📊 Weekly Table Overview

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Trade Ideas for Options Traders

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📊 Weekly Table Overview: The Implied Truth

This table offers a high-level view of critical options, volatility, and momentum metrics across major ETFs—equipping you with insights to spot high-probability setups in the options market. It highlights where premiums are elevated, trends may be shifting, and price extremes signal potential reversals—key data points for any serious options strategy.

Options trading is about playing the odds, not predicting outcomes. When implied volatility expands, opportunity often follows—if you’re watching the right signals. Right now, we’re seeing meaningful dislocations between volatility, momentum, and market breadth across sectors—creating windows for both premium-selling setups and breakout trades for directional traders.

Want the full analysis? I cover this in more detail (including numerous trade ideas based on the table) in my free weekly newsletter, which hits your inbox every Sunday at 6PM ET.

At the close – May 23, 2025

📊 The Implied Truth: Quick Reference for Options Traders

This curated snapshot gives you a tactical edge by blending volatility metrics, momentum indicators, and contrarian sentiment signals across key ETFs.

🔍 Key Metrics Explained

  • Symbol
    The ETF ticker you’re analyzing (e.g., SPY, QQQ, IWM).
  • Last
    The most recent closing price.
  • Put/Call Ratio (P/C Ratio)
    Measures option sentiment:
    • > 1.0 = Bearish tilt (more puts than calls)
    • < 1.0 = Bullish tilt (more calls than puts)
      Extreme values often mark contrarian setups.
  • Implied Volatility (IV)
    Reflects market expectations of future movement.
    • Higher IV = Richer premiums and more expected price swings.
  • IV Rank
    Compares current IV to its range over the past year.
    • 0% = Lowest IV of the year
    • 100% = Highest IV of the year
    • Above 35% often favors premium-selling strategies.
  • IV Percentile
    Tells you the percentage of time over the past year that implied volatility (IV) has been lower than it is today. While IV Rank shows where today’s IV sits relative to the year’s high and low, IV Percentile shows how frequently the current level has been exceeded. Together, they help reveal whether a recent spike in volatility is a true outlier—or just noise. High percentile values suggest the current IV is uncommon, which often benefits premium sellers.
  • Relative Strength Index (RSI 2 / 7 / 14)
    Measures momentum over short-, mid-, and long-term windows.
    • > 80 = Overbought
    • < 20 = Oversold
    • RSI(2) reacts fastest, RSI(14) shows the trend context.
  • 52-Week Price Range Tracker
    Visual gauge of price relative to its 1-year high/low.
    • +% = Near highs
    • −% = Near lows
      Great for spotting overextensions or bottoming setups.

📈 Strategist’s Breakdown: What the Data Is Telling Us

Each week, this table isn’t just a readout—it’s a roadmap. Here’s how to interpret the current conditions:

✅ High IV Rank & IV Percentile

When an ETF shows an IV Rank above 50%, it means implied volatility is high relative to its range over the past year. If IV Percentile is also elevated, it confirms that the current level of volatility is not just high—it’s consistently high compared to recent history.

This combination suggests that the market may be overestimating future movement, making it an ideal environment for options sellers to collect inflated premiums.

Most effective strategies in this setup:

  • Iron Condors â€“ Profit from overstated price swings with a neutral bias.
  • Short Strangles â€“ Target volatility contraction while maximizing premium intake.
  • Credit Spreads â€“ Use directional or range-bound outlooks with defined risk.

These approaches allow traders to take advantage of rich option pricing, especially when volatility is expected to stabilize or decline.

⚖ P/C Ratio Extremes: Contrarian Clues

Watch for ETFs with P/C ratios above 1.5 or below 0.7.

  • A high P/C (>1.5) signals fear or panic hedging. If technicals align, short put spreads may offer compelling risk-reward.
  • A low P/C (<0.7) could point to overconfidence—ideal conditions for call credit spreads or bearish verticals.

📉 RSI Divergences: Timing Reversals

Using RSI (2, 7, 14) together reveals subtle momentum shifts:

  • If RSI(2) < 20 while RSI(14) is still neutral, expect a short-term bounce—perfect for shorter-dated trades.
  • When all RSIs are aligned in overbought or oversold territory, the case for a trend reversal strengthens. This is where timing matters most.

📊 Price Positioning: 52-Week Context

  • ETFs near their 52-week highs + rising IV may be overstretched. Look for call credit spreads above resistance.
  • ETFs near their lows with high IV often create high-probability short put entries—especially when supported by momentum divergences.

🧠 Final Takeaway: Turn Data Into Edge

Think of this table as both a diagnostic scan and an idea engine. It’s not just about volatility or momentum—it’s the intersection that matters. When IV Rank confirms what RSI hints at—and P/C ratio tells the crowd’s story—you get insight the average trader misses.

Blend these signals with your existing strategy to surface hidden high-probability trades that align with both logic and edge.

Probabilities over predictions,

Andy Crowder

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