GOLD
GoldMax Pain - GOLD
Strike 120000 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 648,200,000 Combined total value = 648,200,000
Strike 120100 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 643,130,000 Combined total value = 643,130,000
Strike 120200 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 638,060,000 Combined total value = 638,060,000
Strike 120300 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 632,990,000 Combined total value = 632,990,000
Strike 120400 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 627,920,000 Combined total value = 627,920,000
Strike 120500 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 622,850,000 Combined total value = 622,850,000
Strike 120600 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 617,780,000 Combined total value = 617,780,000
Strike 120700 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 612,710,000 Combined total value = 612,710,000
Strike 120800 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 607,640,000 Combined total value = 607,640,000
Strike 120900 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 602,570,000 Combined total value = 602,570,000
Strike 121000 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 597,500,000 Combined total value = 597,500,000
Strike 121100 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 592,430,000 Combined total value = 592,430,000
Strike 121200 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 587,360,000 Combined total value = 587,360,000
Strike 121300 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 582,290,000 Combined total value = 582,290,000
Strike 121400 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 577,220,000 Combined total value = 577,220,000
Strike 121500 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 572,150,000 Combined total value = 572,150,000
Strike 121600 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 567,080,000 Combined total value = 567,080,000
Strike 121700 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 562,010,000 Combined total value = 562,010,000
Strike 121800 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 556,940,000 Combined total value = 556,940,000
Strike 121900 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 551,870,000 Combined total value = 551,870,000
Strike 122000 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 546,800,000 Combined total value = 546,800,000
Strike 122100 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 541,730,000 Combined total value = 541,730,000
Strike 122200 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 536,660,000 Combined total value = 536,660,000
Strike 122300 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 531,590,000 Combined total value = 531,590,000
Strike 122400 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 526,520,000 Combined total value = 526,520,000
Strike 122500 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 521,450,000 Combined total value = 521,450,000
Strike 122600 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 516,380,000 Combined total value = 516,380,000
Strike 122700 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 511,310,000 Combined total value = 511,310,000
Strike 122800 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 506,240,000 Combined total value = 506,240,000
Strike 122900 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 501,170,000 Combined total value = 501,170,000
Strike 123000 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 496,100,000 Combined total value = 496,100,000
Strike 123100 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 491,030,000 Combined total value = 491,030,000
Strike 123200 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 485,960,000 Combined total value = 485,960,000
Strike 123300 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 480,890,000 Combined total value = 480,890,000
Strike 123400 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 475,820,000 Combined total value = 475,820,000
Strike 123500 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 470,750,000 Combined total value = 470,750,000
Strike 123600 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 465,680,000 Combined total value = 465,680,000
Strike 123700 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 460,610,000 Combined total value = 460,610,000
Strike 123800 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 455,540,000 Combined total value = 455,540,000
Strike 123900 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 450,470,000 Combined total value = 450,470,000
Strike 124000 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 445,400,000 Combined total value = 445,400,000
Strike 124100 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 440,330,000 Combined total value = 440,330,000
Strike 124200 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 435,260,000 Combined total value = 435,260,000
Strike 124300 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 430,190,000 Combined total value = 430,190,000
Strike 124400 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 425,120,000 Combined total value = 425,120,000
Strike 124500 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 420,050,000 Combined total value = 420,050,000
Strike 124600 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 414,980,000 Combined total value = 414,980,000
Strike 124700 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 409,910,000 Combined total value = 409,910,000
Strike 124800 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 404,840,000 Combined total value = 404,840,000
Strike 124900 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 399,770,000 Combined total value = 399,770,000
Strike 125000 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 394,700,000 Combined total value = 394,700,000
Strike 125100 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 389,940,000 Combined total value = 389,940,000
Strike 125200 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 385,180,000 Combined total value = 385,180,000
Strike 125300 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 380,420,000 Combined total value = 380,420,000
Strike 125400 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 375,660,000 Combined total value = 375,660,000
Strike 125500 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 370,900,000 Combined total value = 370,900,000
Strike 125600 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 366,140,000 Combined total value = 366,140,000
Strike 125700 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 361,380,000 Combined total value = 361,380,000
Strike 125800 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 356,620,000 Combined total value = 356,620,000
Strike 125900 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 351,860,000 Combined total value = 351,860,000
Strike 126000 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 347,100,000 Combined total value = 347,100,000
Strike 126100 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 342,340,000 Combined total value = 342,340,000
Strike 126200 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 337,580,000 Combined total value = 337,580,000
Strike 126300 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 332,820,000 Combined total value = 332,820,000
Strike 126400 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 328,060,000 Combined total value = 328,060,000
Strike 126500 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 323,300,000 Combined total value = 323,300,000
Strike 126600 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 318,540,000 Combined total value = 318,540,000
Strike 126700 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 313,780,000 Combined total value = 313,780,000
Strike 126800 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 309,020,000 Combined total value = 309,020,000
Strike 126900 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 304,260,000 Combined total value = 304,260,000
Strike 127000 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 299,500,000 Combined total value = 299,500,000
Strike 127100 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 294,740,000 Combined total value = 294,740,000
Strike 127200 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 289,980,000 Combined total value = 289,980,000
Strike 127300 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 285,220,000 Combined total value = 285,220,000
Strike 127400 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 280,460,000 Combined total value = 280,460,000
Strike 127500 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 275,700,000 Combined total value = 275,700,000
Strike 127600 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 270,940,000 Combined total value = 270,940,000
Strike 127700 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 266,180,000 Combined total value = 266,180,000
Strike 127800 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 261,420,000 Combined total value = 261,420,000
Strike 127900 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 256,660,000 Combined total value = 256,660,000
Strike 128000 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 251,900,000 Combined total value = 251,900,000
Strike 128100 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 247,140,000 Combined total value = 247,140,000
Strike 128200 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 242,380,000 Combined total value = 242,380,000
Strike 128300 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 237,620,000 Combined total value = 237,620,000
Strike 128400 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 232,860,000 Combined total value = 232,860,000
Strike 128500 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 228,100,000 Combined total value = 228,100,000
Strike 128600 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 223,340,000 Combined total value = 223,340,000
Strike 128700 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 218,580,000 Combined total value = 218,580,000
Strike 128800 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 213,820,000 Combined total value = 213,820,000
Strike 128900 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 209,060,000 Combined total value = 209,060,000
Strike 129000 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 204,300,000 Combined total value = 204,300,000
Strike 129100 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 199,540,000 Combined total value = 199,540,000
Strike 129200 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 194,780,000 Combined total value = 194,780,000
Strike 129300 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 190,020,000 Combined total value = 190,020,000
Strike 129400 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 185,260,000 Combined total value = 185,260,000
Strike 129500 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 180,500,000 Combined total value = 180,500,000
Strike 129600 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 175,740,000 Combined total value = 175,740,000
Strike 129700 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 170,980,000 Combined total value = 170,980,000
Strike 129800 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 166,220,000 Combined total value = 166,220,000
Strike 129900 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 161,460,000 Combined total value = 161,460,000
Strike 130000 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 156,700,000 Combined total value = 156,700,000
Strike 130100 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 153,300,000 Combined total value = 153,300,000
Strike 130200 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 149,900,000 Combined total value = 149,900,000
Strike 130300 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 146,500,000 Combined total value = 146,500,000
Strike 130400 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 143,100,000 Combined total value = 143,100,000
Strike 130500 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 139,700,000 Combined total value = 139,700,000
Strike 130600 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 136,300,000 Combined total value = 136,300,000
Strike 130700 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 132,900,000 Combined total value = 132,900,000
Strike 130800 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 129,500,000 Combined total value = 129,500,000
Strike 130900 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 126,100,000 Combined total value = 126,100,000
Strike 131000 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 122,700,000 Combined total value = 122,700,000
Strike 131100 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 119,300,000 Combined total value = 119,300,000
Strike 131200 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 115,900,000 Combined total value = 115,900,000
Strike 131300 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 112,500,000 Combined total value = 112,500,000
Strike 131400 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 109,100,000 Combined total value = 109,100,000
Strike 131500 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 105,700,000 Combined total value = 105,700,000
Strike 131600 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 102,300,000 Combined total value = 102,300,000
Strike 131700 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 98,900,000 Combined total value = 98,900,000
Strike 131800 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 95,500,000 Combined total value = 95,500,000
Strike 131900 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 92,100,000 Combined total value = 92,100,000
Strike 132000 has a total call value of 0 versus a total put value of 88,700,000 Combined total value = 88,700,000
Strike 132100 has a total call value of 80,000 versus a total put value of 85,960,000 Combined total value = 86,040,000
Strike 132200 has a total call value of 160,000 versus a total put value of 83,220,000 Combined total value = 83,380,000
Strike 132300 has a total call value of 240,000 versus a total put value of 80,480,000 Combined total value = 80,720,000
Strike 132400 has a total call value of 320,000 versus a total put value of 77,740,000 Combined total value = 78,060,000
Strike 132500 has a total call value of 400,000 versus a total put value of 75,000,000 Combined total value = 75,400,000
Strike 132600 has a total call value of 480,000 versus a total put value of 72,260,000 Combined total value = 72,740,000
Strike 132700 has a total call value of 560,000 versus a total put value of 69,520,000 Combined total value = 70,080,000
Strike 132800 has a total call value of 640,000 versus a total put value of 66,780,000 Combined total value = 67,420,000
Strike 132900 has a total call value of 720,000 versus a total put value of 64,040,000 Combined total value = 64,760,000
Strike 133000 has a total call value of 800,000 versus a total put value of 61,300,000 Combined total value = 62,100,000
Strike 133100 has a total call value of 1,010,000 versus a total put value of 58,770,000 Combined total value = 59,780,000
Strike 133200 has a total call value of 1,220,000 versus a total put value of 56,240,000 Combined total value = 57,460,000
Strike 133300 has a total call value of 1,430,000 versus a total put value of 53,710,000 Combined total value = 55,140,000
Strike 133400 has a total call value of 1,640,000 versus a total put value of 51,180,000 Combined total value = 52,820,000
Strike 133500 has a total call value of 1,850,000 versus a total put value of 48,650,000 Combined total value = 50,500,000
Strike 133600 has a total call value of 2,060,000 versus a total put value of 46,120,000 Combined total value = 48,180,000
Strike 133700 has a total call value of 2,270,000 versus a total put value of 43,590,000 Combined total value = 45,860,000
Strike 133800 has a total call value of 2,480,000 versus a total put value of 41,060,000 Combined total value = 43,540,000
Strike 133900 has a total call value of 2,690,000 versus a total put value of 38,530,000 Combined total value = 41,220,000
Strike 134000 has a total call value of 2,900,000 versus a total put value of 36,000,000 Combined total value = 38,900,000
Strike 134100 has a total call value of 3,110,000 versus a total put value of 33,690,000 Combined total value = 36,800,000
Strike 134200 has a total call value of 3,320,000 versus a total put value of 31,380,000 Combined total value = 34,700,000
Strike 134300 has a total call value of 3,530,000 versus a total put value of 29,070,000 Combined total value = 32,600,000
Strike 134400 has a total call value of 3,740,000 versus a total put value of 26,760,000 Combined total value = 30,500,000
Strike 134500 has a total call value of 3,950,000 versus a total put value of 24,450,000 Combined total value = 28,400,000
Strike 134600 has a total call value of 4,160,000 versus a total put value of 22,140,000 Combined total value = 26,300,000
Strike 134700 has a total call value of 4,370,000 versus a total put value of 19,830,000 Combined total value = 24,200,000
Strike 134800 has a total call value of 4,580,000 versus a total put value of 17,520,000 Combined total value = 22,100,000
Strike 134900 has a total call value of 4,790,000 versus a total put value of 15,210,000 Combined total value = 20,000,000
Strike 135000 has a total call value of 5,000,000 versus a total put value of 12,900,000 Combined total value = 17,900,000
Strike 135100 has a total call value of 6,740,000 versus a total put value of 12,500,000 Combined total value = 19,240,000
Strike 135200 has a total call value of 8,480,000 versus a total put value of 12,100,000 Combined total value = 20,580,000
Strike 135300 has a total call value of 10,220,000 versus a total put value of 11,700,000 Combined total value = 21,920,000
Strike 135400 has a total call value of 11,960,000 versus a total put value of 11,300,000 Combined total value = 23,260,000
Strike 135500 has a total call value of 13,700,000 versus a total put value of 10,900,000 Combined total value = 24,600,000
Strike 135600 has a total call value of 15,440,000 versus a total put value of 10,500,000 Combined total value = 25,940,000
Strike 135700 has a total call value of 17,180,000 versus a total put value of 10,100,000 Combined total value = 27,280,000
Strike 135800 has a total call value of 18,920,000 versus a total put value of 9,700,000 Combined total value = 28,620,000
Strike 135900 has a total call value of 20,660,000 versus a total put value of 9,300,000 Combined total value = 29,960,000
Strike 136000 has a total call value of 22,400,000 versus a total put value of 8,900,000 Combined total value = 31,300,000
Strike 136100 has a total call value of 24,190,000 versus a total put value of 8,570,000 Combined total value = 32,760,000
Strike 136200 has a total call value of 25,980,000 versus a total put value of 8,240,000 Combined total value = 34,220,000
Strike 136300 has a total call value of 27,770,000 versus a total put value of 7,910,000 Combined total value = 35,680,000
Strike 136400 has a total call value of 29,560,000 versus a total put value of 7,580,000 Combined total value = 37,140,000
Strike 136500 has a total call value of 31,350,000 versus a total put value of 7,250,000 Combined total value = 38,600,000
Strike 136600 has a total call value of 33,140,000 versus a total put value of 6,920,000 Combined total value = 40,060,000
Strike 136700 has a total call value of 34,930,000 versus a total put value of 6,590,000 Combined total value = 41,520,000
Strike 136800 has a total call value of 36,720,000 versus a total put value of 6,260,000 Combined total value = 42,980,000
Strike 136900 has a total call value of 38,510,000 versus a total put value of 5,930,000 Combined total value = 44,440,000
Strike 137000 has a total call value of 40,300,000 versus a total put value of 5,600,000 Combined total value = 45,900,000
Strike 137100 has a total call value of 42,090,000 versus a total put value of 5,300,000 Combined total value = 47,390,000
Strike 137200 has a total call value of 43,880,000 versus a total put value of 5,000,000 Combined total value = 48,880,000
Strike 137300 has a total call value of 45,670,000 versus a total put value of 4,700,000 Combined total value = 50,370,000
Strike 137400 has a total call value of 47,460,000 versus a total put value of 4,400,000 Combined total value = 51,860,000
Strike 137500 has a total call value of 49,250,000 versus a total put value of 4,100,000 Combined total value = 53,350,000
Strike 137600 has a total call value of 51,040,000 versus a total put value of 3,800,000 Combined total value = 54,840,000
Strike 137700 has a total call value of 52,830,000 versus a total put value of 3,500,000 Combined total value = 56,330,000
Strike 137800 has a total call value of 54,620,000 versus a total put value of 3,200,000 Combined total value = 57,820,000
Strike 137900 has a total call value of 56,410,000 versus a total put value of 2,900,000 Combined total value = 59,310,000
Strike 138000 has a total call value of 58,200,000 versus a total put value of 2,600,000 Combined total value = 60,800,000
Strike 138100 has a total call value of 60,550,000 versus a total put value of 2,470,000 Combined total value = 63,020,000
Strike 138200 has a total call value of 62,900,000 versus a total put value of 2,340,000 Combined total value = 65,240,000
Strike 138300 has a total call value of 65,250,000 versus a total put value of 2,210,000 Combined total value = 67,460,000
Strike 138400 has a total call value of 67,600,000 versus a total put value of 2,080,000 Combined total value = 69,680,000
Strike 138500 has a total call value of 69,950,000 versus a total put value of 1,950,000 Combined total value = 71,900,000
Strike 138600 has a total call value of 72,300,000 versus a total put value of 1,820,000 Combined total value = 74,120,000
Strike 138700 has a total call value of 74,650,000 versus a total put value of 1,690,000 Combined total value = 76,340,000
Strike 138800 has a total call value of 77,000,000 versus a total put value of 1,560,000 Combined total value = 78,560,000
Strike 138900 has a total call value of 79,350,000 versus a total put value of 1,430,000 Combined total value = 80,780,000
Strike 139000 has a total call value of 81,700,000 versus a total put value of 1,300,000 Combined total value = 83,000,000
Strike 139100 has a total call value of 84,600,000 versus a total put value of 1,170,000 Combined total value = 85,770,000
Strike 139200 has a total call value of 87,500,000 versus a total put value of 1,040,000 Combined total value = 88,540,000
Strike 139300 has a total call value of 90,400,000 versus a total put value of 910,000 Combined total value = 91,310,000
Strike 139400 has a total call value of 93,300,000 versus a total put value of 780,000 Combined total value = 94,080,000
Strike 139500 has a total call value of 96,200,000 versus a total put value of 650,000 Combined total value = 96,850,000
Strike 139600 has a total call value of 99,100,000 versus a total put value of 520,000 Combined total value = 99,620,000
Strike 139700 has a total call value of 102,000,000 versus a total put value of 390,000 Combined total value = 102,390,000
Strike 139800 has a total call value of 104,900,000 versus a total put value of 260,000 Combined total value = 105,160,000
Strike 139900 has a total call value of 107,800,000 versus a total put value of 130,000 Combined total value = 107,930,000
Strike 140000 has a total call value of 110,700,000 versus a total put value of 0 Combined total value = 110,700,000
Strike 140100 has a total call value of 115,120,000 versus a total put value of 0 Combined total value = 115,120,000
Strike 140200 has a total call value of 119,540,000 versus a total put value of 0 Combined total value = 119,540,000
Strike 140300 has a total call value of 123,960,000 versus a total put value of 0 Combined total value = 123,960,000
Strike 140400 has a total call value of 128,380,000 versus a total put value of 0 Combined total value = 128,380,000
Strike 140500 has a total call value of 132,800,000 versus a total put value of 0 Combined total value = 132,800,000
Strike 140600 has a total call value of 137,220,000 versus a total put value of 0 Combined total value = 137,220,000
Strike 140700 has a total call value of 141,640,000 versus a total put value of 0 Combined total value = 141,640,000
Strike 140800 has a total call value of 146,060,000 versus a total put value of 0 Combined total value = 146,060,000
Strike 140900 has a total call value of 150,480,000 versus a total put value of 0 Combined total value = 150,480,000
Strike 141000 has a total call value of 154,900,000 versus a total put value of 0 Combined total value = 154,900,000
Strike 141100 has a total call value of 159,410,000 versus a total put value of 0 Combined total value = 159,410,000
Strike 141200 has a total call value of 163,920,000 versus a total put value of 0 Combined total value = 163,920,000
Strike 141300 has a total call value of 168,430,000 versus a total put value of 0 Combined total value = 168,430,000
Strike 141400 has a total call value of 172,940,000 versus a total put value of 0 Combined total value = 172,940,000
Strike 141500 has a total call value of 177,450,000 versus a total put value of 0 Combined total value = 177,450,000
Strike 141600 has a total call value of 181,960,000 versus a total put value of 0 Combined total value = 181,960,000
Strike 141700 has a total call value of 186,470,000 versus a total put value of 0 Combined total value = 186,470,000
Strike 141800 has a total call value of 190,980,000 versus a total put value of 0 Combined total value = 190,980,000
Strike 141900 has a total call value of 195,490,000 versus a total put value of 0 Combined total value = 195,490,000
Strike 142000 has a total call value of 200,000,000 versus a total put value of 0 Combined total value = 200,000,000
Max-Pain Table for Stocks
Frequently Asked Questions
Max Pain, also known as the max pain price, is the strike price at which the maximum number of option contracts (both puts and calls) would expire worthless, causing the largest financial losses for option holders at expiration. This price point represents the level where option writers would experience the least payout obligation.
The max pain theory suggests that as expiration approaches, market makers and option writers may attempt to influence the stock price toward this level to minimize their payout obligations, making it a significant reference point for traders analyzing option expiration dynamics.
Max Pain is calculated by determining the total dollar value of in-the-money options at each strike price. Here's the step-by-step process:
- For each strike price: Calculate the difference between the current stock price and the strike price.
- Multiply by Open Interest: Multiply this difference by the open interest (number of contracts) at that strike for both call and put options.
- Sum the values: Add together the dollar value for put options and call options at each strike price.
- Repeat for all strikes: Perform this calculation for every available strike price in the option chain.
- Identify the maximum: The strike price with the highest combined dollar value is the Max Pain price.
This calculation helps identify the price level where option writers would face the maximum financial loss if the stock closes at that price on expiration day.
Traders can incorporate Max Pain analysis into their trading strategy in several ways:
- Expiration Day Trading: As option expiration approaches, traders can use Max Pain as a potential support or resistance level, as market makers may attempt to push the price toward this level.
- Option Selection: Understanding Max Pain helps traders choose strike prices that are less likely to be manipulated, potentially improving their option trade outcomes.
- Risk Management: If a stock is trading far from Max Pain before expiration, traders can anticipate potential price movement toward this level and adjust their positions accordingly.
- Market Sentiment Indicator: Comparing the current stock price to Max Pain can provide insights into market sentiment and potential price direction near expiration.
- Hedging Strategy: Option writers can use Max Pain to identify strike prices where they might face the least payout risk, helping them structure more efficient hedging strategies.
Max Pain provides insights into potential stock price behavior, especially near option expiration:
- Price Magnet Effect: If the stock price is significantly above or below Max Pain before expiration, there may be a tendency for the price to move toward Max Pain as expiration approaches, as option writers hedge their positions.
- Support/Resistance Level: Max Pain can act as a psychological and technical support or resistance level, especially on expiration day, as it represents the price where maximum option value would be lost.
- Volatility Indicator: A large gap between current price and Max Pain may indicate higher potential volatility or price movement as expiration nears.
- Market Maker Activity: Significant open interest concentration around Max Pain suggests where market makers might have the most incentive to influence price movement through their hedging activities.
Note: Max Pain is a theoretical concept and should be used in conjunction with other technical and fundamental analysis tools, as it does not guarantee price movement.
Max Pain is a dynamic value that changes continuously based on several factors:
- Open Interest Changes: As traders open and close option positions, the open interest at different strike prices changes, which directly affects the Max Pain calculation.
- Stock Price Movement: As the underlying stock price moves, different strike prices become in-the-money or out-of-the-money, altering the dollar value calculations.
- Time Decay: As expiration approaches, the time value of options decreases, but the intrinsic value calculations for Max Pain continue to evolve with price movements.
- New Option Contracts: When new strike prices are added or when significant new positions are opened, Max Pain may shift to reflect the new distribution of open interest.
For accurate Max Pain analysis, traders should monitor it regularly, especially in the days leading up to expiration, as it can shift significantly as market conditions and option positions change.
Max Pain and Spot Price are two distinct concepts that serve different purposes in options trading:
- Spot Price (Current Market Price): This is the current trading price of the underlying stock or index in the market. It represents the real-time value at which the asset can be bought or sold immediately.
- Max Pain Price: This is a calculated theoretical price level based on option open interest data. It represents the strike price where option writers would face minimum payout obligations, not necessarily where the stock is currently trading.
The relationship between these two prices is crucial: when the spot price is far from Max Pain, traders may anticipate potential price movement toward Max Pain as expiration approaches. However, this is not guaranteed, and many other factors influence stock price movement.
No, Max Pain is not always accurate and should not be used as the sole indicator for predicting stock price movement. Here's why:
- Market Forces: Strong fundamental news, earnings reports, or significant market events can override the Max Pain effect and drive prices in unexpected directions.
- Institutional Activity: Large institutional trades, algorithmic trading, and other market participants may have different objectives than minimizing option payouts.
- Limited Influence: While market makers may attempt to influence price toward Max Pain, their ability to do so is limited, especially in highly liquid stocks with strong directional momentum.
- Multiple Expirations: Stocks often have options expiring on different dates (weekly, monthly), which means multiple Max Pain levels may exist simultaneously, reducing the predictive power of any single level.
- Statistical Tool: Max Pain is best viewed as a statistical tool that provides context about option market dynamics rather than a guaranteed price target.
Traders should use Max Pain as one of many tools in their analysis, combining it with technical analysis, fundamental analysis, and market sentiment indicators for more comprehensive decision-making.
Max Pain becomes increasingly relevant as option expiration approaches:
- Last Trading Week: Max Pain analysis is most useful during the final week before expiration, when option writers are actively hedging and the "pinning effect" (price movement toward Max Pain) is most likely to occur.
- Expiration Day: On the day of expiration, Max Pain can serve as a key reference level, as market makers may attempt to keep the stock price near this level to minimize their payout obligations.
- High Open Interest: Max Pain is more reliable when there is significant open interest concentrated around specific strike prices, as this indicates where option writers have the most exposure.
- Low Volatility Periods: During periods of low market volatility, Max Pain may have a stronger influence, as there are fewer competing forces driving price movement.
- Monthly Expirations: Monthly option expirations (typically the third Friday) often show stronger Max Pain effects compared to weekly expirations, due to higher open interest and more significant market maker involvement.
While Max Pain can be calculated at any time, its predictive value and practical application increase significantly as expiration approaches, making it particularly useful for short-term trading strategies focused on expiration week dynamics.































































































































































































































