Unusual Open Interest Buildup Guide
العربيةFind stocks with several contracts trading heavily relative to open interest, and understand the radar's count, direction and score.
Notable activity can be spread across many strikes and expiries. This radar gathers stocks with several contracts flagged as unusual in the chain so you know where to begin reviewing. Despite its name, it does not compare open interest between dates or establish new positions. It uses trading volume relative to available open interest.
Use the page controls and filters
Select results
Use symbol, direction, period and minimum score, then choose page size. Favorites-only shows your saved items.
Radar-specific filters
Inspect the unusual-activity count filter for this radar. Start with one condition and broaden an empty search.
Sorting and pages
Choose the sort column and direction, then navigate result pages. The first page is not necessarily the complete result set.
When results are absent
Distinguish empty results from an error or a plan lock. Broaden filters for an empty list, retry errors and inspect plans for locked access.
Fields and concepts
Unusual contracts
The number of distinct option contracts meeting the unusual-activity rule, not the number of trades or an increase in open interest. A stock needs at least three qualifying contracts to generate an alert.
Unusual calls and puts
These counts split qualifying contracts by type. Different contracts may belong to one position or hedge.
Direction
Bullish means more qualifying calls than puts; bearish means more puts; neutral means equal counts. This describes contract types, not whether their holders bought or sold them.
Score
Each qualifying contract contributes ten points, capped at 100. For example, four contracts produce 40. The score measures how widely activity is spread across contracts; it is not a success probability or dollar amount.
What the row does not show
The row does not contain prior open interest or a historical OI change. Open the chain to inspect strike, expiry, volume and OI for each contract; do not attribute an unperformed comparison to the radar.
Signal time and filters
Check the reading time and use the unusual-contract count filter to narrow results. The center's period selects displayed signals; it does not turn the radar into a historical OI comparison.
Review workflow
- Read unusual-contract count, call/put breakdown and score first.
- Open the stock's chain, select an expiry and inspect UOA badges alongside volume and OI.
- Compare neighboring strikes and other expiries to locate concentrations.
- Open flow and the chart for timing, liquidity and execution-side context where available.
- To investigate whether new positions remained open, later compare two published OI readings for the same contract. This is a separate check, not the radar's result.
Useful supporting context
- Meaningful absolute volume and comparable OI, rather than a huge ratio from a tiny base.
- Activity across strikes and expiries with an understandable relation to the stock.
- A current reading and a contract identified by symbol, type, expiry and strike.
- Additional liquidity, flow and chart context without assuming trader identity.
Cautions
- High volume does not establish new open positions.
- Calls do not establish buying, and puts do not establish selling.
- Activity may belong to a hedge, a roll to another expiry or a multi-leg position.
- No unusual badge does not mean no trading: the volume or OI conditions may not be met.
Risk and limitations
When does the UOA unusual-activity badge appear?
The badge requires volume of at least twice open interest, at least 10 open contracts, and a calculable ratio. It compares trading volume with the latest available OI, not OI between two dates.
For example, volume of 300 and OI of 100 produce a ratio of 3 and meet the rule. Volume of 30 and OI of 5 do not qualify despite the higher ratio, because open interest is below the minimum.
In the chain, choose the symbol and expiry, then compare a contract's UOA badge with its volume and OI columns. Unusual summarizes qualifying contracts. The OI radar counts qualifying contracts per stock; do not confuse that count with their traded volume.
Related guides
Did new positions remain open? Check later
This check is separate from the radar: record contract identity, reading time, volume and OI, then compare a later published OI value with the previous value for that same contract. Today's volume is not tomorrow's OI increase. Even higher OI does not identify who bought or sold and can include hedges or multiple participants. If OI did not rise, do not describe the activity as a confirmed increase in open positions.
Page components explained
Narrow the signals
Filter by stock, period, price or the available signal criteria. Start broad and add conditions gradually. The timeframe belongs to the signal, while the date range controls when signals appeared.
Period, timeframe and direction
Use the period to choose recent or older signals, the timeframe to choose the candle scale, and direction to separate bullish and bearish readings. These settings answer different questions.
Read the signal list
Start with symbol, signal time and timeframe, then read direction and the radar-specific details. Open a signal to inspect it on the chart. Scores are ranking aids, not measured win probabilities.
Saved signals and watchlists
Favorites retain specific signals for review. A watchlist tracks stocks and can include many signals for each one. Check which control you are using before narrowing the list.
Supporting context
These switches keep signals with the selected news, block-volume, compliance or options context. Presence of extra information is not proof that the signal is stronger or that all sources agree.
Inspect a signal
Compare the signal marker with the price at that time and the moves that followed. Confirm the timeframe and timestamp. A historical chart shows what happened; it does not guarantee the next signal will behave the same way.
Automatic refresh
Refresh checks for new readings. It does not make an old source current. Check the reading's timestamp and any warning before using it.
Language
Use the flag to switch the interface language. Check the currency shown on subscription and payment pages after changing language; trading symbols keep their original spelling.
Light and dark mode
Choose the appearance that makes text and chart details comfortable to read. Changing the theme affects the display, not the underlying data or signals.
Page layout
Use this control to change the available page layout. It changes how much space the interface uses, not the meaning of the displayed values.
Fullscreen
In the signed-in app, expand the site to gain more room for charts and tables. Use the control again or Escape to leave browser fullscreen.
Notification bell
Review recent notifications and their timestamps here. The badge counts unread notifications; it is not a count of unreviewed trading opportunities. Delivery channels and rules are managed in alert subscriptions.
Account menu
Open account settings, subscription details and other personal links here. Use sign out when you finish on a shared device.