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Index Options With Kevin Davitt

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Explore Nasdaq-100 Index® Options Insights

Welcome to the Nasdaq Index Options Insights Hub, the go-to resource for retail investors seeking comprehensive education on index options. Access expert insights and strategies from Kevin Davitt, Nasdaq's Head of Index Options Content, through engaging articles, insightful interviews and informative webinars—designed to enhance understanding and proficiency in trading Nasdaq-100 Micro Index® Options (XND®).

Learn how to leverage XND® index options to mitigate risk, generate income and maximize exposure to some of today’s most innovative companies. Whether a beginner or an experienced trader, this page provides resources to navigate the dynamic world of index options.

Kevin Davitt in the News

What Expanded Options Expiration Cycles Mean For You

Kevin Davitt lays out his expectations for earnings and and post-report moves. He explains why the SEC has expanded the Monday and Wednesday expiration cycles and the work that Nasdaq has done to assist. He calls it a “demand-driven expansion” as more investors are accessing options, and says “ultimately, we have to balance the desire to grow the market…with the demand for an orderly marketplace.”

Watch Latest Appearance

: Kevin Davitt lays out his expectations for earnings and and post-report moves. He explains why the SEC has expanded the Monday and Wednesday expiration cycles and the work that Nasdaq has done to assist. He calls it a “demand-driven expansion” as more investors are accessing options, and says “ultimately, we have to balance the desire to grow the market…with the demand for an orderly marketplace.”

Watch Latest Appearance ->

Is Big Tech Reclaiming the Throne?

In this IBKR Podcast episode, Kevin Davitt of Nasdaq joins Andrew Wilkinson to break down what’s driving the rally, the role of semiconductors, consumer resilience and whether Big Tech is reclaiming its place at the center of market influence.

Replay the Interview->

Silicon Small Caps and Sentiment

Tech leadership, small-cap momentum, and shifting investor sentiment took center stage as markets kicked off the new year. Nasdaq’s Kevin Davitt joins Andrew Wilkinson to break down broadening market leadership, CES-driven tech trends, and what it all signals for investors moving forward.

Watch the Podcast->

Can December Deliver Market Cheer?

Kevin Davitt from Nasdaq unpacks whether December can deliver the market cheer investors hope for. From volatility swings to carry trade risks and crypto surprises, this episode dives deep into what could shape the year-end rally.

Watch the Interview->

Implications of Walmart (WMT) Moving Listing to Nasdaq from NYSE

Kevin Davitt looks at historical market data to check the likelihood of a market rally in the second half of December, with the potential for new all-time highs. Kevin also examines the implications of Walmart (WMT) moving its listing to the Nasdaq from the NYSE.

Watch the Interview

Nasdaq's Micro Index® Options (XND®) Newsletter

The XND® Newsletter is the Index Options team’s bi-weekly publication designed to keep retail investors and financial advisors at the forefront of market developments. Each edition delivers timely Nasdaq index options product updates and key data, alongside expert insights into index options and related market trends.

Kevin Davitt

Head of Options Content

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Kevin Davitt is the Head of Nasdaq’s Index Options Content. Kevin spent years focused on options education with an index emphasis at Cboe Global Markets. Prior to his exchange work, Kevin traded index, equity, and commodity futures and options as a market maker at a variety of well-known firms. Davitt is a graduate of Marquette University. He’s a proud Evans Scholar alum and enjoys reading, live music, running and coaching youth baseball.

Video Highlights

What Investors Need to Know About Quadruple Witching Options Expiration

Kevin Davitt, Head of Index Options Content at Nasdaq and Mike Khouw, CNBC Contributor and YieldMax Strategist at YieldMax ETFs, join Jill Malandrino to discuss what investors need to know about quadruple witching options expiration, continued growth of retail participation, and trends to watch for 2026.

Dec 19, 2025

Capital Efficiency and Risk Management Using Derivatives

Kevin Davitt, Head of Index Options Content at Nasdaq, Nick Smith, Head of Index Options Sales at Nasdaq, and Mike Duncan, Founder & Head of Advisory at Para Bellum Advisors, join Jill Malandrino to discuss capital efficiency and risk management using derivatives.

Nov 24, 2025

Are Recent Moves in the Market Signs of a Healthy Pullback?

Kevin Davitt, Head of Index Options Content at Nasdaq, joins Jill Malandrino on Nasdaq TradeTalks to discuss whether recent moves in the market are a healthy pullback or if they have investors panicking.

Nov 21, 2025

How Investors Look to Protect or Position Around Headline-Moving Events Using Options Strategies

Kevin Davitt, Head of Index Options Content at Nasdaq, and Brent Kochuba, Founder of SpotGamma, join Jill Malandrino on Nasdaq TradeTalks to discuss how investors look to protect or position around headline-moving events using options strategies.

Oct 27, 2025

Dispersion Trading as a Derivatives Strategy and How Realized Correlations Impact the Approach

Kevin Davitt, Head of Index Options Content at Nasdaq and Noel Smith, Managing Partner & Chief Investment Officer of Convex Asset Management, join Jill Malandrino on Nasdaq TradeTalks to discuss derivatives strategies that include dispersion trading and how realized correlations impact the approach.

Sep 29, 2025

Quarterly Options Expiration and the Increasing Sophistication of Retail Investors

Kevin Davitt, Head of Index Options Content at Nasdaq and Nick Smith, Head of Index Options Sales at Nasdaq, join Jill Malandrino to discuss quarterly options expiration and the increasing sophistication of retail investors.

Sep 19, 2025

The Market’s Collective Expectations Based on What The Options Market is Implying

Kevin Davitt, Head of Index Options Content at Nasdaq and Mike Khouw, CNBC Contributor and YieldMax Strategist at YieldMax ETFs, join Jill Malandrino to discuss the market’s collective expectations based on what the options market is implying.

Aug 25, 2025

How Investors Are Interpreting the Latest Round of Data

Kevin Davitt, Head of Index Options Content at Nasdaq and Taylor Huffman, Client Portfolio Manager at PTAM, join Jill Malandrino on Nasdaq TradeTalks to discuss how investors are interpreting the latest round of data and positioning into a historically challenging period for equities.

Jul 18, 2025

The Common Types of Options Strategies Newer Investors Tend to Favor

Kevin Davitt, Head of Index Options Content at Nasdaq and Kevin Davitt, Head of Index Options Content at Nasdaq and Michael Arbus, CEO, moomoo Financial Canada, join Jill Malandrino on Nasdaq TradeTalks to discuss the common types of options strategies newer investors tend to favor.

Jun 30, 2025

How Investors and Institutions Are Reacting to and Managing the Volatility Backdrop in 2025

Kevin Davitt, Head of Index Options Content at Nasdaq and Eric Metz, Chief Investment Officer, SpiderRock Advisors, join Jill Malandrino on Nasdaq TradeTalks to discuss how investors and institutions are reacting to and managing the volatility backdrop in 2025.

Jun 20, 2025

The Growth of Buffered ETFs & Why Higher Volatility Changes the Economics of These Exposures

Kevin Davitt, Head of Index Options Content at Nasdaq and Christian Salomone, Chief Investment Officer of Ballast Rock Private Wealth, join Jill Malandrino on Nasdaq TradeTalks to discuss the growth of buffered ETFs and why higher volatility changes the economics of these types of exposures.

Apr 17, 2025

Strategies Options Traders Use and the Value of Options Paper Trading With Education

Kevin Davitt, Head of Index Options Content at Nasdaq, and Justin Zacks, Vice President of Strategy of moomoo, join Jill Malandrino on Nasdaq TradeTalks to discuss strategies options traders use and the value of options paper trading with education.

Mar 24, 2025

An ETF That Captures the Nasdaq-100’s Upside Moves

Kevin Davitt, Head of Index Options Content, Nasdaq, and Troy Cates and Garret Paolella, Co-Founders & Managing Partners at NEOS join Jill Malandrino on Nasdaq TradeTalks to discuss an ETF that captures the Nasdaq-100’s upside moves in addition to the fund's primary goals of income generation and tax efficiency.

Mar 10, 2025

Utilizing NDX Index Options in an ETF for Income Generation

Troy Cates, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at NEOs Investments, joins Jill Malandrino on Nasdaq TradeTalks to discuss utilizing NDX Index options in an ETF for income generation.

Mar 26, 2024

Defiance Rings the Nasdaq Stock Market Opening Bell

Defiance (Nasdaq: QQQY), a Nasdaq 100 Enhanced Options Income ETF, visits the Nasdaq MarketSite in Times Square. In honor of the occasion, Sylvia Jablonski, Defiance's CEO and CIO, rings the Opening Bell.

Nov 06, 2023

Is This a Normal Summer Market?

Kevin Davitt, Head of Index Options Content at Nasdaq, joins Jill Malandrino on Nasdaq TradeTalks to discuss if this is a normal summer market.

Jul 28, 2023

The Relatively Low Levels of Volatility in the Market Currently

Kevin Davitt, Head of Index Options Content at Nasdaq, joins Jill Malandrino on Nasdaq TradeTalks to discuss the relatively low levels of volatility in the market currently.

Jun 16, 2023

Interest Rates Have Had an Outsized Influence on the Nasdaq-100

Interest rates have had an outsized influence on the Nasdaq-100, but that shifted this week. Nasdaq Head of Index Options Content Kevin Davitt joins Jill Malandrino on TradeTalks to discuss.

Mar 15, 2023

Volatility Levels Have Subsided Considerably Over the Past Few Months

Volatility levels have subsided considerably over the past few months. Nasdaq Head of Index Options Content Kevin Davitt joins Jill Malandrino on TradeTalks to discuss what that could potentially signal.

Jan 18, 2023

Alternatives That Investors Have When Seeking Exposure to the Currency Markets

Nasdaq Head of Index Options Content Kevin Davitt joins Jill Malandrino on TradeTalks to discuss alternatives that investors have when seeking exposure to the currency markets.

Nov 16, 2022

The Differences Between Mutli-List and Index Options with Nasdaq Director of U.S. Options Nico Fazio

Nasdaq Director of U.S. Options Nico Fazio breaks down both types of options and how Nasdaq operates and powers the options market.

Oct 20, 2022

Options 101 with Nasdaq Director of U.S. Options Nico Fazio

Nasdaq Director of U.S. Options Nico Fazio breaks down Options 101.

Oct 20, 2022

What Forward Options Volatility is Suggested for September and October Market Activity

Nasdaq Head of Index Options Content Kevin Davitt joins Jill Malandrino on #TradeTalks to discuss what forward options volatility is suggested for September and October market activity.

Aug 17, 2022

Is the Tide Is Turning as the Market Focuses on Earnings?

Nasdaq Head of Index Options Content Kevin Davitt joins Jill Malandrino on TradeTalks to discuss if the tide is turning as the market focuses on earnings and perhaps lower terminal interest rates in the US.

Jul 20, 2022

What to Expect From Tech Earnings

Option Pit COO Mark Sebastian joins Jill Malandrino on Nasdaq #TradeTalks to discuss trends in the Nasdaq Volatility Index VOLQ and what to expect from tech earnings.

Jul 11, 2022

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Featured Research

The Why and How of Index Options:

An Exploration into the Benefits and Strategies of Using Nasdaq-100 Index® Options (NDX®)

"The Why and How of Index Options" whitepaper explores the transformative impact of the Nasdaq-100 Index since 1985, highlighting its unique construction focused on non-financial securities that drive growth and innovation. It discusses the NDX's global investment ecosystem, including stocks, ETFs, futures, and index options like NDX and XND index options, noting significant volume growth in recent years due to increased passive investing and demand for macro risk management tools.

The paper outlines diverse use cases for index options, such as hedging and yield enhancement, and emphasizes their unique attributes, including cash settlement, European styling, daily expirations, and potential tax benefits.

: "The Why and How of Index Options" whitepaper explores the transformative impact of the Nasdaq-100 Index since 1985, highlighting its unique construction focused on non-financial securities that drive growth and innovation. It discusses the NDX's global investment ecosystem, including stocks, ETFs, futures, and index options like NDX and XND index options, noting significant volume growth in recent years due to increased passive investing and demand for macro risk management tools.
The paper outlines diverse use cases for index options, such as hedging and yield enhancement, and emphasizes their unique attributes, including cash settlement, European styling, daily expirations, and potential tax benefits.

Whitepaper

The Why and How of Index Options

Download our NDX® index options whitepaper.

Understanding Index Options Products and Benefits

Index Options Education

What to Know About Index Investing

Read the article

From Index Investing to Index Options a Beginners Guide

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How to Get Started Trading Options

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How to Take Your Options Trading to the Next Level

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Understanding Tax Benefits of Broad Based Index Options

Read the article

Watch the video

Nasdaq-100 Index® Options (NDX®) Product Video

Nasdaq's suite of Nasdaq-100 Index® Options are flexible tools to gain access to the Nasdaq-100 Index® (NDX®) or customize your market exposure over precise time frames.

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Additional Index Options Resources

: IBKR: Tracking the Potential Profitability with Dr. Russell Rhoads Open

IBKR: The Growth of Index Options Open

IBKR: Nasdaq-100® Derby: Leaders and Laggards of 2025 Open

IBKR: Wow… What’s Next? – with SpotGamma Open

IBKR: U.S. Large-Cap Equity Exposure and the Impact on Volatility Open

IBKR: 40 Years of the Nasdaq-100® Index: What Differentiated the NDX in 1985 and Sets It Apart Today Open

MoneyShow: Navigating Portfolio Construction & Risk Management with Options Open

MoneyShow: 40 Years of the Nasdaq-100® Index: What Differentiated the NDX in 1985 and Sets It Apart Today Open

MoneyShow: Nasdaq-100®—Something for Everyone Open

MoneyShow: Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) Growth: The Virtuous Cycle Open

Schwab Network: COST, TSLA, NVDA: Low Correlation in a Narrative-Driven Market Open

Schwab Network: Broadening Equity Ownership in U.S. Changing Consumer Behavior Open

Schwab Network: Nasdaq-100 Hits New All-Time High: Can the Run Continue? Open

Schwab Network: Will Nasdaq-100 Names Continue to Lead Market? Open

Schwab Network: Comparing Historical Market Swings & ‘Record-Breaking’ Options Flows Open
: Phil Mackintosh: The 2025 Intern’s Guide to Options Open

Russell Rhoads, PhD, CFA: New White Paper Explores NDX Straddle Performance by Day of Week Open

Russell Rhoads, PhD, CFA: NDX Traders Braced for Last Inflation Reading Before Next Week’s FOMC Open

Russell Rhoads, PhD, CFA: Non-Farm Payrolls Continues to Favor Option Buyers Open

Russell Rhoads, PhD, CFA: Why Traders are Turning to Nasdaq-100 Micro Index (XND) Options for NVDA Earnings Open

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