Using Call Put Ratio Charts For Indexes And Components

Call option volume to put volume can indicate bullish or bearish sentiment in stocks, ETFs and indexes.

Summary

The call put ratio can indicate bullish or bearish sentiment in stocks, ETFs, and indexes. The ratio should be used as a relative measurement to its normal level for symbols. Recently, retail traders have been pouring into the market, causing calls to outstrip puts by 200% for the average component. Contrastingly, the SPX call put ratio has been below its long term average until recently. Generally, the SPX represents institutional smart money, while the components represent retail traders.

The call put ratio can often reflect the bullish or bearish views of options traders, with more calls trading indicating bullish sentiment.

The ratio should be used as a relative measurement to its normal level for symbols. For example, the SPX call volume lagged put volume over much of the time since 2007 averaging only 55% as shown below.

Whereas, the call/put ratio average for the S&P components, as represented by the symbol SPX_C in the ORATS Wheel Chart below, has averaged 150% since 2007.

Recently, with the pouring in of retail traders into the market, many through the trading app Robinhood, calls are outstripping puts by 200% for the average component.

Contrast this with the index SPX. Recently, the SPX call put ratio has been below its long term average until yesterday.

Generally, the SPX represents institutional smart money and the components represent retail traders.

Near the bottom of the Covid crash, the SPX call/put was above its normal 55% hitting 100% a few days after the bottom. The crash saw the S&P components call/put below its average, only rising to its long term average near the top of the shaped recovery.

Matt Amberson was quoted in the Reuters pointing out this ratio. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-stock-options-anal/virus-worries-and-fomo-drive-options-bets-on-surging-tech-giants-idUSKCN24F2LN

More reading: https://blog.orats.com/put-call-skew-dips-in-coincidence-with-market-rallies

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