Investors awaited fresh economic data and comments from Fed officials as Treasury yields rebounded after last week's sharp decline, lifting major US equity indices. The Dow Jones snapped a 4-day losing streak while the S&P 500 notched a fresh record high.Options flows showed expectations for a 1% upside in SPY by June 28 expiry. QQQ was seen holding above 475 through June 21. IWM priced in a 3.4%-4.9% potential rally by June 28 expiry.Details:$S&P 500 ETF (SPY)$On Monday, SPY rose 0.8% to close at $547.1. In recent active trading, 19% of options activity was spread trades. Today's most popular SPY options trade was a put spread, with 489,884 contracts traded. Key flows included:Put Spread Strategy, total 90k contractsBuying

The US Federal Reserve kicked off its two-day policy meeting, with markets awaiting the rate decision outcome amid generally cautious sentiment.Options flows showed expectations for SPY to see limited downside below 4.8% by June 21 expiry. For QQQ, there was defensive put buying to hedge against potential outsized drawdowns. The Russell 2000 was expected to trade in a 191-209 range.Details:The S&P 500 ETF (SPY) saw open call interest decline 0.4% over the past 5 days. Open put contracts increased 1.1% over the same period.For call options, investors bought the most SPY 20240628 542.0 CALLs with a 542 strike, adding 6,799 contracts. This priced in around 1.5% further upside for SPY by June 28 expiration.For put options, the most sold were SPY 20240719 465.0 PUTs with a 465 strike, addin

The surprisingly strong US jobs report led traders to scale back expectations for Fed rate cuts this year. The US dollar index rallied and Treasury yields spiked higher.Options flows showed an increase in downside put hedging for SPY. For QQQ, there was greater divergence with expectations for further 1.5% upside through July but hedges building for a potential September pullback. Small-caps remained volatile with expectations for a 2.4% rally in IWM by July 17 expiry.Details: $SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust(SPY)$ saw open call interest unchanged over the past 5 days. Open put contracts increased 6.0% over the same period.For call options, the most actively traded was the $SPY 20240610 535.0 C

Market confidence in an upcoming Fed rate cut increased after US data showed job openings declined in April, followed by the ADP jobs report showing May private payrolls rose far less than expected with prior figures also revised lower. Both reports indicated cooling in the US labor market.Options flows showed expectations for SPY to trade below 560 by the weekend close. QQQ was expected to stay between 460 and 470 through July 19 expiry. Small-caps remained volatile with expectations for a 2.9% rally in IWM by June 10.Details:The S&P 500 ETF (SPY) saw open call interest rise 0.4% over the past 5 days. Open put contracts increased 1.2% over the same period.For call options, investors sold the most $SPY 20240607 560.0 CALL$&nbs

Concerns over the health of the US economy intensified. Meanwhile, investors closely monitored key economic data releases this week for clues on the extent of an economic growth slowdown.Options flows showed expectations for SPY to see limited downside below 2% by late June. QQQ was expected to trade below 455 by June 21 expiry. Small-caps remained volatile with expectations for a 4.4% swing in either direction for the Russell 2000 through July.Details:The S&P 500 ETF (SPY) saw open call interest rise 2.4% over the past 5 days. Open put contracts increased 1.7% over the same period.For call options, investors bought the most $SPY 20240621 532.0 CALL$  with a 532 strike, adding 15,000 contracts. This implied around 1%

Earlier, the latest data showed that the pace of inflation in the United States was in line with expectations, which raised hopes for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates.Options flows showed expectations for SPY to see limited downside below 1.5% by June 7 expiration. QQQ was expected to hold above 430 by June 21. For small-caps, the expectation was for the Russell 2000 to see a drawdown capped below 6.8% through September, with upside limited to 2.8%.Details:The S&P 500 ETF (SPY) saw open call interest rise 2.5% over the past 5 days. Open put contracts increased 0.6% over the same period.For call options, the most actively traded was the $SPY 20240731 580.0 CALL$  with a 580 strike, adding 37,000 contracts.For

Investors turned defensive as worries over the Fed's rate path timing and magnitude pushed Treasury yields higher, pressuring large-cap stocks.Options flows showed SPY at an inflection point, with either a 9.4% rally priced in by July expiry or a 5.6% drop expected by August. QQQ had at least 0.7% further upside priced in by June 14. For small-caps, upside appeared capped with expectations for IWM's rally staying below 5.1% by mid-June.Details:The S&P 500 ETF (SPY) saw open call interest rise 1.4% over the past 5 days. Open put contracts increased 1.2% over the same period.For call options, investors bought the most $SPY 20240719 580.0 CALL$  with a 580 strike, adding 46,000 contracts. This implies around 9.4% further

A sharp drop in US weekly initial jobless claims dented hopes for Fed rate cuts, offsetting the tech rally led by Nvidia and sending Boeing plunging over 7.5% as Treasury yields climbed.Options flows showed the S&P 500 topping out, with expectations for SPY to trade below 528 by June 14 expiration. QQQ was seen capped with less than 2% further upside priced in by May 31. For small-caps, the Russell 2000 topped out with IWM expected to stay below 214 by June 7.Details:The S&P 500 ETF (SPY) saw open call interest rise 4.3% over the past 5 days. Open put contracts increased 2.2% over the same period.For call options, investors sold the most $SPY 20240614 528.0 CALL$  with a 528 strike, adding 18,000 contracts. This i

Tech-heavy Nasdaq and S&P 500 pushed higher on the back of a blowout earnings report from Nvidia that boosted chip stocks and reinforced optimism around the AI boom.Options flows showed continued defensive put positioning in SPY to hedge for a 5% pullback by July 31 expiration. For QQQ, downside was seen limited to 5.6% by May 31. In small-caps, the Russell 2000 was pricing a 5% decline by July 19.Details:The $SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust(SPY)$ saw open call interest rise 1.2% over the past 5 days. Open put contracts increased 1.3% over the same period.For call options, the most actively traded was the $SPY 20240523 540.0 CALL$  with a 540 strike, adding 12,000 contracts.For put

Investors awaited Nvidia's earnings report after the bell to see if the AI chip giant can sustain this year's stock market rally. The Federal Reserve's latest policy meeting minutes were also due for release later, with investors scanning for clues on the rate path ahead.Options flows revealed active trading in upside calls, pointing to a bullish view on the S&P 500 for May, though longer-dated put positioning continued building. QQQ still had around 2% further upside priced in, while small-caps saw expectations capping the Russell 2000's rally below 5.7% by June expiration.Details:The S&P 500 ETF (SPY) saw open call interest rise 0.6% over the past 5 days. Open put contracts increased 0.7% over the same period.For call options, investors bought the most

Investors awaited Nvidia's latest earnings report, as well as the release of the Federal Reserve's latest policy meeting minutes later this week, which could test whether last week's record rally in stocks has legs to continue after April's meeting hinted at a hawkish pivot.Options market data pointed to a bullish view on the S&P 500 for May, with expectations for the index to hold above 520. Upside remained priced in for QQQ, with a 1.7% rally anticipated by May 24 expiration. For small-caps, bullish flows persisted in the Russell 2000, pricing in an 8% rally by July.Details:The $SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust(SPY)$ saw open call interest decline -9.0% over the past 5 days. Open put contracts fell -19.0% over the same period.For call options, the

Investors turned more cautious on rate cut expectations, leaving indexes roughly flat as bets on Fed easing unwound, driving a pullback in risk assets. Meanwhile, the meme stock frenzy saw another twist, with GameStop and AMC Entertainment giving back some of their recent gains.Friday, May 17th marked the monthly options expiration. SPY and QQQ saw heavy volume focused on settling this week's expiring contracts. For small-caps, bullish flows continued in the Russell 2000, with expectations capping upside below 12.9% by year-end.Details:The S&P 500 ETF (SPY) saw open call interest rise 0.8% over the past 5 days. Open put contracts increased 0.4% over the same period.For call options, the most actively traded was the $SPY 202405

Investors awaited comments from Fed officials for clues on the next policy moves, after the previous day's mild inflation report fueled rate cut hopes and drove major indexes to fresh record highs.Options market data suggested a positive view on the S&P 500 for May, though longer-dated butterflies spreads pointed to a gradual bearish shift. Upside room kept expanding in QQQ, with expectations for a 2.2% rally priced in by late May. For small-caps, bullish flows continued in the Russell 2000, with expectations for a 1.2% rally by month-end.Details:The $SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust(SPY)$ saw open call interest rise 2.4% over the past 5 days. Open put contracts increased 5.6% over the same period.For call options, investors sold the most

The latest U.S. data releases showed April CPI and retail sales cooled, with the CPI report prompting markets to price in a faster pace of Fed rate cuts this year.Options market data suggested a continued positive outlook for the S&P 500, though longer-dated put buying remained. Upside room kept expanding in QQQ, with expectations for a rally over 1.3% priced in by May 20 expiration. For small-caps, bullish flows continued in the Russell 2000, with expectations for the index to hold above 210 through June 21.Details:The $SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust(SPY)$ saw open call interest rise 0.9% over the past 5 days. Open put contracts increased 1.7% over the same period.For call options, investors sold the most

Previous U.S. data releases showed persistently elevated inflation, leading markets to price in a slower pace of Fed rate cuts this year. Meanwhile, comments from Fed Chair Powell later on became the focus.Options market data suggested a more positive view on the S&P 500, with institutional positioning for the index to hold above 520 through June 14 expiration. Upside room continued to open up in QQQ. For the small-cap Russell 2000, there was room left for a 2.4% rally this week, while expectations capped downside below 2.4% by June 21.Details:The $SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust(SPY)$ saw open call interest decline -0.3% over the past 5 days. Open put contracts rose 0.6% over the same period.For call options, investors sold the most

Investors awaited this week's inflation report for clues on the Fed's policy path. Treasury yields and the U.S. dollar index declined.Options market data suggested the S&P 500 ETF could see a pullback of over 1.5% priced in by May 17 expiration. For QQQ, there was room left for a 2.2% rally this week, while a 4.2% decline was expected. The small-cap Russell 2000 had room for a 1.4% decline priced in for the week.Details:The $SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust(SPY)$ saw open call interest decline -2.9% over the past 5 days. Open put contracts decreased -0.5% over the same period.For call options, investors bought the most $SPY 20241220 680.0 CALL$  with a 680 strike, adding 18,000 cont

Data showing a cooling jobs market revived hopes for Fed rate cuts later this year, boosting U.S. stocks. Home Depot and Caterpillar led the rally as the Dow notched its longest winning streak since December 2022 with 9 straight gains.Options market data suggested the S&P 500 ETF may have topped out around 521, with expectations for a decline of over 1.9% priced in by June 21 expiration. For QQQ, near-term upside was adjusted higher while longer-dated put buying continued. The small-cap Russell 2000 saw room for more upside into late May, with expectations capping gains in IWM below 6.8% by May 24.Details:The $SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust(SPY)$ saw open call interest rise 2.3% over the past 5 days. Open put contracts increased 3.9% over the same

Rising Treasury yields and mixed corporate earnings impacted market sentiment, though the Dow Jones rose for the sixth straight session, reclaiming the 33,000 level.Options market data showed muted trading across the major index ETFs, with most activity concentrated in front-week options set to expire, suggesting retail traders were the main participants.Details:The $SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust(SPY)$ options overall reflected a bullish trading sentiment, with sellers of put options dominating. Open call interest declined -1.4% over the past 5 days. Open put contracts increased 12.2% over the same period.For call options, the most actively traded was the $SPY 20240509 521.0 CALL$  w

Traders are looking for more clues on whether the Fed could start cutting rates. After a pullback in April, stocks have rebounded recently on renewed hopes for Fed rate cuts this year, with corporate earnings for the first quarter also providing some optimism so far.Options market data suggested the S&P 500 ETF may have topped out around 520, with any pullback limited to less than 4.8%. For QQQ, downside expectations continued to be tempered, with a decline of less than 2.2% priced in by June 21 expiration. Small-cap Russell 2000 looked to have topped as well, with expectations for the index to trade below 208 by mid-May.Details:The $SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust(SPY)$ options overall reflected a bearish trading sentiment, with sellers of put opti

The surprisingly cool U.S. April jobs report stoked hopes for an earlier start to Fed rate cuts, sending the VIX fear gauge to a one-month low and pushing Treasury yields lower. Apple rallied nearly 6%, leading tech stocks higher.As the S&P 500 gradually rose, options market data showed continued adjustments to hedge put positions by raising strike prices. For QQQ, downside expectations for May were lowered, with a decline of less than 2.7% priced in by May 31st expiration. Small-cap Russell 2000 options saw active buying of calls, implying expectations for the index to trade above 205 by June 21.Details:The $SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust(SPY)$ options overall reflected a bullish trading sentiment, with sellers of put options dominating. Open call