Options Flow Trading Signals

Options flow is real money from institutional traders — not Twitter sentiment. Unusual options activity often precedes major moves by 1-5 days.

What is unusual options activity?

When a trader buys options in unusually large size relative to open interest, especially in out-of-the-money strikes with near-term expiration, it signals strong directional conviction from a well-informed trader.

Key options metrics

• Put/call ratio — ratio of put volume to call volume; below 0.7 = bullish, above 1.3 = bearish
• Gamma exposure (GEX) — market maker hedging creates price magnetism around high-gamma strikes
• Max pain — price where most options expire worthless; acts as gravitational pull near expiry
• IV percentile — high IV = expensive options; low IV = cheap options (consider selling vs buying)

Tidava options integration

Tidava's options positioning engine reads live put/call ratios, gamma walls, and max pain levels for every covered asset. When options flow aligns with technical momentum, conviction rises to HIGH.