Post-OPEX Dynamics Drive Thanksgiving Week Rally The shortened Thanksgiving holiday week delivered exactly what we outlined in our Monday morning Founder’s Note: a powerful post-OPEX rally driven by put option decay and volatility compression. The week marked a significant bullish pivot for U.S. equities, with the S&P 500 rallying from 6,636 to 6,849—a gain of over […]
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Negative Gamma Fuels Extreme Volatility
There’s really only one way to summarize the past few days: “What a week!” Markets delivered some of the most extreme intraday swings of the year, culminating in Thursday’s violent selloff and Friday’s equally dramatic reversal—one of the sharpest two-day sequences we’ve seen in 2025. As of Thursday, the S&P 500 was on track for the worst […]
All Eyes on NVDA as Volatility Spikes
From Market Euphoria to “Elevator Down” Markets experienced a dramatic reversal last week. Monday began with bullish momentum after the government shutdown deal was reached, yet by Thursday the market was facing intense selling pressure. Notably, SPX broke below the critical 6,800 risk pivot level we emphasized daily in our Founder’s Notes, triggering higher volatility. As […]
SPX Down, Vol Up: What Makes Last Week’s Selloff Different
The market experienced a meaningful shift this week as SPX declined nearly 3% from the all-time highs of October 29, closing Friday at 6,729. What began as fluid, transient price action evolved into more concerning market dynamics by the end of the week. The week’s volatility behavior differed markedly from the tariff-induced selloff on October […]
The Market’s Balancing Act: Euphoria vs. Anxiety
Last week, SPX tested all-time highs at 6,920 while also reaching lows near the key gamma strike of 6,815 — a journey that balanced euphoria and anxiety. Wednesday morning began with a major risk alert from our AM Founder’s Note, which was validated over the next two days: the combination of the “spot up, vol up” […]
Vol Deflates, GLD Sells Off, and Earnings Season Ramps Up
Special Note: You’re invited to join SpotGamma on October 28 as we kick off Hidden Forces Unmasked, our live trader event built to help you protect PnL, outsmart volatility, and spot your next winning setup before the open. Get first access to our new Options Calculator and supercharged HIRO, along with the full suite of SpotGamma tools, free. Plus, score a shot at exclusive giveaways. Vol Deflates, […]
Volatility Returns in Time for Earnings Season
Volatility announced its return last week as the S&P 500 swung across intraday trading ranges of 150+ handles. SPX tested both the 6,550 and the 6,700 key levels we mentioned in our AM Founder’s Note on Monday before closing up 1.7% for the week at 6,674. Persistent negative gamma set the stage for heightened realized volatility, as dealers […]
What Led to Friday’s Selloff?
An otherwise sleepy week awoke with a jolt on Friday, following China’s announcement of restrictions on the selling of rare-earth minerals and susbequent tariff threats. Within minutes, SPX dropped 80 points from 6,750 to 6,670 – well below our risk-off level at 6,700. The market closed down 2.7% for the day at 6,553. This sharp pullback was severe, […]
Low Vol, Stubborn VIX, and a Market Full of Mixed Signals
Last week, SPX tested the key gamma levels at 6,640 and 6,750 we highlighted in Monday’s Founder’s Note, marking a new all-time high with a close 6,716. The impact of the government shutdown starting on October 1 seems to have barely registered. On Tuesday, the massive JPM Collar rolled from the 6,505 strike to a new […]
Market Braces for the Specter of Volatility Into October
Last week, SPX tagged fresh all-time highs near the 6,700 Call Wall before surrendering gains in a series of controlled selloffs down to as low as 6,580, finally closing the week at 6,644. The “Stock Up, Vol Up” system flashed warning signs mentioned in last Wednesday’s AM Founder’s Note. This dynamic represents a fundamental breakdown in the normal […]









