Daily digest / Bank Nifty / 2026-08-18 · this week
Bank Nifty · Tuesday 18 Aug 2026 · close
57,418
-376.4 (-0.65%)
Expiry Tue 25 Aug · 5 sessions
Quiet, range-bound session
Bank Nifty traded a narrow 369 pts range and closed at 57,418. Put writers added the most fresh OI at 56,000 (+0.6 L). Call writers built positions at 57,500–60,000, led by 60,000 (+5.1 L). Max pain moved from 57,800 to 57,600, following price down. PCR fell from 0.83 to 0.70.
Spot
Max pain
PCR
15-min · IST
Key levels into expiry
60,000
Fresh calls +5.1 L
cap
58,000
Call wall · 23.7 L OI
resistance
57,600
Max pain
magnet
57,500
Fresh calls +3.2 L
cap
57,418
Close
●
57,000
Put wall · 10.2 L OI
floor
56,000
Fresh puts +0.6 L
support
55,000
Fresh puts +0.5 L
support
Where writers added today
■ calls ■ puts · OI change from the first snapshot to the close, strikes near spot
Move vs what options priced
Monthly ATM straddle at open819
Session range369
The session used 45% of the monthly straddle's priced move.
Last 6 sessions
Reading these numbers
- Max pain is the strike where option buyers collectively lose the most at expiry. It often drifts with price, and the pull tends to strengthen into expiry.
- Fresh OI shows where option writers opened new positions during the session. Heavy put writing below price often marks a level sellers expect to hold; heavy call writing above marks a ceiling.
- PCR is put OI ÷ call OI for the monthly expiry.
- Straddle vs range compares the ATM straddle price at the open (what options priced in) with the distance price actually covered.
Descriptive summaries of recorded option-chain positioning, generated automatically — not trading signals or advice.
Read the disclaimer →
Related reading
PCR explained →
How put-call ratio is calculated and when it misleads.
Max pain theory →
Why max pain matters near expiry.
OI buildup →
Reading the four OI patterns.