In the latest episode of the OPEX Effect, Jack Forehand and Brent Kochuba dive deep into the dynamics shaping the current market regime, with a particular focus on the upcoming June OPEX, dealer positioning, volatility trends, and the surprising resilience of the S&P 500 amid geopolitical stress. They break down how options flows continue to dominate equity price action, why the market remains pinned despite negative news, and what might finally break the calm. With some of the largest optio...
Jun 15, 2025•59 min
In this episode of Excess Returns, Jack Forehand and Brent Kochuba from SpotGamma break down the forces at play beneath the surface of the market as we head into the May 2025 options expiration (OPEX). While the S&P 500 has rallied hard, a deeper look at positioning, liquidity, volatility, and sentiment reveals a market on a potentially fragile footing. From the continued explosion of zero DTE options to concerning signs from liquidity metrics, this discussion explores how short-term positio...
May 10, 2025•1 hr 4 min
In this episode of The OPEX Effect, Jack and Brent dive deep into the market turmoil following "Liberation Day" and the implementation of new tariffs. With volatility spiking to levels not seen since the 2020 COVID crash, the hosts analyze how options markets are reacting, why liquidity has evaporated, and what investors should expect in this new higher-volatility regime. The conversation covers everything from VIX behavior to options positioning, and provides critical insights for navigating th...
Apr 19, 2025•1 hr
In the latest episode of the OPEX Effect, Jack Forehand and Brent Kochuba take a look behind the scenes of the big market selloff and the options flows driving it. They break down the massive options expiration coming up (the second-largest ever) and its potential impact on market movements.Key topics covered:Understanding the current high-volatility environment and why options volumes are driving increased market swingsAnalysis of the JPMorgan collar trade at the crucial 5565 level and its mark...
Mar 15, 2025•1 hr 6 min
In this episode, Jack Forehand and Brent Kochuba analyze the current state of the options market heading into the February 2024 options expiration. They explore several critical themes, including:Why volatility remains surprisingly low despite significant market-moving eventsThe unusual dynamic where large single-stock moves (like NVIDIA's historic drop) aren't translating into broader market volatilityThe concerning signs in correlation metrics that echo patterns from past market stress periods...
Feb 19, 2025•1 hr 12 min
Join Brent Kochuba and Jack Forehand as they analyze the current market landscape and what options flows tell us about potential volatility ahead. The duo dives deep into why the market may be underpricing volatility risk despite a recent 5% drawdown, significant upcoming events, and shifting rate dynamics. Key topics covered: Why the current options market positioning suggests heightened volatility risk Analysis of January options expiration and its potential market impact Deep dive into Tesla ...
Jan 15, 2025•59 min
Join Brent Kochuba and Jack Forehand as they break down December's historic options expiration - the largest OpEx on record. In this deep-dive episode, they explore: Why this December OpEx is uniquely significant with over $1.9 trillion in options value expiring Tesla's remarkable 75% surge since November and what the options market signals about its sustainability The fascinating case of MicroStrategy, Bitcoin enthusiasm, and concerning signs of market euphoria How major market positioning coul...
Dec 18, 2024•1 hr 5 min
In this episode of The OpEx Effect, we dive deep into the fascinating market dynamics following the recent election and explore the remarkable surge in options trading volume. We break down how Tesla's impressive rally is being driven by options flows and explain the mechanics behind gamma squeezes. We explore several key themes, including: How the post-election volatility crush led to a significant market rally Why Tesla has become the premier "Trump trade" and what the options flows tell us ab...
Nov 13, 2024•1 hr 5 min
In this episode of the OPEX Effect, we take a look behind the scenes at options flows at what is going on in the options market as we head into the election. We cover: - The current options landscape leading into October expiration - How NVIDIA's performance continues to drive broader market trends - Analysis of volatility patterns and their implications for market movement - Detailed exploration of potential market reactions to the upcoming U.S. election - The mechanics behind post-election vol...
Oct 16, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 13
In this episode, we dive deep into the world of options and their impact on market dynamics. We start with an "Options Dealer Flows 101" primer, explaining key concepts like delta hedging, gamma, charm, and vanna to help viewers understand how options flows can drive stock prices. We then analyze the current market situation heading into the September 2024 options expiration, one of the biggest of the year. We explore the outsized influence of Nvidia options activity, discuss potential outcomes ...
Sep 18, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 12
In this episode of OPEX Effect, we dive into the recent market volatility and its connection to options flows. We discuss the sudden VIX spike to 65, examining the factors that led to this extreme event, including low liquidity, the unwinding of correlation trades, and the impact of zero-day options. We explore how the market landscape has shifted, with a focus on the transition from inter-equity correlation to a broader bonds versus equities perspective. We also analyze the current options posi...
Aug 13, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 11
In this episode of the OPEX Effect, we explore the current market rally and discuss the concept of "correlation spasms" - unusual movements and relationships between market components. We examine record low volatility, the outsize impact of mega-cap tech stocks, and the recent surge in small-caps. We analyze the prevalence of zero days-to-expiry options trading and its effects on intraday volatility. We consider potential scenarios for how current market imbalances may unwind and highlight key i...
Jul 16, 2024•1 hr 15 min•Season 1Ep. 10
In this month's episode of the OPEX Effect, we take a deep dive into the world of options flows and their impact on the markets. We discuss the recent GameStop saga and the role options played in the stock's wild ride. We also explore the concept of volatility suppression, the dispersion between mega-cap tech stocks like NVIDIA and the rest of the market, and the record-breaking streak of low volatility in the S&P 500. Finally, we analyze the extreme bloat in NVIDIA's options complex and wha...
Jun 18, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 9
In this episode of the OpEx Effect, we discuss the current state of the market as we approach the May options expiration. We analyze the low levels of volatility and put demand, suggesting market participants are not too concerned about potential downside risks. We also examine the impact of key upcoming events, particularly the CPI report and NVIDIA earnings, and how they could influence market direction. Additionally, we explore the relationship between options activity and market sentiment an...
May 14, 2024•50 min•Season 1Ep. 8
In this episode of the OPEX Effect podcast, Brent Kochuba and Jack Forehand discuss the current market turmoil and its potential impact on options flows. They analyze how the geopolitical conflict in the Middle East, coupled with rate volatility and the upcoming U.S. elections, is causing a shift in the market environment from a period of volatility suppression to one of increased volatility. The hosts examine various indicators, such as correlation, dispersion, and the VIX, to highlight the unw...
Apr 16, 2024•48 min•Season 1Ep. 7
The OPEX Effect looks at the impact of options flows on the market from the perspective of longer-term investors. In each episode, we break down what is going on behind the scenes in the options market and how the resulting flows are moving markets. In this episode, we take a deep dive into the March 2024 options expiration and its potential implications for the market. We discuss dealer positioning into the expiration, whether the call buying in the chip sector is showing signs of exhaustion, t...
Mar 12, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 6
The OPEX Effect looks at the impact of options flows on the market from the perspective of longer-term investors. In each episode, we break down what is going on behind the scenes in the options market and how the resulting flows are moving markets. In this episode, we take a deep dive into the February 2024 options expiration and its potential implications for the market. We discuss the extreme level of call buying occurring in the tech space and what it might mean going forward. We also cover ...
Feb 13, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 5
The OPEX Effect looks at the impact of options flows on the market from the perspective of longer-term investors. In each episode, we break down what is going on behind the scenes in the options market and how the resulting flows are moving markets. In this episode, we take a deep dive into the January 2024 options expiration and its potential implications for the market. We discuss why this expiration could be a significent market event, what the behind the scenes details of the expiration look...
Jan 17, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 4
THE OPEX Effect looks at the impact of options flows on the market from the perspective of longer-term investors. In each episode, we break down what is going on behind the scenes in the options market and how the resulting flows are moving markets. In this episode, we look at where things stand coming into the December 2023 options expiration. We look at dealer positioning in the S&P 500 headed into the expiration and what that might mean going forward. We discuss the setup in small-cap sto...
Dec 12, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 3
In our latest episode of the OPEX Effect, we discuss the upcoming November options expiration and what Brent is seeing in options markets leading into it. We also talk about the impact of 0DTE options on the market, the relationship between options expirations and VIX expirations, positioning in the Mag 7 stocks and a lot more. DOWNLOAD THE SLIDE DECK https://www.validea.com/documents/opexeffectnovember2023.pdf MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SPOTGAMMA https://www.spotgamma.com FOLLOW BRENT ON TW...
Nov 14, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 2
In our inaugural episode of the OPEX effect, Brent Kochuba, Jack Forehand and Justn Carbonneau look at the options market as we approach the October expiration and the big takeaways investors can take from it. We discuss the role options flows play in the market, look at current positioning in the S&P 500 market and also cover bonds, the MAG 7, the Ozempic trade and a lot more. DOWNLOAD THE SLIDE DECK https://www.validea.com/documents/opexeffectoctober2023.pdf MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SPOTGAMM...
Oct 17, 2023•55 min•Season 1Ep. 1
