The Futures Rundown

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Everything you ever wanted to know about the futures markets all in one place. Brought to you by Plus500. Go to https://ctsfutures.com/ to learn more.

  1. The Futures Rundown 65: The Year of Living Dangerously In Gold

    5D AGO

    The Futures Rundown 65: The Year of Living Dangerously In Gold

    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

    44 min

  2. FEB 5

    The Futures Rundown 64: Fallout from the Metals Apocalypse

    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.

    33 min

  3. JAN 29

    The Futures Rundown 63: What the Heck Is Going On In Silver?

    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.

    36 min
  4. The Futures Rundown 62: The Greenland Trade War & Precious Metals Surge | Silver, Nat Gas, Lithium

    JAN 22

    The Futures Rundown 62: The Greenland Trade War & Precious Metals Surge | Silver, Nat Gas, Lithium

    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

    16 min
  5. The Futures Rundown 61: Werewolves Beware! The Silver Rampage Continues

    JAN 15

    The Futures Rundown 61: Werewolves Beware! The Silver Rampage Continues

    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

    42 min

  6. JAN 8

    The Futures Rundown 60: The Big Adios to 2025 – Silver, OJ & Venezuela

    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

    1h 3m
  7. The Futures Rundown 59: Partying With Cheese and Lithium... Plus Silver, ETH and Crude Oil

    12/18/2025

    The Futures Rundown 59: Partying With Cheese and Lithium... Plus Silver, ETH and Crude Oil

    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?

    38 min
  8. The Futures Rundown 58: Are These Markets Broken?

    12/04/2025

    The Futures Rundown 58: Are These Markets Broken?

    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?

    33 min
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Everything you ever wanted to know about the futures markets all in one place. Brought to you by Plus500. Go to https://ctsfutures.com/ to learn more.

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