From straddles and strangles to ratio spreads and condors, CME Group equity index options are rife with strategies tailored to different market conditions.

Open interest for battery metals lithium and cobalt has surged, even as their prices have tumbled by up to 75% from their 2022 peaks amid faltering demand for electric vehicles. What’s behind the big increase in OI?

Concern for an extreme move in gold reached its highest point in over a year in early October, according to the CVOL Index. That coincided with the recent price surge.

Holding rates higher could mark the beginning of a new era for Fed policy. What does that mean for major asset classes?

Some of China’s growing demand for LNG has been met through higher domestic production. But looking ahead, the country is increasingly turning toward imports from Russia and long-term supply agreements with U.S. projects on Henry Hub.

In financial markets, round numbers can’t seem to hold; either there is a decisive breakthrough or a big move backward. Take the 5% yield on 10-year U.S. Treasurys. Is it a ceiling or a floor?

There are a lot of competing macroeconomic tensions on the horizon, not only in the U.S. but across the globe. And you’re going to see that manifest in options.

Many commodity prices have experienced downward pressure in 2023. What factors are behind this weakness?

What role will rising global tensions and advanced technology like generative AI play in inflation?

The Aussie dollar has recently been more volatile than other major currencies due in part to 2 shifting factors: Chinese demand and U.S. interest rates.

In a high-rate environment, what are the real risks for gold?

Treasury options traders began pricing the 2-year yield risk to the downside and the 10- and 30-year to the upside beginning in July, signaling a move that became reality in early October.

The shale boom and lifting of the crude oil export ban helped the U.S. exert far more influence on global crude markets.

For 3 decades, implied volatility and yield curves have been locked in a repeating cycle. Recently, implied volatility on S&P 500 options has been exceptionally low. Is that about to change?

Mortgage-backed securities safeguards and risk management tools have evolved since 2008, strengthening the market supporting U.S. homeownership.

4 economic transitions have the potential to increase volatility in some markets, which is why active risk management has become more critical than ever.

A good monsoon season can drive physical gold demand in India, especially in the country’s agricultural areas, where incomes are dependent on sufficient rainfall.

The 15th BRICS summit concluded in August with invitations to six countries to join as full members. If this bloc, focused on securing its place in the global financial landscape, continues to grow, could the U.S. dollar’s dominance be at risk?

As prospects for a recession remain blurry, so does the path for gold prices.

New TBA futures are a welcome tool to manage risk in the mortgage-backed securities market, says industry veteran Paul Van Valkenberg. “When there is upheaval, there are going to be people on the other side who can help continue the liquidity in the market.”

China is currently the world’s largest importer of soybeans, accounting for nearly 60% of world trade. Its push to be more self-sufficient has significant implications for global soybean prices.

Commodity currencies suffered when prices for oil and other raw materials fell from their 2022 peaks. Many of them are now bouncing back.

Higher volatility, increased event risk and the rising cost of capital are all contributing to growth in WTI crude oil weekly options trading.

FedWatch, a tool from CME Group, has become a favorite indicator to assess where overnight rates will go.

The shale boom and lifting of the crude oil export ban helped the U.S. exert far more influence on global crude markets.

For 40 years, WTI crude oil futures have remained resilient through times of market calm and stress.

In the quest to meet environmental goals, Asian countries are turning to domestic biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuel.

Cobalt supply constraints in the Democratic Republic of Congo are presenting risks to the market. Changes in battery chemistry could have an even larger long-term impact.

With housing vacancy rates in the United States at near record lows, the epicenter of any real estate downturn this time around might be centered in commercial and not residential.

Is gold an inflation hedge? A look at how the current environment compares to the 1970s era of high inflation and stagflation.

U.S. farmers are expected to plant more acres in 2023. Will they see continued high demand by the time harvest season arrives?

Following the collapse of crypto firms and bank failures, more participants are looking to futures to trade crypto.

Historically, the price of energy has a direct link to grain markets. But which energy product is the best one to look at for a connection?

Changes to the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) adjusted the sector weights in the S&P 500. Here’s why investors should pay attention.

Electric vehicle demand poses a challenge for copper supply, with a 10 million-metric-ton deficit possible by 2035. 3 experts share what the future might hold.

As farmers look ahead to growing season, more are looking to short-term tools to manage price volatility. “You can be a little more responsive to changing conditions.”

A decade of imbalanced supply and demand for lumber led to a perfect storm that was unleashed during the pandemic. Could prices spike again?

An economic disruption usually begets a period of reassessment, then changed behavior. In the currency world, central bank policies are shifting, but not in a synchronized manner.

Forty years after the launch of WTI crude oil futures, a pioneer oil trader discusses their importance to global oil markets.

Is what happened with the banking sector a harbinger of what’s to come? And does this mean tighter credit conditions?

Movements in interest rate volatility in the day and week following CPI releases are revealing some distinct patterns.

Overnight interest rates are critical to the health of any financial system. We visualize how 2 key rates in Europe are responding to central bank policy.

As the WTI crude oil futures contract hits 40 years since launch, it shows no sign of slowing down. Oil demand is expected to continue to grow over the coming years as countries industrialize, so the need for a reliable price benchmark has never been greater.

With Russian crude oil exports to the EU declining, U.S. crude oil grades are increasingly exported to the region, raising the global profile of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil.

Increased Brazilian corn production is a risk that U.S. farmers can’t overlook. “Brazil is an agricultural powerhouse. And I think ignoring that is unwise.”

Antony Lee, analytics head for Saracens Rugby Club, shares how data helps us understand behavior in sports and trading.

The Strategic Petroleum Reserve, built to alleviate domestic supply shortages, has been depleted by about 27% in less than a year. The Department of Energy has a plan to refill it, but will it be enough?

Oat milk retail sales increased over 50% in the year ending June 2022, a sign of oats’ growing consumer popularity and heightened overall demand.

The number of passengers flowing through U.S. Transportation Security Authority (TSA) security check points has shrunk to levels about 60% below pre-pandemic numbers.

Within the various commodity sectors there are certain products that have outperformed others as the market recovered.

SOFR takes its place as “a critical part” of the risk management framework for cleared swap market participants.

The autumn of 2020 shows significantly more volatility than the same period in 2016 due to the global pandemic and other factors.

Volatility tends to rise in October ahead of an election, but often subsides if the outcome is decisive. Our roundtable examines recent elections’ impact on markets.

The rise in gold in 2020 is due in part to central bank actions and economic turmoil.

Agriculture and urban use compete for supply in California’s $1.1 billion water market.

The supply and demand of California water are geographically and seasonally disconnected, a trend that could be exacerbated by climate change.

Pork consumption in China is set to be double that for all European Union countries combined in 2020.

Lumber and copper are a great gauge of the health and direction of the housing industry, and both have surged in 2020.

The S&P 500 had rallied 64% off of the March lows before falling 3.9% in September.

The S&P rallied 64% off of the March lows before falling 3.9% in September.

Waste oils have a bright future in the energy sector with governments seeing them as a way of tackling the issue of climate change.

Europe imports around 1.4 million tons per year of used cooking oils with China as the largest supplier.

Oil market participants may have found a way to link the most liquid crude oil benchmark in the world, WTI Futures, to waterborne markets.

Further linking WTI crude oil pricing to Gulf Coast markets will provide oil market participants with direct access to waterborne markets.

Over a quarter of global pork production was exported in 2019. As the export market matures, so too has pork market pricing.

Options on the popular micro Nasdaq and S&P 500 futures contracts launched in August.

Spending patterns are changing as more Americans stay closer to home for vacations and choose road trips over flying.

The U.S. is exporting far less oil than it was in 2019, and crude oil prices saw a steady decline through the summer.

Experts agree the march to the cloud is a process. But it’s being kickstarted by the shift to remote work during the current pandemic.

The Canadian dollar hit a multiyear low against the U.S. dollar in March 2020.

The new Micro E-mini option contracts on both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 will provide participants another tool to express their views on the equity market.

Copper has long played an important role in China’s economy. Currently, the country is the world’s biggest importer of copper, accounting for 43% of global copper ore imports.

The outlook for U.S. soybeans has improved, with exports forecast to rise in 2021.

Copper and the platinum group metals are used heavily in wind energy and cleaner vehicles.

Despite record spending, the dollar has only decreased 7%-8% as measured against the basket of currencies in the dollar index.

U.S. debt issuance reached a record of nearly $3 trillion for the second quarter, with $947 billion expected for the third quarter.

The disconnect between stock markets and the economy creates tough decisions for traders looking for market-moving data.

Brazil has become the world’s top producer and exporter of soybeans by developing more land and building infrastructure.

The FAANG stocks are all up more than 20% this year as stay-at-home life embraces technology.

The crude oil hub in Cushing, Oklahoma, provides the physical delivery mechanism for the benchmark WTI futures contract.

Equity markets have made a V-shaped recovery, can the U.S. economy follow?

After a tumultuous first half of 2020, how will equities perform the rest of the year?

Will the reconstruction of supply chains lead to higher costs?

Low inflation and a stable currency may allow for further rate cuts in Russia.

FAANG stocks make up 40% of the Nasdaq, which reached all-time highs in June. Will the S&P 500 and Dow catch up?

Data for hourly wages and savings have diverged from the norm.

Fed liquidity and a reliance on tech has helped stocks move toward record levels despite high unemployment.

While copper prices plummeted, market participation during Asia trading hours accelerated.

The COVID-19 pandemic could lead to a new era of increased corporate efficiency and innovation.

Is more stimulus on its way?

The S&P 500 ESG Index has outperformed the benchmark S&P 500 over the past year.

Are negative rates a tightening or loosening of monetary policy, and how do they impact currencies and credit flow?

The Fed’s vast asset purchases are aimed at managing the yield curve.

Unlike an initially hesitant Fed during the Great Depression, the central bank has been swift and decisive to support the financial system this time around.

The global economy seems to be entering a transition period with competing market narratives.

Will inflation wither with consumer demand?

European repo activity in March averaged more than €284 billion per day.

Travel, saving and spending habits will likely change once the rebound from the COVID-19 crisis begins.

Traditionally, gold has had a negative correlation with equities, making it a go-to in times of market stress.

Moving away from traditional number crunching to focus more on cash flow, dividends and rebuilding prospects might offer better insights into corporate earnings this season.