolio, the "murderers' row" of vol experts covers it all. On the Docket: The Energy "Memification": Mark Sebastian breaks down the "algo madness" in Crude Oil and why the move to $120 was a mechanical outlier. The Bond Market Cracks: Dr. Russell Rhoads and Jim Carroll discuss why "9 Vol" in the 10-year Treasury is the equivalent of a 40 VIX and what it means for interest rate expectations. VIX as a Passenger: Why the VIX is "yawning" at 27 despite the red across the screens. The Weekly Rundown: Dr. Rhoads reviews a litany of "crappy trades" and highlights a massive 20,000-lot mystery trade in the VIX weeklies. Crystal Ball: Will next week bring a "Jalapeño" spike or a "Vanilla" retreat? The team places their bets on the next VIX settlement. Featuring: Host: Mark Longo, The Options Insider The Greasy Meatball: Mark Sebastian, Option Pit The Professor Dr. VIX: Dr. Russell Rhoads, IU Adjunct Professor The Vixologist: Jim Carroll, Ballast Rock Private Wealth

The VIX is screaming higher, hitting a 27 handle as the "Danger Zone" officially reopens. On this episode of Volatility Views, Mark Longo is joined by Russell Rhoads, Andrew Giovinazzi, and Matt Amberson to break down a chaotic week fueled by active conflict in the Middle East and a "charitably termed" terrible non-farm payrolls number. Plus, the legend himself, Kenny Loggins, returns to the program as volatility looks skyward. On this episode, the panel dives into: The Volatility Review: Analyzing the 6-point spike in VIX Cash and the massive 15-point jump in the VVIX. The Oracle of New Hampshire: Matt Amberson (ORATS) explains why things are spicy enough for him to start buying straight puts. Russell Rhoads' Weekly Rundown: A deep dive into VIX option flow, including the massive interest in the March 20 puts and the July 60 calls. The Return of the Loggins: Kenny Loggins joins the show as the market flirts with "panic" territory and the backwardation deepens. Stagflation Worries: Andrew Giovinazzi and the team discuss why $90 oil and bad employment data are a nightmare for the Fed. Crystal Ball: The team makes their bold (and high) VIX prognostications for next week.

Tech wreckage is cutting the knees off the market, and the volatility panel is seeing red. This week, Mark Longo, Mark Sebastian, and Russell Rhoads dive into why the VIX is firming up despite the market sitting near all-time highs. Topics Breakdown: The Inflation Ghost: Why hotter inflation data is spooking the vol curve and keeping VIX above 20. The March 35 Calls: Why is this strike dominating the tape every single day? UVIX Management: A deep dive into "The Riddle of UVIX." We workshop how to use covered calls to offset decay without capping your "catastrophe hedge" upside. Election Vol: The November VIX cycle has entered the chat. Is it too early to hedge the midterms? Institutional Skullduggery: Discussing the Jane Street/Bitcoin lawsuit and the "Goldman Sachs fist punch" in financials. Visit https:// tastytrade.com/podcasts to see their latest offers.

Is the market teetering on the edge of a "seminal collapse"? On this episode of Volatility Views, Mark Longo, Mark Sebastian (the "Meatball"), and Russell Rhoads (Dr. VIX) break down a chaotic week in the vol markets. From the aftermath of a legendary "V-Death Match" on the Pro network to the Supreme Court's ruling on tariffs, the team explores why the VIX is hovering near 20 despite indices sitting near all-time highs. Inside This Episode: The Volatility Review: A deep dive into the "weird" market reaction following the Supreme Court tariff ruling, spicy PCE data, and the decoupling of the Mag Seven from the rest of the market. The Private Credit Fiasco: Mark Sebastian sounds the alarm on cross-asset margining, Bitcoin's "teetering" state, and the potential for a Michael Saylor "apology tour." The VIX Mothership: Analysis of the massive call buying in March, April, and even May 70/80 strikes. Is someone hedging for a black swan? Russell's Weekly Rundown: Breaking down the "best option trade ever seen" using July 100 calls to finance downside protection. The Weekend Trade: With carrier groups moving in the Gulf and geopolitical tensions rising, is it time to load up on UVIX?

The "Buy the Dip" mentality was put to the test this week. Host Mark Longo is joined by Dr. Russell Rhoads (the "Once, Future, and Present Dr. VIX") and Andrew Giovinazzi (The Rock Lobster) to break down a wild week that saw the VIX touch the 22 handle before a massive intraday reversal. In this episode, the crew dives into: The Volatility Review: Analyzing the impact of the rare midweek non-farm payrolls and the latest CPI data on market sentiment. AI Narrative Shift: Is the "AI is good for everything" bubble finally bursting? A look at multiple compression in the Mag Seven and the "Grizzly Adams" view of the market. Russell's Weekly Rundown: Dr. Russell Rhoads breaks down the "clown show" trades in the weeklies, the impact of the VIX bid-ask spread on morning spikes, and why the current correlation data suggests 2026 is behaving like a different beast. Crystal Ball: The team places their bets on where the VIX will settle next week as we head into a holiday-shortened trading session. Plus: A massive announcement regarding Vol Death Match 2.0: The Flow Master vs. Scott Nations. Find out how you can submit topics and judge the victor at TheOptionsInsider.com/pro . Check out Tastytrade: https://www.tastytrade.com/podcasts

The market witnessed a wild week of price action, shifting from a tech-led "bloodletting" to a massive Friday reversal. In this episode, Mark Longo, Russell Rhoads (Dr. VIX), and Mark Sebastian (The Greasy Meatball) break down the carnage in the Mag Seven, the "memification" of Bitcoin assets like MSTR, and why the VIX is struggling to hold onto its gains despite the chaos. Inside This Episode: Volatility Review: A deep dive into the mid-week route and the "mother of all reversals." Why the Dow and equal-weight S&P (RSP) hit all-time highs while big tech bled. The "Memification" of Everything: Mark Sebastian explains why Bitcoin and MicroStrategy (MSTR) are following the GameStop blueprint. VIX Term Structure: Analyzing the "hunched" curve and why front-month futures remain subdued. Russell's Weekly Rundown: A look at "unusual" weekly trades, including a massive $5 call buy on the 15 strike. The New 0DTE Frontier: First impressions of the new Tuesday/Thursday expirations for single-name equities like Tesla and Nvidia. Crystal Ball: The crew places their bets on where the VIX cash will land by next Friday's close. Contact/Links: Check out tastytrade.com/podcasts

A historic rout in the precious metals markets steals the spotlight this week on Volatility Views. From silver's massive 25% intraday drop to the naming of a new (and hawkish) Fed Chair nominee, the panel breaks down why the "Metals Apocalypse" might be a canary in the coal mine for the broader equity markets. Join Mark Longo, Dr. Russell Rhoads, and Mark Sebastian as they navigate a high-velocity week of volatility, earnings, and unusual institutional positioning in the VIX. Episode Highlights The Silver Slump The "Meme-ification" of silver reached a breaking point this week. After months of triple-digit volatility levels, silver prices cratered 25% in a single session. The panel discusses whether this 46-year historic event suggests a broader 20% retracement for the S&P 500 is on the horizon. Fed Chair Shakeup The market reacted negatively to the news of Kevin Warsh potentially taking the helm at the Fed. While he has campaigned for lower rates, his history as an inflation hawk has traders worried about a return to a strict "dual mandate" focus that might not be as market-friendly as the Powell era. Unusual VIX Activity Despite the market sell-off, we aren't seeing "panic" buying in near-term VIX options. Instead, institutional paper is flowing into March and April, including a massive 80,000-contract diagonal spread involving June 47.5 calls. Is it a hedge, or just a sophisticated carry trade? Notable Quotes "When gold and silver catch a cold, the miners catch every single disease you could possibly catch from the Oregon Trail. They're getting dysentery, typhoid, and malaria all at once." — Mark Sebastian "If you blink, you miss a move up in VIX futures. That's the only opportunity to make money being long them, and it leads to massive upside fatigue." — Dr. Russell Rhoads Resources Mentioned Brokerage: https://Tastytrade.com/podcasts Social Media: Follow the crew on X: @Options, @OptionPit , @Rhoads_Russell .