Monitor Unusual Stock Options Activity with MarketXLS

The “opt_UnusualStockOptionsActivity” function is designed to help investors and traders quickly retrieve, monitor, and analyze unusual activity in stock options—directly within Excel. By focusing on larger-than-normal option volume, this function can reveal potential market sentiment shifts or highlight opportunities for further scrutiny.

Why Use This Function?

• Gain Insights into Market Sentiment: Unusual options activity can imply a higher level of interest in specific equities or indices, often preceding price movements.
• Quick Data Retrieval: Fetch live or near real-time data directly in Excel without manual imports.
• Integrated Workflow: Use the results in combination with other Excel formulas and analytical tools to streamline your trading research.
• Region & Instrument Specific: Retrieve data by country (e.g., US or India) or by instrument type (equity or index), allowing deeper segmentation based on your strategy.
• Timesaver for Traders: Automate checks for unusual activity so you can focus more on analysis and strategy.

How to Use in Excel

=opt_UnusualStockOptionsActivity(NumberOfRecords, [Country], [InstrumentType])

1. Open Excel with the MarketXLS add-in installed and activated.
2. Select a cell where you want the data to appear.
3. Enter the function with the required “NumberOfRecords” parameter and optional “Country” and “InstrumentType.”
4. Press Enter, and MarketXLS will fetch and load the corresponding data into your worksheet.

Parameters Explained

Example Usage

Basic Examples

1. Retrieve Top 10 Unusual Options in Default Market (India): • Formula:
   =opt_UnusualStockOptionsActivity(10)
   • Explanation:

   • Since no country is specified, it defaults to "IN" (India).
   • No instrument type is specified, so all instrument types are included.

2. Focus on 20 Records of Unusual Options Activity in the US: • Formula:
   =opt_UnusualStockOptionsActivity(20, "US")
   • Explanation:

   • Requests data from the US market.
   • Includes any index or equity options.

3. Get Top 30 Records of Index Options in India: • Formula:
   =opt_UnusualStockOptionsActivity(30, "IN", "index")
   • Explanation:

   • Specifically retrieves unusual index options activity in the Indian market.

Advanced Scenarios

1. Screening Multiple Markets Simultaneously:

   • Imagine using two cells:
     A1: =opt_UnusualStockOptionsActivity(15, "US", "equity")
     A2: =opt_UnusualStockOptionsActivity(15, "IN", "equity")
   • This setup compares 15 unusual equity options in the US versus 15 in India.

2. Pairing with Data Analysis Tools:

   • Fetch the list of unusual options, then apply Excel’s Data Filter, PivotTables, or MarketXLS’ technical analysis functions to detect patterns (e.g., repeated large volume in the same underlying).

3. Trading Strategy Integration:

   • Combine this function’s output with MarketXLS’ Greeks or implied volatility metrics to refine entry and exit strategies based on high-volume trades in specific expirations.

Common Questions and Troubleshooting

• “Why am I getting 'NA'?”

  • This can occur if your MarketXLS license is not valid or if there is an error connecting to the data feed. Validate your license and ensure you have a stable internet connection.

• “What if my sheet returns no data rows?”

  • This might mean the server did not find any qualifying unusual options for your specified parameters. Try lowering the NumberOfRecords or removing some filters.

• “Does 'Country' recognize different variations of the country name?”

  • It’s best to stick with “IN” (India) or “US” (United States). The function attempts to handle the string “INDIA” by converting it automatically to “IN,” but otherwise defaults to “US.”

• “Can I change the columns or output format?”

  • The function prints a fixed set of columns (e.g., Underlying, Expiration, Option Type, Strike, Volume/Interest metrics). For further customization, consider referencing the cells directly or using Excel’s built-in tools to rearrange columns.

Remember:

• You must have a valid MarketXLS license.
• If you need more rows, increase NumberOfRecords.
• Analyze the country and instrument filters to target your specific trading interests.
• Combine the output with other MarketXLS features for comprehensive market analysis.