Episodes

  • The European Market Brief 11: Secrets and Mysteries of the Mini-DAX

    The European Market Brief 11: Secrets and Mysteries of the Mini-DAX
    Oct 15 2025
    • Host: Mark Longo, The Options Insider Media Group
    • Panelist: Eugen Mohr, Eurex
    • Panelist: David Russell, TradeStation
    • Panelist: Russell Rhoads, Indiana University Kelley School of Business
    In this episode, the panel discuss the intricate details of the DAX complex, exploring its evolution from the original contract to the introduction of mini and micro futures. They highlight the significance of different contract sizes and how they cater to varying investor needs, especially retail investors. They also discuss liquidity, market strategies, and future trends. And, the impact of zero DTE options on the European market is also examined, along with a focus on VSTOXX and their role during market volatility. Listeners get a comprehensive overview of trading opportunities, market behavior, and strategic insights to navigate the European derivatives landscape effectively.
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    59 mins
  • The European Market Brief 10: The Quest for European Data: VSTOXX, HFT, and the Taxicab Confessional

    The European Market Brief 10: The Quest for European Data: VSTOXX, HFT, and the Taxicab Confessional
    Oct 1 2025

    Host: Mark Longo, Owner and CEO of The Options Insider Media Group

    Featured Guests:

    • Russell Rhoads, Associate Clinical Professor at Indiana Kelley School of Business

    • Matt Amberson, Principal and Founder of ORATS (Options Research and Technology Services)

    • Daniel Murillo, Associate Vice President and US Sales Manager for Market Data and Services at Deutsche Börse (Eurex)

    For traders looking across the pond, data access is the key to unlocking opportunities. In this episode, our panel tackles the challenges of finding, analyzing, and utilizing quality European derivatives market data.

    On the Agenda:

    • Data Deep Dive: Where can retail and professional traders find reliable, cost-effective data for Eurex products like EURO STOXX 50, DAX, and VSTOXX? Guests highlight essential free and paid resources.

    • Backtesting the Continent: ORATS's Matt Amberson details how the unique, often sideways movement of European stocks offers different—and sometimes better—backtesting results for strategies like covered calls compared to the U.S. market's long bull run.

    • The Race for Speed: Daniel Murillo of Eurex shares an insider look at the exchange's data services, including T+1 flows and new picosecond-level timestamping for High-Frequency Traders.

    • VIX vs. VSTOXX: Russell Rhoads analyzes the difference in the futures term structure between VIX and VSTOXX, revealing why the European volatility index offers unique trading dynamics, especially as the U.S. trading day slows down.
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • The European Market Brief 9: Continental Dividends: Navigating the European Market

    The European Market Brief 9: Continental Dividends: Navigating the European Market
    Sep 18 2025

    This episode delves into the world of European dividends and the specialized futures and options markets used to trade them. Host Mark Longo is joined by Dr. Russell Rhoads (Indiana University), Lorena Dishnica (Head of Dividend Products, Eurex), and Sahand Taghizadeh (Head of Investable Stocks Benchmarks, STOXX).

    • Key Differences: Unlike the U.S. with its quarterly payments and buyback culture, Europe favors annual dividends, with a "dividend season" in spring/summer.

    • Dividend Futures: Eurex pioneered a listed market for dividend derivatives in 2008. These products allow traders to isolate and hedge dividend risk, which is a key need for banks that issue structured products.

    • Analyzing the Market: The most liquid contracts are the annual Decembers. They can be used to gauge the market's fundamental outlook, as their prices are sensitive to corporate cash flow forecasts and macroeconomic events.

    • The Curve: The European dividend futures curve often shows a downward slope, known as backwardation, reflecting the heavy hedging activity.

    • Listener Question: A listener asks about smaller contract sizes. While dividend futures are not yet micro-sized, the options on them offer a way for traders to manage their capital commitment.
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    52 mins
  • The European Market Brief 8: Europe vs. U.S Battle Royale - Tech, Defense, & More

    The European Market Brief 8: Europe vs. U.S Battle Royale - Tech, Defense, & More
    Aug 20 2025

    Welcome to the European Market Brief, Episode 8! In this episode, we dive into a transatlantic financial showdown, comparing the European and U.S. markets. Join Mark Longo and special guests Russell Rhoads, Christoph Schon, and Zubin Ramdarshan as they explore everything from market concentration and volatility to the surprising resurgence of the European defense sector.

    Key Discussion Points & Timestamps

    [00:03:52] - Introducing the Panelists

    • Host Mark Longo, CEO and founder of The Options Insider Radio Network

    • Russell Rhoads, also known as "Dr. VSTOXX," from Kelley School of Business - Indiana University

    • Christoph Schon, Lead Principal at SimCorp

    • Zubin Ramdarshan, Global Co-Head of Derivatives Products and Markets at Deutsche Börse

    [00:10:07] - The US vs. European Market Structure

    [00:13:30] - Sector Trading in Europe

    [00:16:30] - The Small-Cap vs. Large-Cap Debate

    [00:18:48] - Recent Market Performance

    [00:23:38] - The Impact of US Headlines on Europe

    [00:27:10] - The European "Tech" Sector Analogs

    [00:29:40] - The Role of Earnings Season in Europe

    [00:32:04] - The Rise of the European Defense Sector

    [00:36:54] - Final Takeaways

    [00:41:26] - The Red Phone: Listener Q&A Regarding the Spread between VIX and VSTOXX & Zero-Day Options in Europe

    Where to Find Our Guests

    • Christoph Schon: Learn more about his research and insights at https://simcorp.com/resources/insights.

    • Zubin Ramdarshan: Connect with Zubin on LinkedIn (Zubin Ramdarshan) or explore product details at Eurex.com.

    • Russell Rhoads: Follow Russell's research and commentary on Twitter: @RussellRhoads.
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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • The European Market Brief 7: Exploring the Mysterious World of Futures

    The European Market Brief 7: Exploring the Mysterious World of Futures
    Aug 13 2025
    In this episode, the discussion centers around the basics of futures trading, including contract sizes, expiration, and margin requirements. Guests Russell Rhoads (Kelley School of Business, Indiana University), Rich Excel (Gies College of Business, University of Illinois) and Sascha Semroch (Eurex) join the talk, providing insights into how futures compare to stocks, the concept of contango and backwardation, and the nuances of trading VIX versus VSTOXX. The episode also addresses listener questions, covering topics such as the FX market in Europe, potential volatility catalysts in the EU, and strategies for trading VSTOXX. 01:22 Welcome to the European Market Brief 03:38 Meet the Experts: Russell Rhoads, Rich Excel & Sascha Semroch 06:13 Continental Conversations: Diving into Futures 06:54 Futures 101: Basics and Nuances 18:10 Understanding Futures Pricing and Expiration 21:30 Margin Rates and Capital Efficiency in Futures 26:32 Options on Futures: A Deeper Dive 28:38 Analyzing Volatility Futures in US and Europe 29:09 The Evolution of VSTOXX as a Standalone Product 30:31 Systematic Approaches to Trading VIX and VSTOXX 32:04 Pricing Nuances in VSTOXX and VIX Futures 34:46 Comparing Futures and Traditional Asset Classes 37:59 Final Thoughts on Futures Trading 43:50 Listener Questions: FX Market and VSTOXX vs VIX
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    59 mins
  • The European Market Brief 6: Navigating Europe's Crypto Landscape

    The European Market Brief 6: Navigating Europe's Crypto Landscape
    Jul 23 2025
    In episode six of the European Market Brief, host Mark Longo is joined by guests Russell Rhoads (Indiana University), Nicolae Raulet (Eurex), Shawn Creighton (FTSE Russell), and Sandra Brekalo (Crypto Finance) to discuss the latest trends in the European derivatives and crypto markets. The episode covers the rise of crypto futures and options, institutional interest in crypto, recent price movements in Bitcoin and Ethereum, regulatory developments in the US and Europe, as well as the impact of AI on the crypto space. The hosts also dive into listener questions about staking rewards for Ethereum and share bold predictions for the future of the market. 01:22 Welcome to the European Market Brief 03:40 Meet the Guests 07:50 Diving into Crypto 09:00 Crypto Product Offerings at Eurex 14:17 FTSE Russell's Role in Crypto Benchmarks 19:07 The Evolution of Crypto Futures and Options 22:05 Current Trends in the Crypto Market 30:23 Institutional Demand for Crypto 35:03 Customer-Driven Exchange and Product Development 35:46 Institutional Demand and Crypto Market Dynamics 37:09 Indexing and Bite-Sized Products 38:53 Regulatory Uncertainty and Institutional Adoption 39:42 Evolution of Crypto Assets and Market Trends 44:02 Regulatory Developments in Europe and the US 49:09 Future Outlook and Bold Predictions 56:07 Listener Questions and Staking Rewards 59:01 Closing Remarks and Resources
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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • The European Market Brief 5: A Deep Dive Into the DAX

    The European Market Brief 5: A Deep Dive Into the DAX
    Jul 10 2025
    This episode dives deep into the German derivatives markets, particularly focusing on the DAX index. Hosts and guests discuss the composition of the DAX, trading opportunities, and its significance to the European economy. The discussion includes insights from Tobias Inger of Eurex, who elaborates on the total return index and margin requirements. Morad Askar of Edge Clear shares his experiences and observations on trading the DAX, highlighting interest trends among US traders. Russell Rhoads provides comparative analysis with US markets, shedding light on near-dated options performance and market volatility. The episode also addresses listener questions about the impact of the Euro on FX trading and explores the implications for both European and global markets. 03:54 Meet the Guests 10:05 Continental Conversations: Focus on Germany and the DAX 12:09 DAX Market Insights and Trading Opportunities 22:16 DAX Futures and Options: Trading Strategies 28:30 DAX Margin Insights 31:07 Opportunities in the German Markets 31:38 European Derivatives Market Update 32:16 Trading Strategies and Client Perspectives 36:47 Micro and Mini DAX Contracts 44:16 Listener Questions: European FX Market 51:19 Conclusion and Resources
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    56 mins
  • The European Market Brief 4: European Rates

    The European Market Brief 4: European Rates
    Jun 26 2025
    This episode of 'The European Market Brief' introduces listeners to the European derivatives and fixed income markets. Hosted by Mark Longo from the Options Insider Radio Network, the show delves into trading strategies, liquidity, and market trends specific to European rates, comparing them with US counterparts. Guests Russell Rhoads (Indiana University), Rex Jones (Eurex), and James Sewell (Marex) offer valuable insights into products like BUN, BOBL, and SCHATZ futures, and discuss recent market activities, including the impact of potential massive fiscal spending in Germany and ongoing global geopolitical tensions. The episode also covers the transition from LIBOR to alternatives like EUROSTR, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of current opportunities and challenges in the European trading landscape. 01:22 Welcome to the European Market Brief 02:32 Episode 4 Kickoff and Listener Appreciation 03:53 Guest Introductions: Russell Rhoads and Rex Jones 07:06 Guest Introduction: James Sewell 08:41 Continental Conversations: Exploring European Rates 10:14 Diving into European Rates Products 16:51 Comparing US and European Rates Markets 19:43 Liquidity and Trading Hours in European Rates 26:05 Open Interest and Speculative Activity 31:24 LIBOR Transition and New European Rates Products 33:14 Regional Differences in Interest Rates 33:51 Issues with LIBOR and Transition to New Rates 34:44 European Rate Products and Market Gaps 36:38 Short-Term Euro Interest Rate Futures 39:06 Option Strategies in European Rates 43:29 Divergence Between US and European Rates 51:44 Impact of German Fiscal Policies on Rates 53:56 Future Trading Opportunities and Market Catalysts 58:05 Conclusion and Contact Information
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    1 hr and 4 mins