First Read Hits & Takes John Lothian & JLN Staff Let’s be clear about what today’s story concerning President Donald Trump attempting to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook is about. It is about the president of the United States of America desiring to manipulate interest rates for his political and, most likely, personal gain. […]
Read articleFirst Read Hits & Takes John Lothian & JLN Staff Today’s lead story is a case of Robinhood and its ilk getting shot in the back with their own arrows. Like the old yarn about “How can you tell how the pioneers are? They are the ones with the arrows in their backs.” A group […]
Read articleFirst Read Hits & Takes John Lothian & JLN Staff I have not been to many bell-ringing ceremonies, as many long-time readers probably remember, but I have been to several. The bell-ringing I attended at the BMV headquarters in Mexico City on Wednesday was the most impressive and well-attended I have seen. It was set […]
Read articleFirst Read Hits & Takes John Lothian & JLN Staff The Wall Street Journal’s Dean Seal reports on a development that proves the headline right-this is betting, not traditional speculation or hedging: CME Group, the largest U.S. futures exchange, has partnered with the sports-wagering platform FanDuel to allow customers to place yes-or-no wagers on market-related […]
Read articleFirst Read Hits & Takes John Lothian & JLN Staff The World Federation of Exchanges (WFE) launched its Exchange Manifesto on August 20, 2025, positioning exchanges and clearing houses as essential drivers of economic prosperity and societal benefit. The manifesto emerges as new governments worldwide develop their policies, emphasizing exchanges’ critical role in powering growth, […]
Read articleFirst Read Hits & Takes John Lothian & JLN Staff David Howson has bid farewell to his role as global president at Cboe Global Markets, reflecting on his 12-year journey, including three transformative years at the helm. Under his leadership, Cboe achieved an average of 11% annual revenue growth and 12% growth in earnings per […]
Read articleFirst Read Hits & Takes John Lothian & JLN Staff As I head to the airport this morning to travel to Mexico for the RiskMathics conference, there is something new in terms of airport security. The Wall Street Journal wants to know if the TSA’s new “family lanes” make airport screening easier for families: In […]
Read articleFirst Read Hits & Takes John Lothian & JLN Staff CME Group has opened registration for its 22nd annual Global University Trading Challenge, running from October 5 to October 31, 2025. The competition offers undergraduate and graduate students worldwide an opportunity to manage mock investment portfolios, test risk management skills, and trade futures using a […]
Read articleFirst Read Hits & Takes John Lothian & JLN Staff Miami International Holdings, Inc. is finally a public company. I can finally interview them again, as they are not under one of the longest quiet periods I can remember. So today I will be interviewing Miami International Holdings, Inc. Chairman & CEO Thomas Gallagher in […]
Read articleFirst Read Hits & Takes John Lothian & JLN Staff It’s not just illegal aliens that President Donald Trump wants to make disappear-he’s also targeting anyone who disagrees with his tariff plans or their consequences. The Wall Street Journal reports that, in his latest salvo, Trump publicly called for Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon to […]
Read articleFirst Read Hits & Takes John Lothian & JLN Staff The World Federation of Exchanges (WFE) is urging governments to modernize global tax policies in order to stimulate investment and economic growth. In a newly published paper, the WFE lays out recommendations for a future-ready tax system designed to benefit investors, issuers, market participants, and […]
Read articleFirst Read Hits & Takes John Lothian & JLN Staff Canadians aren’t sending us maple syrup, goodwill, or road trippers anymore-the only thing drifting south these days is smoke from their wildfires. Vehicle crossings from Canada into the US plunged for the seventh consecutive month, slumping nearly 37% in July, as Canadians’ frustration over tariffs […]
Read articleFirst Read Hits & Takes John Lothian & JLN Staff The Futures Industry Association (FIA) has announced that its annual Futures & Options Expo will take place in Chicago on November 17-18. The event will bring together more than 1,800 industry professionals from banks, brokers, market makers, trading venues, and other organizations in the listed […]
Read articleFirst Read Hits & Takes John Lothian & JLN Staff The Futures Industry Association (FIA) has opened nominations for the 2026 class of its Hall of Fame, recognizing individuals who have made significant, lasting contributions to the derivatives industry. Nominations will be accepted until September 5, 2025, and can come from both the private and […]
Read articleFirst Read Hits & Takes John Lothian & JLN Staff Options trading is the best show in town. And I am not talking about just Chicago, but the West End of London, AKA “Theatreland.” Justina Lee reports for Bloomberg on July 31, 2025, that retail traders are flooding theater events like the live tastytrade show […]
Read articleFirst Read Hits & Takes John Lothian & JLN Staff CME Group‘s Global Head of Fixed Income, Mike Dennis, and Boudewijn Duinstra, CEO of ABN AMRO Clearing USA LLC, are running their first marathon together in Chicago this October to raise money for the Misericordia Foundation. Former colleagues at ABN AMRO, both men are dedicating […]
Read articleFirst Read Hits & Takes John Lothian & JLN Staff If there is one article to read today besides my commentary, “OCC Faces Employee Revolt Amid Leadership Crisis and Project Failures,” with the subtitle “Glassdoor Reviews Paint Dire Picture of Toxic Culture, Leadership Dysfunction, and Delays as CEO Approval Plummets to 17% at the Systemically […]
Read articleFirst Read Hits & Takes John Lothian & JLN Staff Congratulations to Sean O’Connor, the executive vice chairman of StoneX, and Phillip Smith, StoneX’s CEO, on the acquisition of R.J. O’Brien, a deal that closed yesterday. Congratulations to RJO CEO Gerry Corcoran on his stewardship of the firm and finding a good home for it […]
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