This week’s data and Nvidia earnings (Feb 26) are pivotal.
Options Positioning
Volume: High, with daily averages ~1.5M contracts (CME data trends). Expect ~1.7M this week due to macro catalysts.
Call vs. Put Skew: Call-heavy (1.4:1), reflecting hedging against a pullback and speculative upside bets.
Key Strikes:
NTM (6,000–6,050): GEX high (+$300M), IV ~25%, DEX balanced. Gamma pinning likely keeps
ES stable early week (Feb 24–25) unless data shifts sentiment.
OTM Calls (6,100–6,150): GEX moderate (+$150M), VEX positive, IV 30%. Heavy OI (40,000 contracts) at 6,100 suggests a volatility spike target if Nvidia beats and PCE cools.
OTM Puts (5,900–5,950): GEX low (+
80M), VEX flat, IV ~20%. Put buying reflects downside hedges if PCE surprises hot (>2.7%).
Term Structure: March futures (~6,050) in slight contango, but a volatility event (e.g., Nvidia miss) could flip to backwardation, boosting OTM call IV.
Key Data Releases and Impact
Feb 25 – Consumer Confidence: <110 liftsES to 6,000; >115 pushes to 6,100.
Feb 26 – Q4 GDP: <2.5% supports 5,950–6,000; >3% pressures to 5,900 on inflation fears.
Feb 26 – Nvidia Earnings: Beat holds 6,050–6,100; miss drops to 5,900–5,950.
Feb 28 – PCE: <2.5% lifts to 6,150; >2.7% sinks to 5,900, spiking OTM put volume.
Forecast: Range: 5,900–6,150. Base case: 6,000–6,050 unless PCE or Nvidia disrupts.
Options Positioning
Volume: High, with daily averages ~1.5M contracts (CME data trends). Expect ~1.7M this week due to macro catalysts.
Call vs. Put Skew: Call-heavy (1.4:1), reflecting hedging against a pullback and speculative upside bets.
Key Strikes:
NTM (6,000–6,050): GEX high (+$300M), IV ~25%, DEX balanced. Gamma pinning likely keeps
ES stable early week (Feb 24–25) unless data shifts sentiment. OTM Calls (6,100–6,150): GEX moderate (+$150M), VEX positive, IV 30%. Heavy OI (40,000 contracts) at 6,100 suggests a volatility spike target if Nvidia beats and PCE cools.
OTM Puts (5,900–5,950): GEX low (+
80M), VEX flat, IV ~20%. Put buying reflects downside hedges if PCE surprises hot (>2.7%).Term Structure: March futures (~6,050) in slight contango, but a volatility event (e.g., Nvidia miss) could flip to backwardation, boosting OTM call IV.
Key Data Releases and Impact
Feb 25 – Consumer Confidence: <110 lifts
ES to 6,000; >115 pushes to 6,100. Feb 26 – Q4 GDP: <2.5% supports 5,950–6,000; >3% pressures to 5,900 on inflation fears.
Feb 26 – Nvidia Earnings: Beat holds 6,050–6,100; miss drops to 5,900–5,950.
Feb 28 – PCE: <2.5% lifts to 6,150; >2.7% sinks to 5,900, spiking OTM put volume.
Forecast: Range: 5,900–6,150. Base case: 6,000–6,050 unless PCE or Nvidia disrupts.
Disclaimer
The information and publications are not meant to be, and do not constitute, financial, investment, trading, or other types of advice or recommendations supplied or endorsed by TradingView. Read more in the Terms of Use.
Disclaimer
The information and publications are not meant to be, and do not constitute, financial, investment, trading, or other types of advice or recommendations supplied or endorsed by TradingView. Read more in the Terms of Use.