Markets are rotating back to risk, but with the Fed, the midterms and Big Tech earnings all landing at once, is this the start of a year-end rally or another false dawn?

In this episode of The Long & Short, Rich McDonald and Piers Buckworth are joined by options specialist Imran Lakha to unpack a huge week for markets, from SK Hynix's blowout results and the Fed to whether AI has become too big to fail.

They also explore how to use options to get paid while you wait for a better entry, why uranium, rare earths and solar are being sold despite strong fundamentals, the first cracks in the refiners, and what the VIX is really telling us ahead of the midterms.

In this episode:

• Why the midterms could cap an AI rally in the short term
• SK Hynix's blowout results and what they say about AI demand
• Why bonds are rallying again, and what to expect from the Fed
• Whether AI will push inflation down, and what it means for jobs
• Has AI become too big to fail?
• IREN, Nebius and how to tell the strong neoclouds from the weak
• How selling puts and put spreads can get you a better entry price
• Why uranium, rare earths and solar stocks are struggling despite strong fundamentals
• Oil refiners, Brent and hedging your winners with risk reversals
• What the VIX is (and isn't) telling us ahead of the midterms
• Earnings previews for Microsoft, Amazon and Google

📖 Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction: Imran Lakha Joins the Show

02:38 – Midterms, AI Fear & a Big Week for Markets

04:45 – SK Hynix, Memory Stocks & the AI Demand Story

08:32 – Bonds, the Fed & Is AI Deflationary?

13:20 – AI, Jobs & Is the AI Trade Too Big to Fail?

17:49 – IREN, Nebius & Selling Puts for a Better Entry

27:00 – Uranium, Solar, Hydrogen & Rare Earths

35:30 – Oil Refiners, Brent & Hedging With Risk Reversals

43:06 – The VIX, the Midterms & How Options Are Changing Markets

47:15 – Moderna, Cerebras & 0DTE Options

52:57 – Earnings Preview: Microsoft, Amazon & Google

📲 Stay connected

Subscribe to The Long & Short for weekly discussions on financial markets, trading opportunities and the forces shaping global investing.

Imran Lakha:

🌐options-insight.com – Options courses, the A to Z of Options and a membership community for options traders.

📱X @options_insight

Rich McDonald:

🌐 richonmarkets.com – Market commentary and newsletters.

📱 @richonmarkets on all social platforms.

Piers Buckworth:

🌐apex-trading.co.uk – Trading insights, market analysis and professional trading education.

📱Instagram @apextradingdesk | TikTok & Substack @apexalphatrading | X@ApexTradingDesk | YouTube @ApexTradingChannel

For a longer-term perspective on investing, ETFs and portfolio construction, check out The Art of Investing podcast released every Friday!

Your capital is at risk. 70% of retail investors lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.