Is the "Zero Day" infection spreading across the pond? In this episode, we dive deep into the heart of the Eurozone to see how record levels in the DAX and the explosion of 0DTE options are reshaping the landscape for retail and institutional traders alike.

Host Mark Longo is joined by a powerhouse panel to break down the macroeconomic shifts, sector rotations, and the structural innovations making European derivatives more accessible than ever.

• The 0DTE Contagion: Lex Luthringshausen (Tradier) explains why European traders are beaming into US markets to sling intraday iron condors and how that behavior is translating to cash-settled European indices.

• DAX to the Max: Eugen Mohr (Eurex) breaks down the "Conservative Shift" in German politics under the new Chancellor and how government spending in the defense and industrial sectors is driving the DAX 40 to record heights.

• The Economic Cycle: Dr. VSTOXX himself, Russell Rhoads, analyzes why the DAX might offer more "juice" than the S&P 500 in 2026 and why the "Potholes" in the US economy might make European exposure a smoother ride.

• German Engineering vs. Italian Style: A heated debate on the automotive sector—from BMW and Mercedes to the "Poster Car" aesthetics of Italian design.

• Micro-Sizing the Market: Why notional size matters and how the Micro-DAX (at just 1 Euro per point) is becoming the ultimate tool for retail risk management.

• The Red Phone: The panel tackles listener questions on Eurex 0DTE liquidity, "Weekend Risk" trades using V-Stocks, and Tradier's unique "All You Can Trade" subscription model.

• Mark Longo: Founder, The Options Insider Media Group

• Dr. Russell Rhoads: Clinical Professor at the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University

• Eugen Mohr: Product & Business Development Specialist at Eurex

• Lex Luthringshausen: SVP of Business Development at Tradier

• The Leap Trading Competition: Join over 50,000 traders in the Eurex/TradingView paper trading challenge. Visit eurex.com/competition .

• Learn More About Eurex: eurex.com

Is it time to diversify beyond the U.S. and take the "Leap" into European markets? 📍 In this episode, host Mark Longo is joined by Russell Rhoads (IU Kelley School of Business), Cornelius Trenz (EUREX), and Helena Jarabakova (TradingView) to explore how retail and professional traders can access the high-liquidity European derivatives landscape. We dive deep into "The Leap"—a massive new paper trading competition with over $20,000 in prizes designed to help you master EUREX products without risk.

Continental Conversations:

• TradingView 101: How Helena Jarabakova and the TradingView team are democratizing access to European data for just $2/month.

• The "Mid-Morning" Edge: Why the European market close (around 11:30 AM ET) offers a second daily window for volatility and swing trading.

• VDAX vs. VIX: Analyzing the "Greenland Dust-up" and how European volatility is currently correlating with the U.S.

• Hidden Gems: Cornelius Trenz highlights why Euro STOXX Banks and STOXX Europe 600 futures are the preferred tools for institutional-grade diversification.

• Correlation Breakdown: Russell Rhoads explains why the decoupling of DAX and S&P 500 correlation is a green light for portfolio diversification.

Timestamps:

• 0:00 – Introduction to European Volatility

• 5:20 – TradingView: Charting and Education for 100M+ Users

• 12:45 – Deep Dive: "The Leap" Paper Trading Competition

• 22:15 – The "Mid-Morning" Opportunity for U.S. Traders

• 31:40 – VDAX, VIX, and the Impact of Global Tariffs

• 45:10 – Mail Call: European Financials & Sector Rotation

Brought to you by EUREX. Take the Leap today at EUREX.com/competition

The trading day doesn't start when the opening bell rings. In this inaugural episode of 2026, Mark Longo is joined by a powerhouse panel to dissect a wild 2025 and forecast the trends shaping the European derivatives landscape in the year ahead.

• 2025 Retrospective: Why European financials and defense sectors outperformed the US mega-cap tech narrative.

• The Defense Boom: A look at the unprecedented returns in European defense indices (some up nearly 100%) and whether the momentum can survive potential geopolitical shifts.

• Banking on Europe: Why the STOXX Europe 600 Banks index returned a staggering 76% in 2025 and how the diversification of European mega-caps offers a unique play compared to US financials.

• Volatility Outlook: Russell Rhoads breaks down the VIX vs. VSTOXX and explains why the US remains the primary source of global "anticipatory" volatility.

• New Product Alert: Sophie Granchi (Eurex) discusses the shift toward Industry Futures and the demand for thematic trading in a de-globalizing world.

The panel answers your burning questions on:

1. Relative Value Trades: How to play the narrow calendar spreads in VSTOXX vs. the wider spreads in VIX.

2. Institutional Rotation: Is the heavy volume in European Bank futures a "higher for longer" play or a flight from US markets?

3. The Divergence Myth: Is the gap between the S&P 500 and STOXX cyclical or a permanent shift in global equity performance?

• Mark Longo: Founder & CEO, The Options Insider Media Group

• Russell Rhoads: Kelly School of Business, Indiana University (a.k.a. Dr. VSTOXX)

• Sophie Granchi Head of Equity & Index Sales (EMEA), Eurex

• Arun Singhal: Global Head of Index Product Management, STOXX