Is the traditional geopolitical risk playbook dead? In this episode of The European Market Brief, Mark Longo is joined by Morad Askar, Founder of EdgeClear, and Matt Koren, Equity and Index Derivatives Sales and Global VSTOXX Lead at Eurex, to dissect the unprecedented market activity following recent escalations in the Middle East.

While the "old playbook" suggests a flight to quality in gold and a spike in oil, the recent blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has sent the markets into a tailspin of "trade the tweet" volatility that defied standard expectations. The team explores why European derivatives—particularly VSTOXX and EURO STOXX 50—saw volumes surge to 2x their annual average, and why the "buy the dip" mentality is being tested like never before.

Topics covered include:

• The Volatility Regime: Why VSTOXX hit levels near 35 while VIX lagged behind.

• The Transatlantic Spread: How energy dependency makes European markets more vulnerable to Middle East conflict than the US.

• Retail vs. Institutional Flow: The shift toward order book liquidity and the rise of daily options in Europe.

• Risk Management: Why "holding through the weekend" has become a dangerous game for professional traders in a 24/7 news cycle.

Whether you're trading DAX, Bunds, or looking for cross-border volatility opportunities, this episode provides the "new" rules for an evolving, headline-driven market.

In this episode of The European Market Brief, Mark Longo is joined by Dr. Russell Rhoads (IU Kelley School of Business), Steve Sosnick (Interactive Brokers), and Matt Riley (Eurex) to dissect a rapidly shifting landscape. With the Iran conflict crossing the one-month mark, the panel explores why the "shock and awe" expectations of a quick resolution have evaporated, replaced by fears of a lingering market impact through the end of the year.

Key Topics Covered:

• The VSTOXX 30-Handle: We haven't seen these levels in a year. Is the current spike justified, or are traders "once bitten, twice shy" after the quick recoveries of 2025?

• The Great Divergence: Why the U.S. and Europe are splitting on rate expectations—from "endless cuts" to potential hikes.

• Free Data for the "Eurex-Curious": Steve Sosnick breaks down Interactive Brokers' new initiative providing free real-time Eurex data for retail and institutional traders.

• Rotation vs. Repatriation: Is the "Sell America" trade real? Why investors are looking at the STOXX 600 for value and diversification away from the Mag 7.

• The Red Phone: The team answers listener questions on the Brent/WTI spread and whether the U.S. Midterms are actually being priced into European vol.

This episode is brought to you by Eurex—the home of Euro STOXX, VSTOXX, DAX, and European rates derivatives.

The trading landscape for European rates has shifted violently in just a matter of weeks. In this episode of The European Market Brief, host Mark Longo sits down with two industry experts to dissect the sudden pivot from rate-cut expectations to a reality where rate hikes are back on the table.

Joining the program are Dan Collins, Head of Futures and Options Rates at Aurel Partners, and Andreas Stillert, Vice President and Global Product Lead for Short-Term Interest Rate (STIR) Products at Eurex. Together, they break down the "dual system" of Euribor and ESTR, the dramatic flip in option skew from calls to puts, and how geopolitical turmoil in the Middle East is refueling inflation fears across the pond.

In this episode, we explore:

• The ESTR vs. SOFR Dynamic: Understanding the nuances of the European risk-free rate versus its US counterpart.

• The Great Pivot: Why the market went from 100% certainty of rate cuts to pricing in potential hikes by year-end.

• Volatility & Skew: Analyzing the "unthinkable" shift in the options market over the last fortnight.

• Listener Q&A: We tackle "The Red Phone" questions regarding private credit risks in Europe and the mechanics of the ESTR/repo basis trade.

The trading day doesn't start at the bell—it starts with the data. In this episode of The European Market Brief, Mark Longo heads across the pond to dive deep into the mechanics of the European rates market.

He is joined by an expert panel featuring Dr. Russell Rhoads (Indiana University), Rex Jones (Eurex), and Mingyue Xin (Deutsche Bank) to break down one of the most critical yet misunderstood periods in the derivatives calendar: The Roll.

Inside this episode:

• The "Jelly Roll" Debate: Why the transition from March to June is a "subculture" unto itself in the rates market.

• The Art & Science of the Roll: Finding the "sweet spot" for execution and avoiding the pitfalls of being a late roller.

• US vs. EU Rates: Structural differences in delivery dates and how they impact your portfolio.

• Basis Trading 101: Why hedge funds are fixated on the basis trade and how to understand "Net Basis."

• Cheapest to Deliver (CTD): Understanding the delivery basket and the conversion factor for Bund, Bobl, and Schatz.

Whether you're a seasoned pro or new to the rates complex, learn how to navigate the cross-border volatility and innovation that makes the European marketplace so fascinating.

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

What defined European markets in 2025, and what trading trends will dominate 2026? In this year-end episode of the European Market Brief, host Mark Longo joins industry experts from Eurex, Advantage Futures, and Indiana University for a deep dive into market performance and future outlooks.

The panel moves beyond a simple review to analyze surprising shifts in market structure, from the explosion of prediction markets to the demand for 24-hour trading access.

Tune in to hear the panel discuss:

• 2026 Market Predictions: Where the experts see European opportunities next year.

• Volatility Strategies: Why interest in trading volatility remained high in 2025.

• Futures Debates: The evolving roles of cash vs. physically settled futures.

• New Frontiers: Opportunities in credit indices and round-the-clock trading.

Featured Guests:

• Russell Rhoads, Indiana University Kelley School of Business

• Mike O'Malley, Advantage Futures

• Lee Bartholomew, Eurex

In this episode of the European Market Brief, the discussion centers on navigating the European derivatives markets and managing market risk. Host Mark Longo is joined by experts Matt Koren (Eurex), Mark Wator (Barchart), and Russell Rhoads (Kelley School of Business at Indiana University) to provide in-depth volatility trading analysis.

Key topics include the nuances and trading opportunities within the V-STOXX index (Europe's leading volatility index), its direct comparison to the VIX, and the evolving analytic tools and derivatives market data provided by Barchart.

Other highlights cover insights into real-time trading activities, the influence of major European market events, and future plans for new financial products, particularly in options and volatility trading. The episode wraps up with answering listener queries about V-STOXX data sources and proven trading strategies.

HOST: Mark Longo, The Options Insider

CO-HOST: Dr. Russell Rhoads, Indiana University Kelley School of Business

CO-HOST: Davide Masi, Eurex

CO-HOST: Fateen Sharaby, Bloomberg Index Product

This episode of the European Market Brief focuses on the growing interest and key trends in the European credit derivatives market. They delve into the specifics of credit index futures, covering product offerings, market dynamics, and key use cases for institutional and retail investors. The episode also touches on the implications of recent market volatility, the integration of ETF and futures markets, and the evolving landscape of electronic trading.