Mark Longo welcomes Dr. Russell Rhoads of Kelley School of Business at Indiana University to break down the futures options activity, volatility shifts and skew changes behind these diverging markets.

On this episode:
• Natural gas plunges as options volume tops 1 million contracts. Are traders taking profits on puts, positioning for a rebound or rolling their downside exposure?
• WTI crude approaches $100, with active trading in December 110 calls and 85 puts as election and geopolitical risks loom.
• Nasdaq futures tumble amid concerns about AI spending, sending traders toward downside protection even as far out-of-the-money calls attract substantial volume.
• Chicago wheat slides, but call premiums remain elevated. What does the options skew reveal about upside risk?
• Russell explores small-cap seasonality and the case for pairing long small-cap exposure with a bearish technology outlook.

Plus, the Movers and Shakers report highlights the biggest gains and losses across CME Group markets.

Crude oil is rallying, gold is fighting to regain its safe-haven status, and equities are feeling the pressure. On this episode, we welcome Scott Bauer of Prosper Trading Academy to break down the clash across futures options markets as inflation concerns, geopolitical risk and the AI selloff shake up trading.

We explore shifting put activity in S&P 500 options, a battered small-cap market and an eye-catching December Russell 2000 call trade. Then we turn to WTI crude oil's push toward $100, elevated energy volatility and unusual options spreads reaching into December 2027.

Plus, can gold sustain its rebound? We examine aggressive upside strikes, Scott's preference for defined-risk spreads and whether traders are returning to gold for protection. We wrap up with corn options, heavy December activity and the prospects for a move toward $5.

Wild Nasdaq swings, headline-driven crude oil moves and a potential seasonal rebound in gold keep futures options traders on their toes. Carley Garner of DeCarley Trading joins Mark Longo to break down the action across CME Group's energy, metals and equity index markets.

On this episode of This Week in Futures Options:
• Gold's changing safe-haven behavior, elevated options premiums and Carley's outlook for a relief rally.
• Silver's pullback and how its volatility compares with gold.
• WTI crude oil's competing forces: sharp headline-driven rallies and a persistent downtrend.
• Unusual activity in December crude oil puts targeting a dramatic decline.
• Natural gas seasonality, weather risk and heavy trading in near-term puts.
• An Equities Spotlight covering E-mini Nasdaq whipsaws, active 0DTE options and a December call spread accumulating throughout the week.