[--[65.84.65.76]--]

SENSEX

Sensex
84180.96 -780.18 (-0.92%)
L: 84110.1 H: 84965.27
Max Pain - SENSEX
08 Jan 2026 04:11 PM IST
Max-Pain
84,200
DFC
7D Avg
Reliability
14D Avg
Reliability
21D Avg
Reliability
Max Pain for SENSEX is 84200


Strike  76900  has a total call value of 0  versus a total put value of  23,622,492,200,000 Combined total value = 23,622,492,200,000

Strike  77000  has a total call value of 0  versus a total put value of  23,257,975,200,000 Combined total value = 23,257,975,200,000

Strike  77100  has a total call value of 0  versus a total put value of  22,896,016,800,000 Combined total value = 22,896,016,800,000

Strike  77200  has a total call value of 0  versus a total put value of  22,534,121,000,000 Combined total value = 22,534,121,000,000

Strike  77300  has a total call value of 0  versus a total put value of  22,172,339,000,000 Combined total value = 22,172,339,000,000

Strike  77400  has a total call value of 0  versus a total put value of  21,810,613,200,000 Combined total value = 21,810,613,200,000

Strike  77500  has a total call value of 0  versus a total put value of  21,448,920,200,000 Combined total value = 21,448,920,200,000

Strike  77600  has a total call value of 5,200,000  versus a total put value of  21,087,393,800,000 Combined total value = 21,087,399,000,000

Strike  77700  has a total call value of 10,400,000  versus a total put value of  20,725,883,800,000 Combined total value = 20,725,894,200,000

Strike  77800  has a total call value of 15,600,000  versus a total put value of  20,364,386,600,000 Combined total value = 20,364,402,200,000

Strike  77900  has a total call value of 20,800,000  versus a total put value of  20,002,903,600,000 Combined total value = 20,002,924,400,000

Strike  78000  has a total call value of 26,000,000  versus a total put value of  19,641,433,600,000 Combined total value = 19,641,459,600,000

Strike  78100  has a total call value of 32,400,000  versus a total put value of  19,282,058,600,000 Combined total value = 19,282,091,000,000

Strike  78200  has a total call value of 38,800,000  versus a total put value of  18,922,698,400,000 Combined total value = 18,922,737,200,000

Strike  78300  has a total call value of 45,200,000  versus a total put value of  18,563,356,000,000 Combined total value = 18,563,401,200,000

Strike  78400  has a total call value of 51,600,000  versus a total put value of  18,204,030,400,000 Combined total value = 18,204,082,000,000

Strike  78500  has a total call value of 58,000,000  versus a total put value of  17,844,726,200,000 Combined total value = 17,844,784,200,000

Strike  78600  has a total call value of 64,400,000  versus a total put value of  17,485,621,600,000 Combined total value = 17,485,686,000,000

Strike  78700  has a total call value of 70,800,000  versus a total put value of  17,126,563,800,000 Combined total value = 17,126,634,600,000

Strike  78800  has a total call value of 77,200,000  versus a total put value of  16,767,511,400,000 Combined total value = 16,767,588,600,000

Strike  78900  has a total call value of 83,600,000  versus a total put value of  16,408,562,200,000 Combined total value = 16,408,645,800,000

Strike  79000  has a total call value of 90,000,000  versus a total put value of  16,049,673,400,000 Combined total value = 16,049,763,400,000

Strike  79100  has a total call value of 98,200,000  versus a total put value of  15,693,068,400,000 Combined total value = 15,693,166,600,000

Strike  79200  has a total call value of 106,400,000  versus a total put value of  15,336,499,600,000 Combined total value = 15,336,606,000,000

Strike  79300  has a total call value of 114,600,000  versus a total put value of  14,979,960,400,000 Combined total value = 14,980,075,000,000

Strike  79400  has a total call value of 122,800,000  versus a total put value of  14,623,453,800,000 Combined total value = 14,623,576,600,000

Strike  79500  has a total call value of 131,000,000  versus a total put value of  14,267,003,800,000 Combined total value = 14,267,134,800,000

Strike  79600  has a total call value of 139,200,000  versus a total put value of  13,911,814,800,000 Combined total value = 13,911,954,000,000

Strike  79700  has a total call value of 147,400,000  versus a total put value of  13,556,684,600,000 Combined total value = 13,556,832,000,000

Strike  79800  has a total call value of 155,600,000  versus a total put value of  13,201,601,200,000 Combined total value = 13,201,756,800,000

Strike  79900  has a total call value of 163,800,000  versus a total put value of  12,846,572,400,000 Combined total value = 12,846,736,200,000

Strike  80000  has a total call value of 172,000,000  versus a total put value of  12,491,591,400,000 Combined total value = 12,491,763,400,000

Strike  80100  has a total call value of 189,400,000  versus a total put value of  12,140,002,200,000 Combined total value = 12,140,191,600,000

Strike  80200  has a total call value of 206,800,000  versus a total put value of  11,788,451,600,000 Combined total value = 11,788,658,400,000

Strike  80300  has a total call value of 224,200,000  versus a total put value of  11,437,249,400,000 Combined total value = 11,437,473,600,000

Strike  80400  has a total call value of 241,600,000  versus a total put value of  11,086,226,200,000 Combined total value = 11,086,467,800,000

Strike  80500  has a total call value of 259,200,000  versus a total put value of  10,735,465,000,000 Combined total value = 10,735,724,200,000

Strike  80600  has a total call value of 276,800,000  versus a total put value of  10,386,642,000,000 Combined total value = 10,386,918,800,000

Strike  80700  has a total call value of 294,400,000  versus a total put value of  10,037,995,800,000 Combined total value = 10,038,290,200,000

Strike  80800  has a total call value of 312,000,000  versus a total put value of  9,689,646,200,000 Combined total value = 9,689,958,200,000

Strike  80900  has a total call value of 329,600,000  versus a total put value of  9,341,945,400,000 Combined total value = 9,342,275,000,000

Strike  81000  has a total call value of 347,200,000  versus a total put value of  8,994,421,400,000 Combined total value = 8,994,768,600,000

Strike  81100  has a total call value of 391,200,000  versus a total put value of  8,659,359,600,000 Combined total value = 8,659,750,800,000

Strike  81200  has a total call value of 435,200,000  versus a total put value of  8,324,500,400,000 Combined total value = 8,324,935,600,000

Strike  81300  has a total call value of 479,200,000  versus a total put value of  7,989,895,600,000 Combined total value = 7,990,374,800,000

Strike  81400  has a total call value of 523,200,000  versus a total put value of  7,655,896,800,000 Combined total value = 7,656,420,000,000

Strike  81500  has a total call value of 568,400,000  versus a total put value of  7,322,800,800,000 Combined total value = 7,323,369,200,000

Strike  81600  has a total call value of 625,800,000  versus a total put value of  6,998,063,000,000 Combined total value = 6,998,688,800,000

Strike  81700  has a total call value of 683,200,000  versus a total put value of  6,675,168,200,000 Combined total value = 6,675,851,400,000

Strike  81800  has a total call value of 740,600,000  versus a total put value of  6,353,518,400,000 Combined total value = 6,354,259,000,000

Strike  81900  has a total call value of 798,000,000  versus a total put value of  6,033,221,200,000 Combined total value = 6,034,019,200,000

Strike  82000  has a total call value of 855,400,000  versus a total put value of  5,713,846,200,000 Combined total value = 5,714,701,600,000

Strike  82100  has a total call value of 920,600,000  versus a total put value of  5,410,786,000,000 Combined total value = 5,411,706,600,000

Strike  82200  has a total call value of 985,800,000  versus a total put value of  5,109,477,400,000 Combined total value = 5,110,463,200,000

Strike  82300  has a total call value of 1,051,000,000  versus a total put value of  4,810,433,800,000 Combined total value = 4,811,484,800,000

Strike  82400  has a total call value of 1,116,200,000  versus a total put value of  4,514,299,600,000 Combined total value = 4,515,415,800,000

Strike  82500  has a total call value of 1,181,400,000  versus a total put value of  4,220,338,600,000 Combined total value = 4,221,520,000,000

Strike  82600  has a total call value of 1,259,000,000  versus a total put value of  3,936,973,600,000 Combined total value = 3,938,232,600,000

Strike  82700  has a total call value of 1,336,600,000  versus a total put value of  3,656,828,800,000 Combined total value = 3,658,165,400,000

Strike  82800  has a total call value of 1,414,200,000  versus a total put value of  3,378,408,400,000 Combined total value = 3,379,822,600,000

Strike  82900  has a total call value of 1,492,600,000  versus a total put value of  3,103,683,400,000 Combined total value = 3,105,176,000,000

Strike  83000  has a total call value of 1,572,400,000  versus a total put value of  2,832,986,600,000 Combined total value = 2,834,559,000,000

Strike  83100  has a total call value of 1,730,400,000  versus a total put value of  2,585,104,400,000 Combined total value = 2,586,834,800,000

Strike  83200  has a total call value of 1,894,000,000  versus a total put value of  2,340,429,800,000 Combined total value = 2,342,323,800,000

Strike  83300  has a total call value of 2,068,800,000  versus a total put value of  2,101,001,200,000 Combined total value = 2,103,070,000,000

Strike  83400  has a total call value of 2,270,400,000  versus a total put value of  1,866,454,400,000 Combined total value = 1,868,724,800,000

Strike  83500  has a total call value of 2,496,800,000  versus a total put value of  1,635,793,000,000 Combined total value = 1,638,289,800,000

Strike  83600  has a total call value of 2,900,800,000  versus a total put value of  1,419,890,200,000 Combined total value = 1,422,791,000,000

Strike  83700  has a total call value of 3,409,200,000  versus a total put value of  1,209,786,400,000 Combined total value = 1,213,195,600,000

Strike  83800  has a total call value of 4,105,600,000  versus a total put value of  1,005,902,200,000 Combined total value = 1,010,007,800,000

Strike  83900  has a total call value of 5,095,200,000  versus a total put value of  812,540,800,000 Combined total value = 817,636,000,000

Strike  84000  has a total call value of 6,543,200,000  versus a total put value of  627,770,000,000 Combined total value = 634,313,200,000

Strike  84100  has a total call value of 10,686,600,000  versus a total put value of  464,673,400,000 Combined total value = 475,360,000,000

Strike  84200  has a total call value of 21,085,400,000  versus a total put value of  343,879,800,000 Combined total value = 364,965,200,000

Strike  84300  has a total call value of 99,796,200,000  versus a total put value of  266,660,400,000 Combined total value = 366,456,600,000

Strike  84400  has a total call value of 216,298,800,000  versus a total put value of  206,111,600,000 Combined total value = 422,410,400,000

Strike  84500  has a total call value of 361,271,000,000  versus a total put value of  158,969,600,000 Combined total value = 520,240,600,000

Strike  84600  has a total call value of 539,169,000,000  versus a total put value of  123,071,400,000 Combined total value = 662,240,400,000

Strike  84700  has a total call value of 739,868,400,000  versus a total put value of  93,366,400,000 Combined total value = 833,234,800,000

Strike  84800  has a total call value of 958,999,200,000  versus a total put value of  71,812,200,000 Combined total value = 1,030,811,400,000

Strike  84900  has a total call value of 1,195,653,000,000  versus a total put value of  57,583,200,000 Combined total value = 1,253,236,200,000

Strike  85000  has a total call value of 1,448,758,000,000  versus a total put value of  46,674,400,000 Combined total value = 1,495,432,400,000

Strike  85100  has a total call value of 1,729,072,600,000  versus a total put value of  38,528,400,000 Combined total value = 1,767,601,000,000

Strike  85200  has a total call value of 2,020,096,800,000  versus a total put value of  31,602,000,000 Combined total value = 2,051,698,800,000

Strike  85300  has a total call value of 2,324,593,800,000  versus a total put value of  25,387,400,000 Combined total value = 2,349,981,200,000

Strike  85400  has a total call value of 2,640,733,600,000  versus a total put value of  19,800,000,000 Combined total value = 2,660,533,600,000

Strike  85500  has a total call value of 2,966,013,200,000  versus a total put value of  15,040,000,000 Combined total value = 2,981,053,200,000

Strike  85600  has a total call value of 3,311,317,200,000  versus a total put value of  12,043,000,000 Combined total value = 3,323,360,200,000

Strike  85700  has a total call value of 3,664,865,400,000  versus a total put value of  9,480,200,000 Combined total value = 3,674,345,600,000

Strike  85800  has a total call value of 4,029,751,600,000  versus a total put value of  7,496,000,000 Combined total value = 4,037,247,600,000

Strike  85900  has a total call value of 4,405,252,400,000  versus a total put value of  5,933,200,000 Combined total value = 4,411,185,600,000

Strike  86000  has a total call value of 4,788,085,800,000  versus a total put value of  4,713,800,000 Combined total value = 4,792,799,600,000

Strike  86100  has a total call value of 5,198,667,400,000  versus a total put value of  3,964,400,000 Combined total value = 5,202,631,800,000

Strike  86200  has a total call value of 5,616,378,200,000  versus a total put value of  3,318,800,000 Combined total value = 5,619,697,000,000

Strike  86300  has a total call value of 6,040,510,400,000  versus a total put value of  2,754,400,000 Combined total value = 6,043,264,800,000

Strike  86400  has a total call value of 6,468,220,400,000  versus a total put value of  2,250,600,000 Combined total value = 6,470,471,000,000

Strike  86500  has a total call value of 6,899,828,200,000  versus a total put value of  1,791,400,000 Combined total value = 6,901,619,600,000

Strike  86600  has a total call value of 7,352,007,400,000  versus a total put value of  1,631,800,000 Combined total value = 7,353,639,200,000

Strike  86700  has a total call value of 7,808,080,400,000  versus a total put value of  1,499,000,000 Combined total value = 7,809,579,400,000

Strike  86800  has a total call value of 8,268,498,800,000  versus a total put value of  1,398,800,000 Combined total value = 8,269,897,600,000

Strike  86900  has a total call value of 8,736,129,200,000  versus a total put value of  1,313,000,000 Combined total value = 8,737,442,200,000

Strike  87000  has a total call value of 9,210,809,400,000  versus a total put value of  1,235,600,000 Combined total value = 9,212,045,000,000

Strike  87100  has a total call value of 9,705,738,600,000  versus a total put value of  1,180,600,000 Combined total value = 9,706,919,200,000

Strike  87200  has a total call value of 10,202,429,400,000  versus a total put value of  1,128,400,000 Combined total value = 10,203,557,800,000

Strike  87300  has a total call value of 10,701,470,000,000  versus a total put value of  1,078,200,000 Combined total value = 10,702,548,200,000

Strike  87400  has a total call value of 11,203,865,600,000  versus a total put value of  1,028,800,000 Combined total value = 11,204,894,400,000

Strike  87500  has a total call value of 11,708,481,200,000  versus a total put value of  982,200,000 Combined total value = 11,709,463,400,000

Strike  87600  has a total call value of 12,222,834,600,000  versus a total put value of  940,800,000 Combined total value = 12,223,775,400,000

Strike  87700  has a total call value of 12,739,488,200,000  versus a total put value of  899,400,000 Combined total value = 12,740,387,600,000

Strike  87800  has a total call value of 13,258,157,800,000  versus a total put value of  858,200,000 Combined total value = 13,259,016,000,000

Strike  87900  has a total call value of 13,778,049,600,000  versus a total put value of  817,800,000 Combined total value = 13,778,867,400,000

Strike  88000  has a total call value of 14,299,205,200,000  versus a total put value of  777,400,000 Combined total value = 14,299,982,600,000

Strike  88100  has a total call value of 14,835,790,800,000  versus a total put value of  739,000,000 Combined total value = 14,836,529,800,000

Strike  88200  has a total call value of 15,373,219,600,000  versus a total put value of  700,600,000 Combined total value = 15,373,920,200,000

Strike  88300  has a total call value of 15,911,770,400,000  versus a total put value of  662,200,000 Combined total value = 15,912,432,600,000

Strike  88400  has a total call value of 16,451,097,200,000  versus a total put value of  623,800,000 Combined total value = 16,451,721,000,000

Strike  88500  has a total call value of 16,992,454,600,000  versus a total put value of  585,400,000 Combined total value = 16,993,040,000,000

Strike  88600  has a total call value of 17,543,634,800,000  versus a total put value of  547,000,000 Combined total value = 17,544,181,800,000

Strike  88700  has a total call value of 18,095,537,000,000  versus a total put value of  508,600,000 Combined total value = 18,096,045,600,000

Strike  88800  has a total call value of 18,648,751,000,000  versus a total put value of  470,400,000 Combined total value = 18,649,221,400,000

Strike  88900  has a total call value of 19,205,880,800,000  versus a total put value of  432,200,000 Combined total value = 19,206,313,000,000

Strike  89000  has a total call value of 19,763,373,800,000  versus a total put value of  394,000,000 Combined total value = 19,763,767,800,000

Strike  89100  has a total call value of 20,329,760,000,000  versus a total put value of  366,000,000 Combined total value = 20,330,126,000,000

Strike  89200  has a total call value of 20,896,559,800,000  versus a total put value of  338,000,000 Combined total value = 20,896,897,800,000

Strike  89300  has a total call value of 21,465,599,000,000  versus a total put value of  310,000,000 Combined total value = 21,465,909,000,000

Strike  89400  has a total call value of 22,035,200,400,000  versus a total put value of  282,000,000 Combined total value = 22,035,482,400,000

Strike  89500  has a total call value of 22,604,939,000,000  versus a total put value of  254,000,000 Combined total value = 22,605,193,000,000

Strike  89600  has a total call value of 23,177,640,200,000  versus a total put value of  226,000,000 Combined total value = 23,177,866,200,000

Strike  89700  has a total call value of 23,750,387,200,000  versus a total put value of  198,000,000 Combined total value = 23,750,585,200,000

Strike  89800  has a total call value of 24,323,357,000,000  versus a total put value of  170,000,000 Combined total value = 24,323,527,000,000

Strike  89900  has a total call value of 24,896,402,200,000  versus a total put value of  142,000,000 Combined total value = 24,896,544,200,000

Strike  90000  has a total call value of 25,469,496,200,000  versus a total put value of  114,000,000 Combined total value = 25,469,610,200,000

Strike  90100  has a total call value of 26,049,162,200,000  versus a total put value of  102,600,000 Combined total value = 26,049,264,800,000

Strike  90200  has a total call value of 26,628,860,600,000  versus a total put value of  91,200,000 Combined total value = 26,628,951,800,000

Strike  90300  has a total call value of 27,208,622,400,000  versus a total put value of  79,800,000 Combined total value = 27,208,702,200,000

Strike  90400  has a total call value of 27,788,402,400,000  versus a total put value of  68,400,000 Combined total value = 27,788,470,800,000

Strike  90500  has a total call value of 28,368,230,800,000  versus a total put value of  57,000,000 Combined total value = 28,368,287,800,000

Strike  90600  has a total call value of 28,949,442,000,000  versus a total put value of  45,600,000 Combined total value = 28,949,487,600,000

Strike  90700  has a total call value of 29,530,763,800,000  versus a total put value of  34,200,000 Combined total value = 29,530,798,000,000

Strike  90800  has a total call value of 30,112,108,000,000  versus a total put value of  22,800,000 Combined total value = 30,112,130,800,000

Strike  90900  has a total call value of 30,693,493,400,000  versus a total put value of  11,400,000 Combined total value = 30,693,504,800,000

Strike  91000  has a total call value of 31,274,979,600,000  versus a total put value of  0 Combined total value = 31,274,979,600,000

Strike  91100  has a total call value of 31,858,480,600,000  versus a total put value of  0 Combined total value = 31,858,480,600,000

Strike  91200  has a total call value of 32,442,048,400,000  versus a total put value of  0 Combined total value = 32,442,048,400,000

Strike  91300  has a total call value of 33,025,690,800,000  versus a total put value of  0 Combined total value = 33,025,690,800,000

Strike  91400  has a total call value of 33,609,362,000,000  versus a total put value of  0 Combined total value = 33,609,362,000,000

Strike  91500  has a total call value of 34,193,040,800,000  versus a total put value of  0 Combined total value = 34,193,040,800,000

Strike  91600  has a total call value of 34,776,797,200,000  versus a total put value of  0 Combined total value = 34,776,797,200,000

Strike  91700  has a total call value of 35,360,570,000,000  versus a total put value of  0 Combined total value = 35,360,570,000,000

Strike  91800  has a total call value of 35,944,410,400,000  versus a total put value of  0 Combined total value = 35,944,410,400,000

Strike  91900  has a total call value of 36,528,250,800,000  versus a total put value of  0 Combined total value = 36,528,250,800,000

Strike  92000  has a total call value of 37,112,117,400,000  versus a total put value of  0 Combined total value = 37,112,117,400,000

Strike  92100  has a total call value of 37,697,968,000,000  versus a total put value of  0 Combined total value = 37,697,968,000,000

Strike  92200  has a total call value of 38,283,884,400,000  versus a total put value of  0 Combined total value = 38,283,884,400,000

Strike  92300  has a total call value of 38,869,814,000,000  versus a total put value of  0 Combined total value = 38,869,814,000,000

Strike  92400  has a total call value of 39,455,745,000,000  versus a total put value of  0 Combined total value = 39,455,745,000,000

Strike  92500  has a total call value of 40,041,677,200,000  versus a total put value of  0 Combined total value = 40,041,677,200,000

Strike  92600  has a total call value of 40,628,549,000,000  versus a total put value of  0 Combined total value = 40,628,549,000,000

Strike  92700  has a total call value of 41,215,422,200,000  versus a total put value of  0 Combined total value = 41,215,422,200,000

Strike  92800  has a total call value of 41,802,348,000,000  versus a total put value of  0 Combined total value = 41,802,348,000,000

Strike  92900  has a total call value of 42,389,274,400,000  versus a total put value of  0 Combined total value = 42,389,274,400,000

Strike  93000  has a total call value of 42,976,249,000,000  versus a total put value of  0 Combined total value = 42,976,249,000,000

Strike  93100  has a total call value of 43,568,488,000,000  versus a total put value of  0 Combined total value = 43,568,488,000,000

Strike  93200  has a total call value of 44,160,804,800,000  versus a total put value of  0 Combined total value = 44,160,804,800,000

Strike  93300  has a total call value of 44,754,773,000,000  versus a total put value of  0 Combined total value = 44,754,773,000,000

Max-Pain Table for Stocks
LTP > Max Pain Bearish
LTP < Max Pain Bullish
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:

  1. For each strike price: Calculate the difference between the current stock price and the strike price.
  2. Multiply by Open Interest: Multiply this difference by the open interest (number of contracts) at that strike for both call and put options.
  3. Sum the values: Add together the dollar value for put options and call options at each strike price.
  4. Repeat for all strikes: Perform this calculation for every available strike price in the option chain.
  5. 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.