options education

The Best Trading Education in 2024

As the financial markets continue to evolve, the need for effective and accessible trading education has never been more crucial. In 2024, Opinicus emerges as a beacon of simplicity and profitability in the complex world of trading.

The Noisy Reality of Unusual Options Activity

UOA revolves around the trading of option contracts at volumes significantly higher than their daily averages. The allure of UOA lies in its potential to uncover market insights and potentially ride the coattails of informed traders -It is data that we tracked and traded with for a number of years in the Trader’s Thinktank. However, as we'll explore, this approach has lost some of its luster.

The Perils of 0DTE Options Trading: Why Day Traders Should Think Twice

0DTE (Zero Days to Expiry) options have gained popularity as a high-risk, high-reward trading instrument in recent years, especially with the advent of daily expirations in SPX. These ultra-short-term options promise quick profits, but as we'll explore in this article, they come with significant dangers that can leave even seasoned day traders with a blown portfolio.

Triple Witching and SPX 0DTE: Unveiling Market Mysteries Amidst Soaring Options Volumes

A recent phenomenon that has been making waves is the peculiar performance of the S&P 500 on Triple Witching days. Over the last 15 occurrences, the S&P 500 has experienced declines in a staggering 13 instances. This raises questions and piques the curiosity of market participants and analysts alike. What could be driving this pattern, and how does it intertwine with the surging volumes in the world of options trading?

First Class Day Trading Mentor: Why Opinicus Stands Out

To be honest, when I started trading, I wished I had a trading mentor. Trading mentors were not as easy to come by when I began my journey… The best you could find were trading books, which don’t provide the same experience. That is part of why I offer these services - I know what it is like to be struggling to navigate the markets!

Options Flow Trading: More Noise Than Signal

Options Flow trading has gained popularity in recent years, with various sites and tools attempting to capture and analyze the data. For multiple years, options flow data and option sweeps were something that we tracked in the Trader’s Thinktank. However, after tracking this data for 6+ years, it's clear to me that options flow and option sweeps have lost the edge they once provided. There are significant reasons why following the options flow is no longer worth your time.

The Best Trading Mentorship Programs - Improve Your Profitability

In the ever-evolving world of trading, finding guidance and a reliable community can be a game-changer for both novice and experienced traders. Among the plethora of options available, two standout mentorship programs, the Trading Mentorship Group (TMG) and the One-On-One Trading Mentorship, offer a no-nonsense approach to help you enhance your trading skills and profitability.

Difference Between Options, Futures, and Stock Trading: A Comprehensive Guide

New traders often ask: What is the difference between options, futures, and stock trading? In this article, learn the differences between options, futures, and stock trading, and discover why new traders should consider futures for index trading.

Trading Options During Retirement

As retirement beckons, the search for diversified income streams becomes imperative. An intriguing avenue that holds the potential to bolster retirement accounts and even provide income is options trading. This article presents a compelling case for retirees to explore options trading during their golden years.

The Best Option Alert Service - And How To Get The Most From It

When it comes to navigating the complex world of options trading, having reliable information at your fingertips is essential. This is where option alert services come into play, providing traders with timely notifications about potentially profitable opportunities.

Options Swing Trade Guide: Using Market Structure and Price Action for Profits

In this guide, I’ll outline the simple approach that I personally use to find and execute swing trade ideas. Whether you're a seasoned trader or just starting, this guide will equip you with the necessary tools and strategies to navigate the markets and capitalize on short to medium-term price movements.

Unraveling the Influence of 0DTE SPX Options: Distortions and Risks in Today's Stock Market

In the ever-evolving landscape of markets, new trading instruments emerge, bringing both opportunities and challenges. One such instrument is the 0DTE option, a derivative introduced in 2022 that has gained significant traction, accounting for nearly 50% of daily trading volumes in the S&P 500 (SPX). While these options have brought liquidity and flexibility to the market, their influence has also led to certain unintended consequences, artificially suppressing volatility and fueling a self-reinforcing feedback loop.

Gamma Exposure (GEX), Gamma Levels, and SPX 0DTE - What You Need To Know

Unraveling the Relationship Between 0DTE Options Trading, Gamma Walls, and Market Volatility. Explore the interplay between these two key factors shaping the stock market landscape, and gain insights into their combined impact on trading strategies and market dynamics.

How Long Does it Take to Become a Consistently Profitable Trader?

Every trader needs to ask themselves if they are willing to commit a few years of their life to their trading development while knowing that the results during this period could be minimal. Progress takes time, and that is especially true when it comes to day trading.

Gamma & Gamma Exposure - What Traders Need to Know

“gamma is one of the larger sources of non-fundamental economic activity in global markets. Market makers who delta-hedge their option positions are economically driven to trade substantial amounts of underlying shares or futures, strictly as a result of the price of the underlying itself changing, not as a result of fundamental news and without regard to the liquidity available. As a result, gamma can cause markets to overreact to fundamental news (short gamma) or too under-react to fundamental news (long gamma).”

Option Sweeps - What The Data Means & How Retail Option Traders Can Benefit

Option Sweeps - What The Data Means & How Retail Option Traders Can Benefit

By keeping an eye out for option sweeps, retail traders can get an idea of what the market’s “smart-money” high-rollers are thinking - and exactly how they are positioning. Remove the noise in options and zone in on what truly matters.

Bid Size and Ask Size on Option Contracts - How You Can Use It To Your Advantage

When bid size is radically different from the ask size, it can represent a supply and demand imbalance. Bid size and ask size can help traders gauge where to place orders and in turn, get quicker fills.