This Week in Futures Options

Today's CME hotseat guest is Matt Bradbard, Director of Alternative Investments, RCM Topics this week include: Where is the vol? New Zealand Dollar (our surprise product of the week) Crude Oil Corn Futures Options Feedback: Polls, questions, comments and more! TWIFO Flash Poll: Which Options product had largest % change in open interest over the past week? 50% - Soybeans 25% - Emini Nasdaq 100 8% - Copper 17% - Live Cattle Questions and Comments: Comment from LilChech - My vote for crazy CME product is oats. Who trades oats? Question from Eve4 - You talked gold collars a few eps back. Silver has been selling off. Is this a good time for a silver collar? Question from Antim - How far out can I go in most CME options? Can I go out as far as a LEAP? Question from BulzEye7 - Are options worth it for day-traders? Or just for swing-traders? Comments on Bitcoin - What could go wrong? Re: CFTC approves options trading in Bitcoin. Can you short BTC?

Today's special guest is Tim McCourt, Global Head of Equity Products at CME Group. Topics this week include: Russell Index Ags Soybeans Corn Futures Options Feedback Flash Poll There is some volatility rocking in the ags this week. Which product would you say is on your radar, or perhaps in your portfolio? Soybeans Corn Wheat Other Listener questions and comments: Question from Nicker - Which major index is the most volatile? Question from Eve4 - You talked gold collars a few episodes back, silver though has been selling off. Is this a good time for a silver collar? Question from Andrew - Can you short Bitcoin BTC?

Topics this week include: Crude Gold Reuters takes a page from TWIFO Silver Being jaunty Futures Options Feedback: Listeners take over Options question of the week. Let's get back to basics. #Options are great way to get long (bullish) exposure to stocks & futures. What's your fav way to go long? Long Call/Call Spread Short Put/Put Spread Stock(Future) Replacement Bullish Risk Reversal ANOTHER Options question of the week: Everyone is talking about #Bitcoin #Volatility these days. Where do you stand on #Bitcoin after last weeks aggressive downturn? 19% - Too Volatile - I'm out 09% - I'm still bullish 41% - I want #Bitcoin #Options 31% - I'm sick of #Bitcoin Listener questions and comments: Question from Ely - Are collars generally easier to put on in futures options due to the different skew than equity options? Comment from JBiggs - I think lumber is probably the craziest. Who actually trades that stuff outside of hurricane season? Question from KBX32 - What is the cheapest way to hedge my portfolio with futures options?

Topics this week include: Crude/WTI Gold Corn Futures Options Feedback: Listeners take over the show Options Question of the week: Let's get back to basics. #Options are great way to get long (bullish) exposure to stocks & futures. What is your favorite way to go long? Long Call/Call Spread Short Put/Put Spread Stock(Future) Replacement Bullish Risk Reversal Listener questions and comments: Question from Andre - USO, WTI or XLE? Which is the best way to play a bullish rise in oil? Maybe with a straight call vertical 2-3 months out? Comment from Morgan - How many bitcoins does it take to buy 1000 tulips? Question from LJC6V - Is gold looking good for a collar here? Maybe 2-3 months out? Question from Fundconcept - Do you think the rise of activist shareholders pressuring oil giants to mitigate climate change can make an impact? Question from Engin9 - What are the most unique options in the CME product suite?

Topics this week include: Corn Crude Oil/WTI Flash Poll: Crude Oil is taking a beating. Is the selloff overdone or is it a sign of things to come. Where do you think WTI will be at the end of 2017? Around here (40-45) Much lower (lower than 38) A little higher (50-55) Much higher (above 55) Futures Options Feedback: Listener questions and comments Question from Ian Wagner: Hey TWIFO. I'm confused about gold options. Is there an options contract that tracks the future that is liquid? Question from Ron Switzerland: What do you think about vol before the next USDA reports in corn? Question from Mr. Bugato: What's paying the rent this week? QOTW: Everyone is talking about #Bitcoin #Volatility these days. Where do you stand on #Bitcoin after last weeks aggressive downturn? Too volatile, I am out I am still bullish I want #Bitcoin #Options I am sick of #Bitcoin

Topics this week include: E-Minis Rates - Question from Allan German - What happened in rates options this week with the Fed? Crude Futures Options Feedback: Polls, questions, answers, and more! With $VIX giving up the ghost - which products are you hoping will provide new sources of #Volatility for your #options trading? 33% - Crude Oil (WTI, etc.) 20% - Metals ($GLD, $SLV, etc.) 20% - FX (GBP/USD, etc.) 27% - Indv. Equities-$TSLA, etc. Listener questions: Question from Meravol - Interesting piece in current Modern Trader about selling breakeven strangles. Have you seen? What are your thoughts of this technique? Is it me or are there new techniques for selling strangles all the time that always tend to blow out? Are you not better off selling IC or IB due to limited risk? http://www.futuresmag.com/2016/08/23/strangles-breakeven-pricing Question from Tim Vickers - Do you put out a Quickskew report or anything like that? Comment from LennyK - Dude Bitcoin. How nice it would have been to have a put this week.

This week's CME Hotseat guest is Sarah Linane, E*Trade Senior Futures Specialist This week, the panel discusses: From Stocktwits The 3 BEST performing assets this year: Lean hogs $HE_F +23% Palladium $PA_F +22% Nasdaq-100 $QQQ +20% The 3 WORST performing assets this year: Orange juice $OJ_F -32% Sugar $SB_F -29% The $VIX -21% Other hot topics: Crude Weekly expiration options Gold Futures Options Feedback: What do you want to know? With $VIX giving up the ghost - which products are you hoping will provide new sources of #Volatility for your #options trading? Crude Oil (WTI, etc) Metals ($GLD, $SLV, etc) FX (GBP/USD, etc) Indv. Equities-$TSLA, etc. Listener questions and comments: Comment from Production One‏ - That was a blast! Thx Nick and Mark for the bitcoin blockchain and bacon love! Try the MVP Burger at the Rio sports book in Vegas! Question from John Morgan - Are futures options priced the same as regular options from a commission standpoint? Is it the same ticket charge plus price per contract or are they priced differently? Also what about your fav question - can I close out shorts below $.10 for free? Comment from LLVIZ - My kingdom for some bitcoin puts right about now and includes link to this article Bitcoin Drives to a New High, but Is It Headed for a Crash?

Topics this week include: Silver Platinum Crude Futures Options Feedback: What do you want us to talk about? Comment from Production One‏ @MarkClydeBrant: Bellies! Comment from f ili p @FContangotrader: What about bitcoin,no love? Comment from Elmman: Can you talk more FX? GBP/USD and EUR/USD. Question from Lezen: Which product has the hottest weekly options? Question from LJack: Heard you mention CME direct? Is it a broker?

Topics this week include: Crude/WTI and gold. Futures Options Feedback: Listener questions and comments Question from Olivetrader1: During the last show you mentioned defending a straddle. That means buying futures as soon as we are trading under the put and selling futures as soon as they are trading above the call, or is there more room for execution. Comment from FContangotrader: I cannot wait to start trading options on corn and Bitcoin. Question from Bobter: Can you trade options outside of U.S. trading hours? Question from LV56: I am mostly trading futures intra-day to scalp a few ticks - primarily S&P, crude and gold. I am interested in options but I do not see how to apply them to my trading style. Is there a way to use options for very short term intra-day tick scalping?

Today, Mark and Nick are joined by Matt Bradbard, Director of Alternative Investments, RCM Alternatives. Topics this week include: Crude Oil Gold Futures Options Feeback: Listener questions and comments Question from Andy Sullivan - You guys buying this rally in WTI, or are the options telling a different story? Question from Jingles6 - Dudes! You're missing out on the hot new commodity trend, Cryptos rule everything around us! A $10,000 investment in Gold in July 2010, is now worth $9,981. A $10,000 investment in BitCoin is now worth $201,553!