Period Review | Flow Options Market Snapshot

The options market is showing clear bearish positioning over the past 24 hours. Put buying activity accounts for roughly 30% of total flow, a notably elevated level indicating traders are actively hedging against downside risks.

What's driving this? Price weakness combined with anticipation around major US macroeconomic data releases. When key economic indicators loom on the calendar, smart money typically increases protective puts to guard their positions. It's a textbook risk-management move.

The skew tells an interesting story here—puts are moving faster than calls, suggesting conviction behind the hedging demand rather than casual positioning shifts. This type of activity often precedes volatility expansion, making it worth monitoring closely.