Open Interest Analysis (Explained With Examples)

What is the open interest? Open interest (OI) is the total number of outstanding contracts of the derivative products (futures and options) in the market. Market participants are still holding their position on these contracts. Traders predict market sentiments by analyzing open interest. It gives the signal on entry and exit of the market participants. Open interest can increase, decrease, or even remain flat. OI rises when both buyer and seller enter into the new contract. It declines when both the buyer and the seller square off their existing positions. It remains unaffected when any one of the market participants exits from the contract. It should not get confused with the trading volume. Trading volume is the total number of trades in a day. Unlike OI, trading volume always increases.

Let us understand it with the example:

1. On 1, 2, 4 Jan, OI increased as new participants entered into the contract.
2. On 3 Jan, OI remains unaffected as an existing participant (B) closed his position by merely transferring the contract to a new participant (F).
3. On 5, 6 Jan, OI reduced because both the buyer and the seller had closed their existing position.
4. Trading volume has increased each day irrespective of the market participants had entered or exited the market.

Analysis of Price & Open Interest- Analysis of price and open interest helps us to understand market trends. By observing price and OI, we get an idea of the market’s movement. We get the information of positions building up in the market.

1. When price and OI both are increasing, it indicates that long positions are building up. New participants believe that stock will move upward, so they are buying at a higher price. We can interpret, the stock will remain in the uptrend as bullish sentiments are strong.
2. When the price is rising while the OI is falling, it indicates that existing market participants are closing their positions. Sellers are covering their short positions. We can assume that the uptrend will not continue.
3. When a price is falling while OI is rising, new market participants are entering the market. At a falling price, we can assume that short positions are building up. The market will remain in the downtrend as bearish sentiments are strong.
4. When price and OI both are decreasing, it shows that existing players are leaving the market. Here buyers are unwinding their long positions.

Put Call Ratio (PCR) 

Put call ratio is the total number of open put contracts divided by the total number of open call contracts. PCR also calculated on the basics of volume. Traders get the signal of correction and reversal in the price movement. Traders analyze PCR and price to predict the trend of the market. When PCR rises, it implies a bullish signal as put writing is more than the call writing. But when PCR decreases, call writers are more active than the put writers. It can be a bearish signal.

Analysis of Put-Call Ratio (OI)

1. Investors consider 0.7 as an average PCR as people are trading more calls than puts.
2. If a PCR is between 0.7 and 1, it is considered a neutral trend. The market will move sideways.
3. If a PCR is above 1.5, it shows that investors are trading more puts than calls. It is called an overbought zone. Some traders consider it as a bearish signal.
4. If a PCR is below 0.7, it indicates call writers are more active than the put writers. Some traders interpret it as a bullish signal and expect that the market will start rising. It is considered an oversold zone.

How can traders use open interest?

1. To find the resistance and the support-

Traders can predict the movement of the stock by analyzing open interest. A resistance level sets on the OTM call strike where the number of opened contracts is maximum. A support level fixes on the OTM put strike where the number of open contracts is maximum.

Example: Currently, MSFT is trading at $219 (16-12-20), the Maximum OI of the OTM calls is at $230, and the maximum OI of OTM puts is at $200 for the December expiry. Some of the traders predict the stock will move in the range of $200-$230. They believe that 230 can act as resistance and 200 as a support level.

2. To get the correction and reversal signal-

Traders can predict market sentiments by analyzing the price and OI and accordingly decide their position. PCR (price call ratio) gives the signal of entry and exit. Some traders predict the correction and reversal of the market based on price and PCR.

1. If PCR starts increasing during price correction in an up-trending market, it is considered a bullish signal.
2. But if PCR decreases during corrections, the trend can reverse and change into bearish.
3. If PCR starts increasing during price correction in a down-trending market, it suggests a reversal in the market.
4. Similarly, if PCR decreases during price correction downtrend may continue in the market.

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PCR is rising gradually along with the price indicating a bullish signal. Put writing is increasing indicating that the market will remain on the uptrend.

 3. To determine the liquidity of the stock-

Higher OI indicates higher liquidity of the stocks. Dealing in liquid stocks gives the flexibility to enter and exit the market. Traders get information about the most active stocks by examining OI.

Conclusion- The open interest provides significant information about the market sentiments. But it is always advisable to use other indicators as well to get confirmation of the trend. During the expiry of the contracts, open interest is decreasing and may give a fake signal.

Disclaimer

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Reference

Learn more about options trading here

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