Derivatives Insights for the Active Trader
Timely, informed market insights to help you stay ahead and make sharper decisions every single trading day.
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Even more quick reads, all in one place. Discover what's moving the market and why it matters.
JJ Kinahan brings more than three decades of trading and markets experience to his role at Cboe, where he leads the firm's retail expansion and alternative investment products strategy. A recognized authority on derivatives, options, and volatility, JJ translates complex market dynamics into clear, actionable insights for active investors and financial advisors. He is a frequent contributor on CNBC's Squawk Box and Bloomberg and has established himself as one of the most trusted voices on market structure and derivatives education. Today's Market Take is his daily commitment to keeping investors ahead of the market.
Some market forces take more than a morning brief to unpack. These pieces dig into the bigger themes shaping markets and what they mean for your trading strategy.
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As earnings season gains steam, expect a certain level of heightened volatility in the markets as investors digest the results — no matter how strong or weak they might be – and process the forward guidance.
We could be in for a trading whirlwind as a slew of earnings and news – particularly updates on the growing conflict situation in the Middle East – surface as the day and week unfolds.
There’s a lot on tap this week that could steer the markets down a number of paths, starting with the latest turn of events in the Middle East coupled with the official start to the earnings season and a handful of economic reports on the calendar.
Market volatility is a fact of investing. Prices rise, prices fall, and when uncertainty picks up, the question on many investors' minds shifts from "how do I grow my portfolio?" to "how do I protect what I've built?"
The options market experienced significant growth and dynamic shifts during the first quarter of 2026, marked by record-setting volumes across major index, ETF, and single stock contracts. There was robust activity in both established and newly launched products, as well as evolving regulatory and structural developments.
2025 was the sixth consecutive record year for U.S. listed options. Unprecedented industry participation was driven by strong equity performance, bouts of elevated volatility and increased retail and institutional flow. Total options volume topped 15.2 billion contracts in 2025, 26% above 2024 — the previous record.
