The Options Market Overview page provides a snapshot of today's market activity and recent news affecting the options markets.
Options information is delayed a minimum of 15 minutes, and is updated at least once every 15-minutes through-out the day. The new day's options data will start populating the page at approximately 8:55a CT.
Unusual Options Activity
Unusual Options Activity identifies options contracts that are trading at a higher volume relative to the contract's open interest. Unusual Options can prove insight on what "smart money" is doing with large volume orders, signaling new positions and potentially a big move in the underlying Stock or ETF. Options can be considered bullish when a call is purchased at the ask price and Options can be considered bearish when a call is sold at the bid price.
Options News
Get commentary on the Options market from industry experts.
Most Active Options
Shows symbols with the most option activity on the day, with IV Rank and Put/Call ratio.
Covered Calls
A Covered Call or buy-write strategy is used to increase returns on long positions, by selling call options in an underlying security you own. Profit is limited to strike price of the short call option minus the purchase price of the underlying security, plus the premium received. Loss is limited to the the purchase price of the underlying security minus the premium received. The covered call strategy is useful to generate additional income if you do not expect much movement in the price of the underlying security.
Highest Implied Volatility
Highlights heightened IV strikes which may be covered call, cash secured put, or spread candidates to take advantage of inflated option premiums.
Implied volatility is a theoretical value that measures the expected volatility of the underlying stock over the period of the option. It is an important factor to consider when understanding how an option is priced, as it can help traders determine if an option is fairly valued, undervalued, or overvalued. Generally speaking, traders look to buy an option when the implied volatility is low, and look to sell an option (or consider a spread strategy) when implied volatility is high.
Options Put/Call Ratios
Use put / call ratios to time market tops and bottoms.
"Normal" activity is generally 3 calls to 2 puts, or a ratio of 0.60.
Low numbers (less the 0.7) are considered bullish (more calls are being traded), while high numbers (greater than 1.3) are considered bearish (more puts are being traded.)
Index Options
Shows Indices with the most option activity on the day, with IV Rank and Put/Call ratio.
Options move fast. With Barchart Premier, so can you. Screen based on profitability or profit, scan unusual options for new opportunities or download options pricing history. Sign up for a risk-free 30-day trial today. 
