Submission of Rule Filing SR-NSCC-2026-003 – Amend the Clearing Agency Stress Testing Framework
National Securities Clearing Corporation (NSCC) submitted Rule Filing SR‑NSCC‑2026‑003 to the SEC on February 25, 2026, proposing amendments to the shared stress‑testing framework of DTCC, its Fixed Income Clearing Corporation (FICC) subsidiary, and NSCC. The changes aim to broaden scenario coverage, tighten capital thresholds, and increase testing frequency, creating a unified risk assessment platform. NSCC requests comments from members via the SEC’s electronic portal or email, with a copy to NSCC. The filing includes detailed submission instructions and contact information for inquiries.
CME Group U.S. Treasury OI Sets New Record of 36.3M Contracts
CME Group reported a record 36,328,151 open interest contracts in U.S. Treasury futures and options on February 19, surpassing its previous high from November 2025. The milestone spans the entire yield curve, with new peaks in 2‑year, 5‑year, 10‑year, and...
Live Cattle Mostly Higher, Hogs Rally Despite Uneven Pork Demand
Live cattle futures on the CME edged higher on Tuesday, with April contracts down $0.15 to $239.10 and June up $0.10 to $235.55, while feeder cattle prices rebounded sharply. Cash cattle trade remained muted, as bids and offers were not...
Natural Gas Futures, Feb. 24, 2026
Natural gas futures settled at $2.85 per MMBtu on Feb. 24, 2026, marking a 3% weekly gain. The rally was fueled by colder-than-expected temperature forecasts across the U.S. Midwest and a continuation of OPEC+ production cuts extending into 2027. Liquefied natural...
Top Performing Leveraged/Inverse ETFs: 02/22/2026
Last week’s leveraged and inverse ETFs delivered standout returns, led by ProShares Ultra Silver (AGQ) with a 19.04% gain as silver rallied on heightened trade and geopolitical risk. Direxion’s South Korea Bull 3X (KORU) posted a 17.22% jump, fueled by...
#58419
The Options Clearing Corporation (OCC) announced that options on securities with trading halts or unresolved corporate actions have been removed from automatic‑exercise processing. This removal applies to all expirations—including standard, weekly, daily FLEX, and quarterly—affecting the Central Puerto S.A. AD...
ESMA Reminds Firms of Their Obligations Under CFD Product Intervention Measures Amid Rising Offerings of Perpetual Futures
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) issued a reminder that firms must verify whether newly offered perpetual futures and similar derivatives fall within the scope of existing CFD product‑intervention measures. The regulator highlights that many of these instruments, including...
IEX Head of Cross Asset Product Joins Kraken to Lead Global Derivatives
John Palmer, former IEX head of cross‑asset product, has been hired by Kraken as global head of derivatives, bringing extensive experience from IEX, Cboe and Goldman Sachs. His appointment follows Kraken’s recent acquisition of an FCA MTF license to launch...
Leveraged ETFs Ride Retail Trading Boom as Single-Stock Bets Redefine Market Stress Playbook
Retail investors have turned leveraged ETFs from niche tools into a core trading instrument, driving a 29% annual growth in fund volume since 2020. By mid‑2025, roughly 452 leveraged funds existed, with single‑stock products accounting for half of equity‑fund turnover....
Tokenization Moves Into Production as Collateral Leads the Way
Tokenization is moving from experimental labs into core derivatives infrastructure, with Franklin Templeton and DTCC executives highlighting its ability to embed contracts directly in assets and replace multiple ledgers with a shared record. The technology promises near‑instant settlement and 24/7...
KQQQ: Management Shifting In The Wrong Direction
Kurv Technology Titans Select ETF (KQQQ) has been downgraded to Sell as its aggressive covered‑call strategy inflates risk and undercuts performance. The fund’s distribution yield surged to 18.72% but hinges on volatile option premiums, raising sustainability concerns. A 0.99% expense...
Trading Volumes Have Surged in Leveraged Funds, Options Since the Pandemic, Data Shows
Leveraged fund and options trading volumes have accelerated sharply since the COVID‑19 pandemic, with Direxion projecting average daily leveraged‑fund turnover of $1.41 billion in 2025—up more than 130% from 2024 and 250% from 2020. Options activity is expected to hit 58 million...
Four Strong Covered Call Equity ETFs
Covered‑call equity ETFs are gaining attention for delivering yields that exceed typical equity funds while still offering modest upside potential. The article highlights four notable funds, with Amplify's DIVO standing out due to its 4.9% distribution rate, quality‑focused U.S. holdings,...
This Latin American Rival to Amazon Reports Earnings This Week. How to Trade It with Options
MercadoLibre, the dominant e‑commerce and fintech platform in Latin America, will report its Q4 2025 results on Tuesday, with analysts forecasting roughly $28.6 billion in revenue for the full year. The company posted a 39% year‑over‑year revenue jump to $7.41 billion in Q3 2025,...
Market Open: Gas Futures Climb Ahead of March Expiration as Weather Drives Trade
Natural gas futures for March surged early Monday as cold‑weather forecasts sparked heightened demand and a short‑covering rally. Prices tested key resistance levels ahead of the contract's Thursday expiration, prompting analysts to warn of increased volatility. While the immediate upside...
Broadridge Eyes Synergy, Client Focus After Acquiring CQG
A record influx of Designated Contract Market applications is straining an already depleted CFTC staff, marking the fastest cadence of new exchange filings in modern history. Meanwhile, the London Stock Exchange completed its first transaction under the new PISCES framework,...
Optiver and Virtu-Backed Optimal Market Technologies Options Execution Platform Launches
Optimal Market Technologies has launched a US listed options execution platform backed by Optiver, Virtu Financial, Akuna Capital and BSC Ventures. The FINRA‑approved broker‑dealer expects commercial availability later in Q1, initially serving retail options wholesalers, institutional broker‑dealers and large asset...
Geneva Dry Dialogues: European Energy Exchange
Geneva Dry 2026, the premier dry‑bulk shipping conference, is set for April 28‑29 in Lausanne with up to 900 delegates and 51 sponsors. European Energy Exchange (EEX) head Peter Blogg warned that geopolitical turbulence makes short‑term forecasts difficult, underscoring the...
Why 2026 Could See Mainstream Adoption of Prediction Markets
Prediction markets have evolved from niche mood indicators to liquid platforms handling billions in weekly turnover. Asset managers are increasingly viewing them as direct hedges for event risk that traditional derivatives cannot cover. Regulatory clarity, exemplified by CFTC approval of...
SPX Skew Steepens to 1Y High as Tariff Uncertainty Rises
Cboe’s Macro Volatility Digest shows SPX 1‑month options skew climbing to its highest level in a year. The steepening reflects heightened uncertainty from evolving U.S. tariff policy, geopolitical tensions and lingering AI concerns, while oil volatility spiked to 52%. Equity...
SPX Skew Steepens to 1Y High as Tariff Uncertainty Rises
The Cboe report shows the S&P 500 1‑month skew surged to a one‑year high, reflecting heightened demand for downside protection as tariff policy uncertainty intensifies. Oil implied volatility spiked to 52% after fears of a US‑Iran conflict, while equity and rates...
Daily Market Wire 23 February 2026
Wheat futures posted a three‑session rally as compressed spreads triggered massive short covering after the VSR observation period ended. Export commitments now cover 92 % of the USDA’s annual target, while Russian strikes have reduced Ukrainian Black Sea export capacity by...
JCE: Large-Cap Equity Fund With Call Options, 8.15% Yield, And 5.7% Discount
Nuveen Core Equity Alpha Fund (JCE) is a large‑cap equity closed‑end fund that employs a call‑overlay strategy to generate income. The fund offers an 8.14% distribution yield while trading at a 5.7% discount to NAV, supported by a sustainable, tax‑advantaged...
JCE: Large-Cap Equity Fund With Call Options, 8.15% Yield, And 5.7% Discount
Nuveen Core Equity Alpha Fund (JCE) is a large‑cap equity closed‑end fund that employs a call‑overlay strategy to boost income. It offers an 8.15% distribution yield while trading at a 5.7% discount to NAV. The call‑overlay generates premium income but...
Some Implied Moves for Earnings Next Week (Feb 23rd – Feb 28th) – 725 Companies Reporting
OptionMillionaires released implied move percentages for 725 companies reporting earnings from Feb 23‑28. The data shows expected price swings ranging from a low of 4.5% at Home Depot to a high of 35.8% for EVgo (EVH). High‑volatility names include BKSY (27.1%),...
MSTY: Buy For Income And Upside Exposure On Strategy
The YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF (MSTY) receives a buy rating due to its consistent weekly income generation and reduced exposure to MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin‑driven volatility. The fund employs covered calls and call spreads on MSTR, capturing option premiums while...
Bitcoin Sells Off as the Yen Surged Fast Enough to Trigger Cuts Across Risk Books
Bitcoin experienced a sharp sell‑off after the yen surged, prompting margin and VAR cuts across multi‑asset risk books. Japanese FX officials’ urgent language on February 12 signaled heightened intervention risk, accelerating the unwind of yen‑funded carry trades. The unwind cascaded...
OMAH: Berkshire Hathaway Covered Call Income ETF, Strong Distribution Yield, Short Track Record
The VistaShares Target 15 Berkshire Select Income ETF (OMAH) tracks Berkshire Hathaway’s largest equity positions while also holding BRK.B shares directly. It enhances income by writing covered calls on these stocks, delivering a 14.3% distribution yield but capping upside potential....
F&O Talk | What the Current Long-Short Ratio Tells About FII Positioning? Sudeep Shah on Ola, Newgen, 4 More Top...
India’s equity markets closed higher on Feb 21, with the Nifty up 0.46% to 25,571 and the Sensex up 0.38% to 82,815. Analyst Sudeep Shah sees the Nifty trapped in a tight 512‑point range, likely to trade sideways but could open...
Navigating the Yield Crunch with Options-Based ETFs
Options-based ETFs surged in 2025, attracting $54 billion of new capital. Total assets under management climbed to $127 billion, underscoring a structural shift toward derivative‑driven income solutions. JPMorgan’s Hamilton Reiner attributes the growth to intentional low‑beta designs that help investors navigate a...
Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: February 20, 2026
On February 20, 2026, U.S. grain and livestock futures showed mixed movement. Corn edged higher to $4.27, while soybeans slipped to $11.37 and soybean meal rose to $309.80. Livestock prices fell, with live cattle at $242 and feeder cattle at...
#58403
Global Medical REIT Inc. will rebrand as Chiron Real Estate Inc., changing its ticker from GMRE to XRN effective February 23, 2026. Corresponding option symbols GMRE and GMRE1 will be replaced by XRN and XRN1, with no alteration to strike prices or...
#58402
Invesco KBW Regional Banking ETF (KBWR) will be renamed Invesco Bloomberg Financial Data Providers ETF and will trade under the new ticker FDIQ starting February 23, 2026. The change applies to both the ETF and its listed options, with strike prices and expirations...
#58401
The Options Clearing Corporation (OCC) released the final terms for the adjusted CyberArk Software Ltd. (CYBR) options identified as PANW1/2PANW1. Each contract now delivers 220 Palo Alto Networks (PANW) common shares plus $4,508.64 cash, reflecting a distribution ratio of 2.2005...
Permian Plunge Pressures Natural Gas Forward Curve as Northeast Premiums Fade
Permian’s Waha hub price plunged more than 50 cents per MMBtu, pushing the natural‑gas forward curve into negative territory through mid‑2026. At the same time, Northeast gas premiums retreated despite forecasts of a cold weekend, narrowing the regional price spread. Western...
Free Weekly Stock Market Commentary 2/20/2026
Lawrence G. McMillan notes the S&P 500 is trapped in a tight range, with resistance near 7,000 and support between 6,720 and 6,800. Equity‑only put‑call ratios have risen to their most bearish levels since late January, indicating heavy downside protection...
The Dow Is Just Below 50,000. How to Trade a Move Above the Key Level Using Options
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is hovering just under the 50,000 mark, a level only 2% shy of its all‑time high. A broad market rotation is shifting capital from the high‑valuation Magnificent 7 stocks toward the more diversified, lower‑priced Dow constituents....
Upcoming Changes to the Euribor Panel
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) announced that Barclays Bank PLC will withdraw from the Euribor panel, with its final contribution date set for 27 February 2026. ESMA and the Euribor College of Supervisors assessed the impact and concluded...
ESMA Publishes List of Supplementary Deferrals for Sovereign Bonds
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) and most EU national competent authorities have released a list of supplementary deferrals that extend the MiFIR transparency regime for sovereign bonds. The new rule permits the omission of volume publication for medium‑size...
ESMA Publishes a Supervisory Briefing on the AAR Representativeness Obligation
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has released a supervisory briefing outlining how counterparties must meet the active‑account requirement (AAR) representativeness obligation. The document details the identification of relevant derivative sub‑categories, reporting procedures, and provides a compliance example. ESMA...
Turning Equity Into Clarity: How HR Can Explain Stock Options The Right Way
HR teams that demystify stock options improve candidate confidence and close offers faster. The article outlines a repeatable process that starts with simple definitions of grant, strike price and vesting, then visualizes vesting schedules as timelines rather than percentages. It...
Pre-Market IV Report February 20, 2026
The pre‑market implied volatility (IV) report highlights a sharp rise in IV for energy‑related ETFs and stocks as WTI crude climbs above $66, while airlines show elevated IV but balanced call‑put ratios. Unusual option activity spikes on commodities such as...
The Bitcoin CME Gap Will Now Close Forever in May Leaving a Return to $84k Hanging
CME Group announced that on May 29 it will launch 24/7 trading for its Bitcoin futures and options on the Globex platform, ending the traditional weekend shutdown. The change eliminates the long‑standing "CME gap" that appears when Bitcoin moves while...
Market Watch: Nymex Dips Below $3 Amid Mild March Outlook
Nymex natural gas futures for March slipped 1.5 cents to $2.996 per MMBtu on Thursday. This marks the first time the prompt‑month contract has settled below the $3 threshold since mid‑October. Despite short‑term expectations of cooler weather early next week, analysts...
NVDA Earnings Preview: AI Revenue & Blackwell Demand
NVIDIA is set to report earnings on Feb 25, with analysts forecasting $65 billion in revenue and $1.51 earnings per share, reflecting over 70% year‑over‑year growth. The company’s data‑center segment, now $51.2 billion, surged 66% YoY, driven by soaring demand for Blackwell GPUs...
#58391
The Options Clearing Corporation (OCC) announced a temporary pricing method for NIC1 options, adjusted MidWestOne contracts, because the cash‑in‑lieu for the 0.75 fractional share remains undetermined. OCC will calculate the NIC1 price by multiplying the closing price of Nicolet Bankshares...
#58390
The Options Clearing Corporation (OCC) announced special pricing for SoFi Next 500 ETF (SFYX) options expiring on February 20, 2026 due to the underlying shares being suspended on the NYSE. For expiration processing, OCC will use the last traded price of $17.17 per share...
#58386
Ryerson Holding Corporation will replace its RYI ticker with RYZ on February 24, 2026, and the associated option symbols will shift from RYI/RYI1 to RYZ/RYZ1. The change takes effect at the opening of business on that date, with no alteration to strike...
#58383
The Options Clearing Corporation (OCC) will designate the Cboe Futures Exchange (CFE) as an anonymous exchange, suppressing all counter‑party identifiers on trade data. The change takes effect on the business date June 1 2026 and retroactively covers trades executed during the extended...
‘The Days of the Single Black Swan Are Gone’
At the JSE SA Trade Connect conference, market leaders warned that volatility is no longer a rare "black swan" but a persistent flock of shocks. Alicia Greenwood highlighted the exchange’s push to fuse disparate data sources, enabling faster interpretation and...