The Futures Rundown

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?

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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.