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Open Interest Monitor - 2 September 2025

Posted on: Sep 03 2025

Open Interest Monitor – 2 September 2025

Data through market close 1 September 2025

What is the Open Interest Monitor?

The Open Interest Monitor tracks which options have the highest total open interest across stocks, ETFs, and indices. It helps highlight where liquidity is deepest, where institutional activity may be concentrated, and which themes are drawing the most attention in the options market. Whether you're looking for trading ideas, better execution, or insights into market sentiment, open interest offers a valuable lens.

Note: This edition covers options on US-listed underlyings only. 

Top 20 open interest leaders (as of 1 September 2025)

Rank Ticker Name Last IV Rank (%) Total OI 1M OI % Chg Options Vol P/C Vol
1 NVDA Nvidia Corp 169.35 7.1% 20.4M 15.0% 4.8M 0.57
2 SPY S&P 500 SPDR 637.94 7.0% 18.3M 14.6% 7.9M 1.03
3 IWM Russell 2000 Ishares ETF 231.75 7.3% 12.1M 1.7% 1.0M 1.55
4 QQQ Nasdaq QQQ Invesco ETF 562.05 8.8% 9.5M 38.2% 4.5M 1.06
5 HYG High Yield Corp Bond Ishares Iboxx $ ETF 80.22 7.1% 8.5M 5.3% 304.3K 1.34
6 TSLA Tesla Inc 325.96 2.5% 8.0M 24.0% 3.3M 0.66
7 EEM Emrg Mkts Ishares MSCI ETF 49.40 7.2% 7.0M 32.5% 130.7K 1.22
8 INTC Intel Corp 23.66 8.6% 6.6M 22.1% 434.4K 0.38
9 TLT 20+ Year Treas Bond Ishares ETF 85.32 5.7% 5.8M 31.9% 559.7K 0.45
10 VIX CBOE Volatility Index 16.20 8.4% 5.3M 10.2% 1.1M 0.54
11 AAPL Apple Inc 232.17 3.2% 4.9M 27.0% 2.5M 0.65
12 MSFT Microsoft Corp 390.52 4.1% 4.6M 9.4% 1.7M 0.74
13 META Meta Platforms Inc 504.12 3.5% 4.3M 12.6% 1.1M 0.58
14 AMZN Amazon.com Inc 196.43 3.8% 3.9M 16.4% 1.5M 0.61
15 BAC Bank of America Corp 33.81 6.7% 3.8M 21.5% 482.2K 0.47
16 XLF Financial Select Sector SPDR 40.22 6.1% 3.5M 18.3% 368.1K 0.56
17 JPM JPMorgan Chase & Co 193.77 5.9% 3.3M 12.8% 298.5K 0.63
18 AMD Advanced Micro Devices 127.24 4.5% 3.1M 19.7% 612.0K 0.70
19 GOOGL Alphabet Inc A 176.28 3.6% 2.9M 14.3% 494.7K 0.69
20 NFLX Netflix Inc 671.42 4.2% 2.7M 10.5% 210.6K 0.62

This table shows the 20 listed options with the highest total open interest, combining calls and puts. Open interest data reflects active outstanding contracts and offers insights into market liquidity, sentiment, and positioning.

What the columns mean (short version):

Last = Last traded price of the underlying IV Rank = Implied volatility rank (0–100 scale) Total OI = Combined open interest for puts and calls 1M OI % Chg = Change in total open interest over the past month Options Vol = Daily trading volume in options P/C Vol = Put/Call volume ratio (based on daily volume)

For more detail, see the full glossary at the bottom of this article.

What traders can take away

The strongest build-up in new positions over the past month came in QQQ, EEM, TLT, AAPL and TSLA. This shows investors are not only focused on big technology, but also on emerging markets and bonds. TLT’s jump points to attention on interest rates, while EEM shows more global appetite beyond the US.

Volatility is low across almost all of the top names. Even the highest IV ranks are under 10%, meaning option prices are cheap compared to the past year. For buyers, this can be an opportunity to get exposure at lower cost. For sellers, it means less premium to collect. The low-volatility environment helps keep markets calm, but also leaves little buffer if surprises occur.

Put/call ratios reveal where investors are defensive. Small caps (IWM) and high-yield bonds (HYG) have more puts than calls, suggesting portfolio protection is being built there. In contrast, SPY looks balanced and single stocks like NVDA and AMZN lean more to calls. Volume remains deepest in SPY, NVDA and QQQ, confirming where liquidity and institutional focus sit.

Overall, open interest is both concentrated and broad. ETFs dominate the leaderboard, showing preference for index-level exposure, but large tech names keep drawing focused attention.

A few observations

The most striking feature is how low implied volatility is across the board. Option markets are pricing calm conditions, with little sign of fear. That can last for a while, but it also means any shock could feel sharper.

Defensive hedging is visible in small caps and credit ETFs, even while large tech flows look constructive. Rates-related ETFs like TLT and HYG stand out, showing traders are attentive to both bond yields and credit spreads.

Beyond megacap tech, flows into EEM and financial ETFs like XLF and banks (BAC, JPM) show interest in diversifying trades. Still, the semiconductor complex (NVDA, INTC, AMD) remains central.

Finally, it is worth noting that some of the open interest changes can be due to rolling positions from one expiry to another. This can increase OI without necessarily changing investor direction.

Conclusion

Options positioning remains concentrated in indices, large tech, and bond ETFs. Nvidia leads in absolute open interest, while QQQ, EEM and TLT saw the fastest growth. Low volatility across the board sets the tone: markets are calm, options are cheap, but risks can surface quickly. Defensive hedging in small caps and credit contrasts with ongoing enthusiasm for tech and index exposure.

Glossary

  • Ticker: the exchange-listed symbol for the underlying stock, ETF, or index. Indices are noted with a $ prefix in general use, but we map them to specific exchange codes in the ticker string.

  • Name: the company or ETF name associated with the ticker. ETFs typically describe their focus, such as “S&P 500” or “20+ Year Treasury Bonds.”

  • Last: The last traded price of the underlying asset (stock, ETF, or index). This gives a reference point for where the asset currently trades and helps identify how close it is to key strike levels in the option chain.

  • IV Rank (%): Implied Volatility Rank (IV Rank) shows where current implied volatility sits relative to the past 12 months. A reading of 0% means IV is at its lowest point of the year; 100% means it's at the highest. Higher IV Rank suggests options are more expensive compared to recent history, which may favour premium-selling strategies.

  • Total Open Interest (Total OI): This is the total number of open option contracts across both calls and puts for the underlying. It represents outstanding positions that have not yet been closed or exercised. High OI is often associated with deep liquidity and significant institutional interest.

  • 1M OI % Change: Shows how much total open interest has changed over the past month. A rising figure can point to fresh positioning or increased speculation, while a falling number may indicate closed-out trades or reduced interest in the underlying.

  • Options Volume: The number of option contracts traded during the most recent session. High volume relative to open interest may suggest new trades are being initiated. Sudden spikes often coincide with market-moving news or upcoming events.

  • Put/Call Volume Ratio (P/C Vol): This ratio compares the volume of puts traded to calls on the same day. A ratio above 1.0 implies more puts were traded (often for downside protection), while a value below 1.0 shows call-heavy flow (often speculative or bullish). Extreme readings can highlight skewed sentiment or potential contrarian signals.

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Options are complex, high-risk products and require knowledge, investment experience and, in many applications, high risk acceptance. We recommend that before you invest in options, you inform yourself well about the operation and risks. In Saxo Bank's Terms of Use you will find more information on this in the Important Information Options, Futures, Margin and Deficit Procedure. You can also consult the Essential Information Document of the option you want to invest in on Saxo Bank's website.
This material is marketing content and should not be regarded as investment advice. Trading financial instruments carries risks and historic performance is not a guarantee of future results. The instrument(s) referenced in this content may be issued by a partner, from whom Saxo receives promotional fees, payment or retrocessions. While Saxo may receive compensation from these partnerships, all content is created with the aim of providing clients with valuable information and options..
Koen HoorelbekeInvestment and Options StrategistSaxo Bank
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investingLive Americas FX news wrap: Core PCE in line, Alibaba develops new AI chips

Posted on: Aug 30 2025

  • The US dollar ends the month lower. Will September be the same?
  • Baker Hughes US oil rig count 412 vs 408 expected
  • Dallas Fed Trimmed Mean PCE for July +1.9% vs +3.4% prior
  • Judge did not rule on the dismissal of Fed Governor Lisa Cook today
  • Gold rises back to the upper bound of a 4-month long range. Will we get a breakout?
  • Atlanta Fed GDPNow tracker for Q3 growth jumps to 3.47%% vs 2.18% prior
  • Next week's ADP report might be the most important of the year
  • S&P 500 and Nasdaq extend losses as Nvidia drags the markets lower
  • University of Michigan consumer sentiment (final) for August 58.2 vs 58.6 prelim
  • NVIDIA Weakness Persists While SPY Holds Firmer
  • Canada GDP for June -0.1% vs 0.1% expected
  • US Core PCE for July YoY 2.9% vs 2.9% expected

It's been a pretty quiet session on the data and news side, but a lively one on the markets front. The US PCE was of course the main highlight of the day and the data came in line with expectations across the board. We had also the Canadian GDP which showed a bigger contraction than expected in Q2, but that's old news as we are almost at the end of Q3 with the markets focusing on Q4.

We started to get more action in the markets once the US stock markets opened. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq sold off dragged lower by Nvidia losses. The catalyst was a WSJ report saying that Alibaba developed a new AI chip to help fill Nvidia void in China.

The Chinese are of course trying to make their own AI chips given the interference from Trump's adiministration. While Nvidia fell, Alibaba obviously rose.

The selloff in the major stock indices led to a wave of risk-off flows. We saw gold and short-term Treasuries rallying, and the US dollar and bitcoin falling. You can also throw in there some month-end flows. Nevertheless, it was mostly noise and the data next week will be the ultimate trend setter.

At the end of the session, Fed's Daly posted on her Linkedin account that it will soon be time to recalibrate policy. She expects the tariff-driven inflation to be short-lived and therefore favours lowering interest rates to help the labour market, which in her view is slowing.

It looks like a September cut is a done deal no matter what. It might eventually be just a one and done, but they really want to cut in September and then see what happens with the data. If they cut into strength, it could be another policy mistake...

As a reminder, it's a holiday in the US on Monday for Labor Day. Have a nice weekend all!

This article was written by Giuseppe Dellamotta at investinglive.com.
Weekly technical analysis and forecast (18-22 August 2025)

Posted on: Aug 19 2025

This weekly technical analysis highlights the key chart patterns and levels for EURUSD, USDJPY, GBPUSD, AUDUSD, USDCAD, gold (XAUUSD), and Brent crude oil to forecast market moves for the upcoming week (18-22 August 2025).

Major technical levels to watch this week

  • EURUSD: Support: 1.1720, 1.1790. Resistance: 1.1268, 1.1140
  • USDJPY: Support: 146.50, 145.30. Resistance: 148.50, 150.80
  • GBPUSD: Support: 1.3366, 1.3144. Resistance: 1.3590, 1.3690
  • AUDUSD: Support: 0.6400, 0.6245. Resistance: 0.6480, 0.6565
  • USDCAD: Support: 1.3727, 1.3650. Resistance: 1.3895, 1.3920
  • Gold: Support: 3,320, 3,250. Resistance: 3,385, 3,440
  • Brent: Support: 64.70, 60.00. Resistance: 68.85, 71.60

EURUSD forecast

In the coming week, market participants will focus on both US and eurozone macroeconomic data and the situation surrounding negotiations to resolve the Ukrainian issue.

A potential easing of geopolitical tensions could temporarily support the euro by boosting interest in risk assets and reducing demand for the dollar as a safe-haven asset. However, analysts expect modest results, and any reaction may be speculative. Together with EU inflation data and US retail sales, this could shape a volatile but downward background for the pair.

EURUSD technical analysis

On the daily chart, EURUSD’s decline to 1.1391 can be viewed as the first wave, with SMA50 serving as intermediate support. The rise to 1.1720 is assessed as a corrective second wave. Next week, the first segment of a third downward wave is expected to form, targeting 1.1262.

EURUSD forecast scenarios

Bearish (base):

After the correction ends, the third downward wave is expected to continue.

Stages and targets:

  • First segment – target of 1.1262
  • Second segment – testing the 1.1390 level from below
  • Third segment – target of 1.1140
  • Fourth segment – testing the 1.1262 level from below
  • Fifth segment – main third-wave target of 1.0800

Bullish (alternative):

If the market consolidates below 1.1720 and breaks upwards, growth potential towards 1.1790 will open. This would mean a continued correction and temporary easing of selling pressure.

USDJPY forecast

Next week, investors will focus on the Trump-Putin meeting, which may cause increased currency market volatility. The market will evaluate political and economic signals, including possible comments on international trade and geopolitics. Additional attention will go to US and Japanese statistics and US Treasury yield dynamics, which traditionally influence the USDJPY rate.

USDJPY technical analysis

On the daily chart, the pair corrected towards 148.03 before forming a downward impulse and a structure resembling a “corrective pennant” with a breakout downwards. The current setup shows sellers’ interest in extending declines to 145.35.

Breaking this support level would open the way to 144.44 and then to the local target of 142.22.

USDJPY forecast scenarios

Bullish scenario (alternative):

If the SMA50 supports the pair near 146.50 and rising volumes push a breakout above 148.50, buyers could trigger a new upward correction towards 148.80, with prospects for 150.80.

Bearish scenario (main):

A firm breakout below 146.40, supported by increased volumes, will allow sellers to push the decline towards 142.25 and 139.80.

GBPUSD forecast

Next week, the GBPUSD pair will be heavily influenced by geopolitical events, particularly the summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on 15 August in Anchorage, Alaska. The summit took place amid rising US pressure on Russia. Trump had threatened 100% tariffs on Russian goods and 500% tariffs on countries buying Russian oil if a peace deal with Ukraine is not reached within 50 days, later shortened to 10-12 days. Proposals for territorial exchanges between Russia and Ukraine are also being discussed, causing concern in Kyiv and among its allies.

Trump and Putin will hold a private meeting with only interpreters present, underscoring the significance and confidentiality of the talks. Topics are expected to include ceasefire, possible economic concessions, and arms control.

Given the uncertainty, traders should exercise caution with GBPUSD between 18 and 22 August. The market may face high volatility from unexpected news and summit outcomes.

Monitoring official statements and press conferences will be crucial, as any geopolitical shifts may significantly impact the pair.

GBPUSD technical analysis

The GBPUSD daily chart shows a downward structure forming:

The first downward wave reached 1.3152.

The second corrective wave tested the 1.3589 level from below.

Target for the third wave is a drop towards 1.3366. If this level breaks, the decline could continue towards 1.3150, with movement potentially extending to 1.2700 as the main third-wave target.

Subsequently, a corrective rebound towards 1.3144 (the fourth target) is possible.

Further development suggests the fifth downward wave to 1.2485.

GBPUSD forecast scenarios

Bearish scenario (base):

Current situation: the GBPUSD pair is in a correction phase after dipping to 1.3152.

Short-term targets:

  • Decline to 1.3366; if broken, further fall to 1.3150 and then to 1.2700

Long-term prospects:

  • Possible continuation of the downtrend towards 1.2485

Bullish scenario (alternative):

Conditions for growth:

  • A steady move above 1.3600 would open the way to 1.3660, potentially reviving the uptrend
  • Growth targets: 1.3800, 1.4000, with strong momentum possibly reaching 1.4160

AUDUSD forecast

The fundamentals support a cautious bearish scenario for the AUDUSD pair. Stable Australian macroeconomic data combined with global uncertainty strengthen the US dollar. Commodity price declines and geopolitical uncertainty following the Trump-Putin summit add to pressure on the Aussie, with potential short-term swings in the rate and safe-haven demand.

AUDUSD technical analysis

A wave structure is developing on the AUDUSD daily chart:

The first downward wave reached 0.6420.

The second corrective wave tested the 0.6564 level, where SMA50 provided resistance and pushed the price lower.

The weekly forecast suggests another downward wave towards 0.6400. A breakout below 0.6400 would open the door for the third wave down to 0.6245 as a local target. After reaching this level, the pair could form a corrective fourth wave with a rebound to 0.6400. Subsequently, the fifth downward wave may target 0.6277 with possible extension to 0.6190.

AUDUSD forecast scenarios

Bearish scenario (base):

Consolidation below 0.6500 confirms the end of the correction.

Downside targets:

  • 0.6400 – intermediate target
    1. 0.6245 – third-wave target
    2. 0.6170 – main target of the larger first downward wave

Bullish scenario (alternative):

Consolidation above 0.6550 could push the pair higher towards 0.6670.

Further upside targets:

  • 0.6670 – resistance/support area
    1. 0.6820 – local wave target
    2. 0.6969 – major target of the extended fifth wave

USDCAD forecast

The Canadian dollar remains pressured by the strong US dollar and oil market uncertainty. Geopolitical tensions after the Trump-Putin summit add to volatility risks. For the CAD, this means vulnerability if oil prices drop and investors turn to the US dollar as a safe-haven asset.

USDCAD technical analysis

On the USDCAD daily chart:

  • Support at 1.3727 confirmed the weekly pivot point
  • The market continues a growth wave towards 1.3893
  • A correction back to 1.3727 (testing from above) is possible
  • Then, another growth structure may develop, aiming for 1.3917

This correction could extend towards 1.4020, followed by the fifth downward wave, targeting 1.3500 and lower. The broader picture remains neutral-to-bearish, with current growth seen as a correction within the dominant downtrend.

USDCAD forecast scenarios

Bullish scenario (base):

  • Holding above 1.3700 and breaking above the 1.3800 level would open the potential for growth to 1.3920 as the main correction target
  • After reaching it, the pair may resume its decline, aiming for 1.3270

Bearish scenario (alternative):

If the correction ends near 1.3900, this would add to selling pressure.

Downside targets:

  • 1.3700 – first target
  • 1.3600 – second target
  • 1.3500 – main target (within the third wave from 1.4540)

XAUUSD forecast

The gold market remains sensitive to shifts in global safe-haven demand. After the Trump-Putin summit, volatility may rise depending on outcomes. If geopolitical risks increase, gold could gain short-term support, but US dollar strength and rising yields may counter this. Investors will be watching for Fed signals on rate policy and stock index movements reflecting risk appetite.

Any non-market signals, especially signs of de-escalation, could reduce gold’s safe-haven appeal. Trade and tariff risks remain a key reason for higher gold prices, with gold acting as a hedge against further restrictions or sanctions.

Federal Reserve policy: slowing inflation and weak labour data strengthen expectations of a September rate cut, which is favourable for gold.

XAUUSD technical analysis

On the daily chart, gold rebounded from the 3,373 level, where SMA50 also lies. A symmetrical triangle is forming, usually a signal of an imminent major move.

Next week, a breakout below 3,320 is expected, confirming a reversal scenario with targets at 3,250-3,240 (the key support level).

A breakout below the 3,250 level would open the potential for a decline to 3,043, the first corrective wave target. After testing support levels, the pair could rebound to 3,350, but the overall bias remains bearish.

XAUUSD forecast scenarios

Bearish scenario (base):

A breakout and consolidation below 3,320 would open the way towards:

  • 3,250 – intermediate support
  • 3,050-3,040 – technical/fundamental correction zone

Bullish scenario (alternative):

Consolidation above 3,415 would pave the way towards:

  • 3,500 – key May resistance level
  • 3,535 – possible upper boundary of the extended fifth wave

Brent forecast

Geopolitical factors remain the key drivers for the oil market. The Trump-Putin summit (15 August, Anchorage) drew traders’ attention, as potential deals on Ukraine, sanctions, and tariffs could significantly impact energy markets.

Trump previously suggested 500% tariffs on countries buying Russian oil, potentially cutting global supply and supporting prices. However, compromise or softened rhetoric could have the opposite effect.

China and US data point to moderate oil demand growth. OPEC+ forecasts still expect a supply deficit in the second half of 2025, supporting a bullish scenario.

While US dollar strength could put short-term pressure on oil, fundamentals remain supportive thanks to limited supply and political risks.

Brent technical analysis

On the daily chart, Brent rebounded from SMA50 near 68.50 and dropped to 64.71.

Next week, prices are expected to return towards 68.85, with potential to develop a fifth growth wave targeting 78.34 (the first main upside target). After reaching the 78.34 level, a correction towards 71.60 may follow.

Brent forecast scenarios

Bullish scenario (base):

Support at 64.71 confirms the uptrend.

Upside targets:

  • 68.85 – intermediate target
  • 71.60 – first trend target
  • 74.22 – local target
  • 78.34 – main target in the fifth wave

Bearish scenario (alternative):

A breakout below the 64.00 level and consolidation lower may continue the correction.

  • Downside target: 60.00

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