The first couple months of 2026 have been marked by continued geopolitical risks and renewed discussion of tariffs, impacting U.S. and global markets. U.S. equity indices, including the Russell 2000 Index (RUT), experienced their first daily loss greater than 1% of 2026 immediately following Martin Luther King Day. Market volatility further increased with the Cboe Russell 2000 Volatility Index (RVX) reaching a year-to-date high at the beginning of March, driven by renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East that drove oil prices higher and adding further headwinds for equities. With the return of these volatile market conditions, volatility reduction strategies, such as covered calls, are once again in high demand to help investors navigate the heightened market volatility.

February proved to be a tale of two markets as the weakness among “Magnificent 10” stocks impacted the cap-weighted S&P 500® Index leading to outperformance in small-cap and equal-weighted strategies. The S&P 500 Equal Weight Index (SPEQX) led all major benchmarks with a gain of 3.4%, finishing near all-time highs, while the Russell 2000® Index added 0.71%.

As options trading continues to accelerate across global markets, firms need market data solutions that deliver speed, accuracy and efficiency without overwhelming their infrastructure. Cboe Options Lite meets that need by offering a cost-effective, low-bandwidth, consolidated U.S. options feed that provides only what you need and nothing more.