Massive Options Expiry Sparks Chaotic 'Triple Witching' on Friday
Options contracts worth over $5 trillion are set to expire on Friday, coinciding with the rebalancing of the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100, leading to a potentially volatile trading session. Traders will be cashing in bullish bets, while index-tracking funds adjust their holdings. Trading volume has been increasing throughout the week, with expectations of enormous volumes on Friday. The surge in bullish options contracts has helped push the S&P 500 to near-record highs. The quarterly "triple witching" expiration event is typically associated with higher trading volume and intraday swings. The rebalancing of the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 after the market close adds further complexity to the situation.