The Futures Rundown

The energy complex is on fire, and Mark Longo is back in the "Trading Pit" to break down a week of explosive moves and head-scratching correlations. While geopolitical tensions in the Middle East keep oil bulls on their toes, an unlikely rally in equities is defying traditional logic. From "triple-digit" volatility in crude to the surprisingly cheap breakfast table, we're dissecting the biggest movers in the futures world.
In this episode, we cover:
The Energy Surge: Why WTI, Brent, RBOB, and Heating Oil are dominating the leaderboard with gains up to 7.5% this week.

The "Breakfast Table" Trade: A deep dive into the downside, featuring the massive sell-offs in Orange Juice, Butter, Cocoa, and Oats.

Active Contract Breakdown: Why the Nasdaq Micro and 10-Year Notes are still the kings of volume, and why we're seeing a resurgence in the Ag complex (Corn and Soybeans).

Year-to-Date Movers: An analysis of the 2026 leaders, including the 71% surge in Non-fat Dry Milk and the ongoing "bloodletting" in the Cocoa markets (down 44%).

Market Riddles: How are equities hitting all-time highs while crude oil rallies nearly 65% on the year?

Whether you're curious about RBOB specs or trying to avoid getting a truckload of soybeans dumped on your lawn, this "Just the Facts" edition has you covered.
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On this episode of The Futures Rundown, Mark Longo breaks down a fascinating week where equities are hitting all-time highs and the VIX is facing a serious "bloodletting." We dive into the "Dark Side" to see what's crashing (looking at you, OJ and NatGas) and flip the script to find out why Silver and Cocoa are finally finding some love.
In this episode, we explore:
The Trading Pit: Why a 200k contract day feels like "watching paint dry" and what's leading the volume (hint: it's the Micros).

Energy & Metals: Crude oil's threat to par, the Brent/WTI spread, and the "classy" move in Aluminium.

Crypto Corner: Ether and Bitcoin's year-to-date struggle vs. this week's "inhale."

The Leaderboard: Why Heating Oil is the king of the mountain (+75%) while Cocoa remains the year's biggest loser despite a weekly bounce.

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Is crude oil the new meme stock, or are we just witnessing a classic supply shock? In this episode of The Futures Rundown, Mark Longo is joined by Brett Friedman, Managing Partner at Winhall Risk Analytics, to dissect a wild week in the pits.
As geopolitical tensions shift from Venezuela to Iran, the energy complex has reclaimed center stage. We break down why WTI and Brent are seeing "triple-digit" volatility levels—territory usually reserved for Natural Gas—and whether the current market madness truly is "unprecedented" or if history has a lesson for today's traders.
In this episode, we explore:
The Energy Surge: Why WTI and Brent are dominating the tape and what the extreme backwardation in the futures curve is telling us about the next three months.

The Gold & Silver Flip: Why the "debasement trade" lost its luster just as conflict flared, and whether gold is still a "flight to quality" or just another risk asset.

Volatility Reality Check: Brett compares today's markets to Gulf War I, Gulf War II, and the 2020 "negative crude" era.

The Trading Pit: A countdown of the week's biggest gainers and losers, from Heating Oil's massive rally to the ongoing "bloodletting" in the Crypto complex.

Equities & Correlation: How the S&P is reacting to headlines out of Washington and what rising correlation indexes mean for your strategy.

The global energy landscape is shifting, and WTI isn't the only story in town. In this episode of The Futures Rundown, host Mark Longo breaks down the massive divergence in the energy complex as the Brent-to-WTI spread hits its widest level in over 11 years.
With Middle East tensions impacting the Strait of Hormuz, we move beyond the headlines to analyze the contract specs, volume trends, and risk profiles that every futures trader needs to understand in 2026.
Inside the Trading Pit:
Energy Dominance: Why Brent Crude and Heating Oil are leading the year-to-date leaderboard (up 68% and 85%, respectively).

The "Shiny Stuff" Slump: Analyzing the surprising 6-7% weekly sell-off in Gold, Silver, and Palladium.

Equity Rotation: Small caps (Russell 2000) finally turn green for the year—is the move out of large-cap tech permanent?

Contract Specs 101: A deep dive into ICE Brent Crude—contract sizes, tick values ($10 vs. $5), and the reality of cash settlement vs. physical delivery.

Futures Free-for-All: We tackle your questions on Crypto futures (BTC/ETH pullbacks) and the big debate: Will the Fed actually cut rates in 2026?
Resources & Links:
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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.