02/27/2025

The Futures Rundown #23: WTI vs Brent, Solana and the Terror of Dead Trees

In this episode of the Options Insider Radio Network, host Mark Longo introduces the latest installment of 'The Futures Rundown.' The discussion kicks off with Raymond Grignon from Ironbeam, who offers insights into his background in futures and derivatives and details Iron Beam's role in supporting a wide range of traders. The episode explores the nuances of various futures markets, including the recent volatility in natural gas, Bitcoin, and coffee. Grignon also delves into the performance of key markets in 2024 and discusses emerging products like the 3-month SOFR and potential new crypto futures like Solana. Listener questions revolve around choosing between WTI and Brent crude, and the likelihood of more crypto futures being introduced this year. The show wraps up with a look at the week's most active futures contracts and their market implications.   01:07 Exploring the Futures Rundown 03:48 Guest Introduction: Raymond Grignon from Ironbeam 06:09 Diving into the Trading Pit 09:35 Crypto Market Insights and Trends 12:37 Market Movers: Upside and Downside 19:44 Top Futures Contracts of the Day 20:07 Interest Rate Hedging with Futures 21:10 Market Trends and Surprises 21:32 Biggest Losers of the Year 24:02 Top Gainers of the Year 25:48 Futures Free-for-All Q&A 27:09 WTI vs. Brent Crude Debate 30:18 The Future of Crypto Futures 33:56 Conclusion and Contact Information