Historical Ask Size (Options)
Returns the ask size (number of contracts or shares available at the ask price) for an option contract or stock on a specific historical date. This function is essential for analyzing historical liquidity conditions.
Parameters
| Parameter | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Symbol | Yes | Option symbol (OCC format) or stock ticker |
| OnDate | Yes | Historical date (DATE function or string) |
Input Requirements
For options, use OptionSymbol() to generate the option symbol:
| Parameter | Source | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Symbol | OptionSymbol() output |
OptionSymbol("AAPL",DATE(2026,3,15),"Call",170) |
Interpreting Ask Size
| Size | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Large (100+) | Good liquidity, easy to buy |
| Medium (20-100) | Moderate liquidity |
| Small (1-20) | Lower liquidity, may face slippage |
Notes
- For options, size is measured in contracts
- For stocks, size is in shares
- Larger sizes indicate better sell-side liquidity
- Compare with bid size to assess overall market depth
Examples
=Ask_Size_Historical(OptionSymbol("AAPL",DATE(2026,3,15),"Call",170),DATE(2025,12,15))=Ask_Size_Historical("AAPL240315C00170000", DATE(2025,12,15))=Ask_Size_Historical("SPY", DATE(2025,12,15))=Bid_Size_Historical("AAPL240315C00170000", DATE(2025,12,15)) & " x " & Ask_Size_Historical("AAPL240315C00170000", DATE(2025,12,15))=Ask_Size_Historical(A1, B1)When to Use
- Analyze historical option liquidity conditions
- Backtest strategies that depend on liquidity
- Study market depth around specific events
- Compare liquidity across different options
- Build historical liquidity analysis reports
When NOT to Use
| Scenario | Use Instead |
|---|---|
| Need current ask size | AskSize() |
| Need historical bid size | Bid_Size_Historical() |
| Need historical ask price | Ask_Historical() |
| Need open interest | Open_Interest_Historical() |
Common Issues & FAQ
Q: What's the difference between ask size and open interest? A: Ask size is the number of contracts currently offered for sale at the ask price. Open interest is the total number of outstanding contracts.
Q: Why are bid and ask sizes different? A: Market makers adjust sizes based on their inventory and risk management. Size imbalances can indicate market direction.
Q: How do I assess historical liquidity? A: Look at both bid and ask sizes. Larger, more balanced sizes indicate better two-way liquidity.
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