Investing & Trading
The Spread: To The Moon And Back
This week on The Spread, Michael Bolton wants you to break up with your brokerage, Rocket Companies become “GameStop 2: Electric Boogaloo,” and more.
Looking Back on 2020 with Phil Mackintosh, Chief Economist at Nasdaq
Phil Mackintosh, chief economist at Nasdaq, discusses some of the biggest takeaways learned from 2020, as well as what to expect from 2021.
Mike Cavanaugh – Open Outcry Traders History Project
Mike Cavanaugh found his way to the trading industry despite his degree in political science because he had a brother-in-law in the wheat pit at the CBOT. He did a summer internship working for “one of the more prolific wheat traders” and soon fell in love with the place.
No, Virginia, There is no Santa Claus; He Was Demutualized
If you are, like me, someone who has never bought even a single datum let alone have multiple subscriptions with multiple vendors, Acuiti’s newest report on market data makes for fascinating reading.
Options Basics For Newbies: Mind Your Greeks, Professor Says
The well-documented influx of new retail investors into equities and options on equities in 2020 and 2021 has boosted derivatives volume, but it also has unleashed traders who may not be prepared for high rates of volatility if and when the market falters.
NFL Calls Time-Out on ErisX’s NFL Binary Options
The National Football League asked the CFTC to delay any approval of ErisX’s proposed binary options contracts “pending a more comprehensive study” of whether the contracts would be used for hedging and whether users of the contract might be breaking federal laws by risking money on football spread betting across state lines.
Eero Pikat – The Path to Electronic Trading
Electronic trading changed the way quotes are generated, archived and delivered to traders, brokers and their clients over the internet. Barchart was a pioneer in delivering quotes over the internet and providing them for several exchanges. Today it is the largest futures-centric quote provider.
Explosion in Retail Options Trade Not a Short-Term Blip, Cboe’s Schwartz Says
In the current options market environment of rapid retail trading growth, data on who is trading what -- customer buyers versus firm buyers, that is -- is a hot topic right now. In fact, Henry Schwartz, senior director and head of product intelligence at Cboe Global...
Nasdaq Weathered a “Perfect Storm” in 2020, Led Exchanges in Single Stock Options Volume
While major world events can cause ripple effects in the markets, the effects of the ongoing pandemic have felt more like a series of earthquakes. The year 2020 was an historic one for many reasons; in Nasdaq’s case, it was also the first year that it led all exchanges in total volume traded for equity options.
John Lothian: A Futures Trader’s Confession
All the Ways I Have Traded Futures Over the Years I was brought up as a futures trader and the people I knew were futures traders. The people at my first industry-related job that I listened to on long car rides or on the radio talked about futures. The people I...
Olivier Raevel – MarketsWiki Education Open Outcry Traders History Project
Olivier Raevel is the first trader from the International Petroleum Exchange, or IPE, to be interviewed for the JLN MarketsWiki Education Open Outcry Traders History Project. He made history as a founding member of ICE and recommended that ICE buy the IPE.
Why Do You Hire a Super Salesman to Run Trading Technologies?
Rick Lane is out at Trading Technologies as CEO and chairman, but still with the company in a non-titled supporting role for the time being, at a time when the company is rumored to be in the midst of a sale.
Ricardo Manrique Talks Global Index Trends Amid New Exchange Competition
Ricardo Manrique is the head of strategy for FTSE Russell and has a great perspective on the global index business after having significant roles at other index companies, including MSCI, STOXX and Dow Jones.
Yellen Looks Likely To Stick With Treasury Department Policy Regarding Bitcoin
President-elect Joe Biden’s Treasury Secretary nominee, Janet Yellen, upset the cryptoverse yesterday with her response to a senator’s question about terrorism during her Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing. With regard to terrorist financing, she said,...
Cannabis Shares Pick Up Pace As 2021 Regulatory Momentum Eyed
Saleem Daya, an analyst with Nasdaq IR Intelligence in Toronto, sees U.S. cannabis regulation poised for a rehaul in 2021 given Democrats’ U.S. Senate win.
John Lothian Newsletter
Today's Newsletter

A Hack Like This Could Start the Next World War
First Read $31,126/$300,000 (10.4%) Ajay Jain ++++ Hits & Takes John Lothian & JLN Staff Welcome to International Women's Day 2021. The theme for this year's International Women's Day is "Choose To Challenge." The WFE says there are over 100 women today...
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JLN Options Newsletter
Today’s Newsletter

Volatility Markets Flash Reassuring Signals for Stock Dip Buyers; GameStop Frenzy Emboldens Supporters of Stock-Trading Tax
Volatility Markets Flash Reassuring Signals for Stock Dip Buyers; GameStop Frenzy Emboldens Supporters of Stock-Trading Tax
Everything you need to know about Options Today