Options workflow
Where to start with Options
You do not need every options tool open at once. Start with the way you trade, then build a dashboard around the data that matters to that setup.
Dashboard search symbols: The codes in parentheses — for example OHT — are what you can type into the dashboard search bar to open that tool.
Day trading
If you're day trading options
Keep the tools that explain positioning, volatility, scheduled catalysts, and market context close together.
- GEX, DEX, VEX, Vanna & CEX heatmaps OHTUse the exposure heatmaps to see where positioning is concentrated across strikes and expirations.
- Options Net Drift ONDTrack the direction and persistence of options positioning during the session.
- Options dividend schedule DVDKnow when the underlying is paying a dividend; dividends can materially affect option pricing.
- Options Volatility OVCheck implied volatility, term structure and skew before putting on a trade.
- Earnings Calendar + Estimates EEKeep a watchlist of the large caps that matter to the index or sector you are trading and know when earnings are coming.
- Economic Events Calendar ECOWatch scheduled macro releases that can move the entire market.
- Ticker Specific News Feed CNWatch for company-specific news on the mega caps and components that can move what you are trading.
- Broad Market News Feed TOPKeep a broader market news feed open for market-wide catalysts.
- Global Indices WEITrack major international indices; Asian and European sessions can provide useful context before the U.S. open.
Longer-term options
If you're buying or selling longer-dated options
Shift the workflow toward pricing, volatility, event risk, company quality, and the economics of the contract itself.
- Options Chain — stochastic-volatility model OCInfoLib's options chain is constructed with its stochastic-volatility pricing model rather than a standard broker-style binomial model.
- Options Strategy Lab OSLBuild and compare multi-leg options strategies before entering the trade.
- Options Selling Heatmap OSHCompare Delta, Premium, Annual Return, Theta Yield per day, and Return on Collateral when evaluating contracts to sell.
- Earnings Calendar EEMake sure you are not unknowingly selling premium into an earnings event.
- Options Volatility OVEspecially useful when you are selling farther-dated expiries and volatility matters more to the trade.
- Options Exposure Chart OEXGet a cumulative view of the selected timeframe and Greek exposure.
- Options GEX Heatmap OHTUse larger exposure nodes a few weeks out as context when thinking about possible support, resistance, and best/worst-case zones.
- Ticker Specific News Feed CNCheck whether a move is being driven by fresh company news before selling into what looks overbought or oversold.
- Market Overview WScan sectors and market leaders/laggards when looking for different underlyings to trade.
- Institutional Holdings HDSUse institutional ownership data as another filter when looking for names suitable for your strategy
- Company Financials / Company Filings FIN / CFIf you are selling options on a company that may need to raise funds, review its financials and filings so you understand cash, assets and financing risk.
Video walkthrough
See the workflow in the terminal
Ready to use the Options tools?
All the tools that deal directly with options data require a subscription, sign up below or go directly to the terminal