Daily digest / Finnifty / 2026-08-18 · this week
Finnifty · Tuesday 18 Aug 2026 · close
26,183
-1,214.8 (-4.43%)
Expiry Tue 25 Aug · 5 sessions
Selling from the open, closes near the lows
Finnifty slid 1,235 pts from 27,398 at 09:15 to 26,163 by 10:00 IST. Put writers added the most fresh OI at 26,000 (+0.3 L). Call writers built positions at 26,200–27,300, led by 27,300 (+0.2 L). Max pain moved from 26,500 to 26,400, following price down. PCR rose from 0.59 to 0.68.
Spot
Max pain
PCR
15-min · IST
Key levels into expiry
27,300
Call wall · 1.9 L OI · Fresh calls +0.2 L
resistance
26,400
Max pain
magnet
26,200
Fresh calls +0.2 L
cap
26,183
Close
●
26,000
Fresh puts +0.3 L · Put wall · 0.8 L OI
support
25,900
Fresh puts +0.2 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 open1,383
Session range1,258
The session used 91% of the monthly straddle's priced move.
Last 4 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.