Trading Education
Master options flow analysis, gamma exposure mechanics, dark pool trading, and institutional order flow with our in-depth guides.
See these concepts live in the terminal.
Open Terminal →ADVANCED OPTIONS
DARK POOLS
MACRO
Strategies for trading around Consumer Price Index releases.
Understanding the mechanisms through which Fed policy impacts asset prices.
Understanding the relationship between interest rates and equity valuations.
Understanding yield curve inversions, the 2s10s spread, and why this indicator has predicted every major recession.
MARKET ANALYSIS
How to use cross-asset correlations to improve trading decisions.
Guide to advance/decline, new highs/lows, and other breadth measures.
How to use sector ETF flows and rotation patterns for trading decisions.
MARKET MICROSTRUCTURE
MARKET STRUCTURE
Understanding dark pools, how they work, why institutions use them, and what dark pool prints tell retail traders.
A practical guide to reading dealer positioning data and understanding how market maker flows affect price action.
Understanding the DIX indicator from SqueezeMetrics and why high dark pool short volume often precedes market rallies.
Understanding gamma squeezes, the mechanics behind them, and why GameStop (GME) was the ultimate example.
A deep dive into how options market makers delta-hedge their positions and why it moves markets.
Understanding FINRA short volume data, what it means, and common misconceptions about short selling metrics.
OPTIONS BASICS
A step-by-step guide to reading and interpreting an options chain, including all the key columns and what they mean.
Understanding open interest in options markets, how it differs from volume, and how to use it for trading decisions.
Comparing SPX index options with SPY ETF options, covering settlement, tax treatment, exercise style, and practical trading considerations.
OPTIONS EDUCATION
Options strategies for trading earnings announcements effectively.
Deep dive into volatility skew, its causes, and how traders use it.
How to use volume and open interest together to analyze options activity.
Understanding the mechanics of stock pinning at options expiration.
OPTIONS FLOW
Learn to distinguish institutional options flow from retail activity.
How to analyze options order flow to gauge market sentiment and direction.
How to read options flow in the days leading up to earnings announcements.
How to interpret real-time options flow to gauge directional bias, with practical examples and common pitfalls.
Understanding the difference between sweep orders and block trades in options flow and why it matters.
A practical guide to identifying and acting on unusual options activity that may signal informed trading.
How to identify and follow institutional "whale" options activity.
Learn how to track and interpret options order flow to gain insight into institutional and smart money positioning.
OPTIONS GREEKS
How call walls and put walls create real support and resistance levels through dealer hedging mechanics.
The GEX flip price marks where dealer gamma transitions from positive to negative, fundamentally changing market behavior.
A complete guide to the four primary options Greeks and how they affect your trading positions.
Understanding gamma exposure and how dealer hedging creates support and resistance levels in the market.
OPTIONS STRATEGY
Understanding the max pain theory, how to calculate it, its track record, and practical ways to use it in your trading.
Everything you need to know about trading zero days to expiration options, including strategies, risks, and why they dominate modern markets.
SENTIMENT
SPOTGAMMA
SQUAWKFLOW
Guide to understanding and using AI-generated trading signals.
How SquawkFlow uses AI to score trading signals by conviction level.
STRATEGY
TRADING SKILLS
How to build and maintain an effective trading watchlist like a professional.
Essential risk management techniques for options traders.
TRADING TOOLS
Comprehensive guide to the best free tools for traders in 2025, featuring SquawkFlow.
How to build and use a scanner for unusual options activity.
VOLATILITY
A thorough explanation of implied volatility, how it is calculated, what it means, and how to use it in trading.
Understanding VIX futures term structure and what it signals about market fear.
Everything you need to know about the VIX, how it is calculated, what it means, and how to trade it.
How the vol trigger level from SpotGamma signals shifts between low and high volatility environments.