Options sweeps that go off near the ask are usually signs of aggression and a possibility of a higher probability trade.
This is due to the fact that a trade that goes off at the ask means that the trader thought it was more important to get into the trade, by hitting the ask, than it is to get a good price.
The cost of Unusual Options Activity data varies depending on the quality and quantity of the data that you want. If you want raw data from the exchanges like CBOE then you could easily be looking at a few thousand per month plus other costs. This is usually what institutions and data professionals use. If…
The time Value of Options refers to the value of the options contract beyond its intrinsic value. Time value is equal to the extrinsic value of the options contract. Out-of-the-money options consist only of time value. The value of in-the-money options can include both intrinsic value and time value. See also In The Money Options,…
The condor is basically a combination of a bull call spread and a bear call spread. Essentially, options with consecutive strike prices, buying options with a lower exercise price, and options with higher exercise price. The condor is generally created using the same numbers of short and long calls (or puts). You will nee to…
What is an Option Sweep? An option sweep is basically when a big trader breaks up a large order into small individual trades. This is usually done in order to get filled fast or to conceal a large order. The common thinking is that a sweep usually means a big trader knows something and is…
This is when you sell a straddle against shares that you already own. It is important to note that the covered straddle is not really fully covered since only the calls are covered. The strategy has a bullish bias.
Front Month contracts are options contracts that have the least amount of time remaining before expiration. For example, on the 1st of August, the front month contract would the contract that expires in the Month of August. Similarly, on August 31st, the front month contract is the September contract is the front month contract because…
