First Read Hits & Takes John Lothian & JLN Staff The Minneapolis Hard Red Spring Wheat (HRSW) futures and options contract on the MIAX Futures Exchange (formerly MGEX) set another record in April, marking the fourth consecutive month of year-to-date volume and average daily volume (ADV) growth. The Minneapolis Hard Red Spring Wheat (HRSW) futures […]
Read articleFirst Read Hits & Takes John Lothian & JLN Staff Today, JLN has part two of our interview with author and former CBOT staffer Erika Olson. In this video, Olson discusses how she sees the current environment as ripe for a movie version of her book, a goal she has always wanted to pursue. She […]
Read articleFirst Read Hits & Takes John Lothian & JLN Staff Today, we have part one of an interview with Erika Olson, the author of Zero Sum Game: The Rise of the World’s Largest Derivatives Exchange. The book was published 15 years ago, and I thought it was a good time to interview Erika and look […]
Read articleFirst Read Hits & Takes John Lothian & JLN Staff The parade of commissioners marching out of the CFTC continues. Christy Goldsmith Romero announced Friday that she would leave the D.C.-based regulator on May 31. This follows announcements last week from Acting Chairman Caroline D. Pham and Commissioner Summer Mersinger that they would both be […]
Read articleFirst Read Hits & Takes John Lothian & JLN Staff I am confirmed for heading to IDX in June, but before I go to London I will be headed to Edinburgh, Scotland for the first time since 1984. I am setting up some interviews in the historic Scottish capital and will also visit some historic […]
Read articleFirst Read Hits & Takes John Lothian & JLN Staff CFTC Commissioner Summer K. Mersinger announced her departure from the commission at the end of the month. She will succeed Kristin Smith as head of the Blockchain Association. The National Futures Association is the latest to contribute to the Mission (Im)possible Kilt Challenge of Goldman’s […]
Read articleFirst Read Hits & Takes John Lothian & JLN Staff The annual Robin Hood Benefit Gala at the Javits Center raised a record $72 million to support basic needs and expand opportunities for low-income New Yorkers, as more than 3,500 guests, including business, sports, and entertainment leaders, enjoyed performances by The Weeknd, Keith Urban, Seth […]
Read articleFirst Read Hits & Takes John Lothian & JLN Staff In his keynote at the Crypto Task Force Roundtable, SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins emphasized the transformative potential of migrating securities from traditional databases to blockchain-based systems, comparing the shift to the music industry’s move from analog to digital formats. He argued that tokenization and […]
Read articleFirst Read Hits & Takes John Lothian & JLN Staff I have returned from Florida and the Options Industry Conference after a trip to Sarasota, FL, to my home there. I stopped by to say hello to Richard and Ellen Sandor. I like to check in with Doc Sandor when I am in Sarasota. The […]
Read articleFirst Read Hits & Takes John Lothian & JLN Staff Steve Strahler of Crain’s Chicago Business typically calls me when a significant Chicago financial figure has passed away, as he is the lead obituary writer for Crain’s. However, this week he was given the big job of writing a story about a local Catholic Cardinal […]
Read articleFirst Read Hits & Takes John Lothian & JLN Staff Bob Pisani‘s retirement from day-to-day reporting on the NYSE floor marks the end of an era for financial journalism and the New York Stock Exchange itself. For 35 years at CNBC, Pisani has been a constant, trusted, and insightful presence, setting the gold standard for […]
Read articleFirst Read Hits & Takes John Lothian & JLN Staff If you are a big Donald Trump fan, you are probably looking at today’s lead story and thinking, “There John goes again.” The story is titled “Who’s the Greatest Grifter of Them All?” from Thomas B. Edsall in The New York Times. It is an […]
Read articleFirst Read Hits & Takes John Lothian & JLN Staff Alex Jacobson, 72, a longtime industry options educator, passed away on Friday surrounded by his family. Chapel service Wed, May 7, 2025, 12:15 PM at Shalom Memorial Funeral Home, 1700 W. Rand Road, Arlington Heights. Interment will follow at Shalom Memorial Park. Donations may be […]
Read articleFirst Read Hits & Takes John Lothian & JLN Staff Freedom of the press is a cornerstone of democratic societies and vital in fostering free markets. This principle is highlighted on World Press Freedom Day, which is celebrated annually on May 3rd and raises awareness about the importance of free and independent media. Key economists […]
Read articleFirst Read Hits & Takes John Lothian & JLN Staff Craig Donohue Named CEO of Cboe Global Markets Cboe Picks Leader With The Education, Experience, and Right Fit For The Job Yesterday, Cboe Global Markets named Craig Donohue, 63, its new CEO starting May 7, 2025, replacing Fred Tomczyk, 69. To hold the title of […]
Read articleFirst Read Hits & Takes John Lothian & JLN Staff Elon Musk has publicly criticized the Federal Reserve’s $2.5 billion headquarters renovation, calling it an “eyebrow raiser” and suggesting his government efficiency team should investigate the project as an example of potential government waste, Bloomberg reported. Musk’s remarks, made at the White House, come amid […]
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