#58776
On April 17, 2026 the Options Clearing Corporation (OCC) will apply a special pricing rule to Tuttle Capital MSTR 0DTE Covered Call ETF (MSTK) options because the underlying ETF’s shares were suspended from trading on the Cboe BZX Exchange. For expiration processing the OCC will use the last reported price of $7.93 per share rather than any liquidation distribution amount. The options remain exercisable under normal OCC thresholds, but clearing members must alert customers to the pricing nuance. The memo also reiterates contact details for member inquiries.
#58795
The OCC released an Information Memo outlining an updated expiration framework effective April 2026. It accelerates several contract expirations, removes certain instruments from the Ex‑by‑Ex processing stream, and revises trading halt protocols. Specific pricing considerations are provided for BMAX, MSTK, NMTC1...

It Looks Like There Was More Signs of Insider Trading on Today's Iran War News
Multiple large Brent crude short trades were executed minutes before major Iran‑related geopolitical announcements, including a $760 million sell‑off ahead of the Strait of Hormuz reopening and a $950 million short on April 7 before a US‑Iran ceasefire. Similar spikes occurred on March 23...
2 ETF Smart Leverage Portfolio Could Beat The S&P 500 By 200% Over 25 Years
A new research note proposes a two‑ETF smart‑leverage strategy that could outpace the S&P 500 by roughly 200 % over the next 25 years. The method blends a core equity ETF with a leveraged counterpart, applying higher exposure only when market conditions are...
#58790
On May 1, 2026 Farmer Bros. Co. shareholders will vote on a merger with BP I Brew Merger Sub Inc., a Royal Cup subsidiary. If approved, each FARM share converts into a $1.29 cash payment, or $129 per options contract. The OCC will adjust all FARM options to cash‑settlement and...
IYRI: Covered Call REIT ETF, Strong Distribution Yield, Short, Adequate Track Record
NEOS’s IYRI is an actively managed covered‑call ETF that invests in REITs and tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Real Estate Capped Index. The fund’s covered‑call strategy lifts its distribution yield to about 10.9%, offering a high‑income profile. Launched in early...

Dow Futures Rally 500 After Iran Declares Strait of Hormuz Open Amid Lebanon Ceasefire: Live Updates
U.S. stock futures jumped on Friday after Iran announced the Strait of Hormuz was "completely open" following the Israel‑Lebanon cease‑fire. Dow Jones futures rose 524 points (1.1%), while S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures gained 0.8% and 0.9% respectively. The geopolitical easing...

Cboe Reports Record Daily Proprietary Index Options Volume
Cboe Global Markets reported a record‑high day for its proprietary index options on April 14, 2026, with 8.96 million contracts traded. SPX options accounted for 6.28 million contracts, split almost evenly between same‑day‑expiration and longer‑dated contracts. VIX options saw 2.38 million contracts, the strongest day...
Tesla, IBM and Intel Report Earnings Next Week — Here’s the Best Way to Play a Volatile Market
Earnings season kicks off next week with high‑profile reports from Tesla, IBM, Intel and UnitedHealth, prompting a surge in implied volatility for their options. The strategy outlined favors buying short‑term ATM straddles—particularly the April 24 expirations—and exiting after the earnings‑day close...
Traders Revive Short-Volatility Bets as Peace Hopes Calm Markets
Traders are reviving short‑volatility and carry strategies as optimism over a US‑Iran cease‑fire eases market volatility. Bond, currency and equity volatility indices have fallen daily since late March, with US 10‑year yields steady at 4.28% and Treasury futures volume at...
Implications of WTI Oil Futures In Backwardation Amid the Supply Crunch
WTI oil futures have entered backwardation, with near‑term May and June contracts trading above the more stable December contract. Backwardation signals a tight market and generates a positive roll yield, contrasting with the negative roll yield seen in contango periods....
Cheap Butterflies As Speculative Trades (Preview)
Lawrence G. McMillan’s April 16, 2026 preview shows how butterfly spreads—often viewed as conservative, multi‑leg options—can be deployed as low‑cost speculative trades. By buying and selling calls (or puts) at three strikes, traders can lock in a maximum loss equal to the...

Bitcoin Funding Rates Hit Most Negative Since 2023, History Suggests Bottom Is In
Bitcoin’s perpetual futures funding rates have plunged to their most negative level since 2023, reaching a seven‑day average of about -0.005%. The dip reflects heavy short positioning even as the cryptocurrency has rallied from the low‑mid $60,000 range to roughly...

CFTC Probes Oil Futures Trades Tied to Trump's Moves in Iran: Report
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission is investigating two sharp spikes in oil‑futures trading that occurred minutes before President Trump announced a postponed strike on Iranian energy assets on March 23 and a cease‑fire on April 7. The probe focuses on activity...

Taiwan Insurers’ Hedging Pivot Cements Global Bond Prowess
Taiwan’s life insurers are reshaping the management of their roughly $700 billion overseas bond portfolio, a move that solidifies the island’s standing as a major global fixed‑income investor. New accounting standards introduced this year require insurers to seek higher foreign returns...