Explanation: Heavy flow in the first minutes of the session.
Pro Tip: Institutions sometimes load early when they expect big moves.
Rule of Thumb: Watch if early volume matches the day’s sentiment. If it does, momentum may continue.
An aggressive opening happens when large, unusual option flows hit right at market open (first 15–30 minutes).
● These trades are often sweeps (aggressive buys across exchanges) and are usually tied to short-term momentum bets or event-driven positioning.
Why traders care?
● Institutions reveal their hand early. Big players often move quickly if they expect volatility or momentum.
● Set the tone for the day. Early flows can guide intraday sentiment.
● Liquidity is thin. Early trades stand out more than during mid-session.
How to spot it (quick tells)
● Unusually large sweeps at ask hitting in the first 5–15 minutes.
● 0DTE or weekly expirations with strong size → momentum spike potential.
● Volume/OI ratio > 1 early in the day → new opening trades.
● Clustered flows across multiple strikes/tickers.
● Trades often show urgency (not waiting for better fills).
Interpreting the intent
● Bullish aggressive open: Heavy call buying at ask across major tickers/indexes → players chasing upside.
● Bearish aggressive open: Heavy put buying at ask, downside sweeps in indices → hedging or conviction short bets.
● Mixed: Can signal hedge rebalancing or pre-event positioning.
Rules of thumb
● “Early money = smart money (sometimes).” Watch if flows hold up after the first hour.
● Confirm with price action. Don’t blindly follow — see if stocks/indexes actually trend in the flow’s direction.
● 0DTE caution. Many aggressive open orders are ultra-short-term → great momentum plays, but risky.
● Clusters > singles. One trade could be noise; multiple sweeps = conviction.
Practical playbook
● Day traders: If aggressive call sweeps hit at open + index moves up, momentum scalps can work.
● Swing traders: Better to wait for confirmation. Many aggressive open trades fade after the first hour.
● Hedgers: If aggressive open is all puts near the bid, institutions may be quickly insuring portfolios.
Quick checklist (Aggressive Opening Scan)
● Did an unusual size hit in the first 15–30 minutes?
● Were trades sweeps at ask (bullish) or at bid (bearish)?
● 0DTE or weeklies? → pure momentum.
● Did the price confirm direction?
● Was it a cluster or a one-off?