Daily digest / Bank Nifty / 2026-08-20 · this week
Bank Nifty · Thursday 20 Aug 2026 · close
57,619
+288.3 (+0.50%)
Expiry Tue 25 Aug · 3 sessions
Quiet session pinned near max pain 57,600
Bank Nifty traded a narrow 246 pts range and closed at 57,619. Put writers added the most fresh OI at 57,000 (+3.4 L). Call writers built positions at 57,600–57,900, led by 57,700 (+2.9 L). Max pain moved from 57,500 to 57,600, following price up. PCR rose from 0.71 to 0.81.
Spot
Max pain
57,500 support
PCR
15-min · IST
Key levels into expiry
58,000
Call wall · 23.2 L OI
resistance
57,900
Fresh calls +1.0 L
cap
57,700
Fresh calls +2.9 L
cap
57,619
Close
●
57,600
Max pain
magnet
57,500
Fresh puts +2.6 L · held the low
support
57,000
Fresh puts +3.4 L · Put wall · 14.9 L OI
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 open643
Session range246
The session used 38% 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.