Daily digest / Finnifty / 2026-08-20 · this week
Finnifty · Thursday 20 Aug 2026 · close
26,275
+192.8 (+0.74%)
Expiry Tue 25 Aug · 3 sessions
Buying from the open, gains trimmed into the close
Finnifty climbed 248 pts from 26,081 at 09:15 to 26,329 by 11:15 IST. Put writers added the most fresh OI at 26,300 (+0.4 L). Call writers built positions at 26,150–26,400, led by 26,400 (+0.6 L). Max pain moved from 26,400 to 26,300. PCR rose from 0.67 to 0.83.
Spot
Max pain
PCR
15-min · IST
Key levels into expiry
27,300
Call wall · 1.4 L OI
resistance
26,400
Fresh calls +0.6 L
cap
26,300
Fresh calls +0.4 L · Max pain
cap
26,275
Close
●
26,200
Fresh puts +0.3 L
support
26,000
Put wall · 0.8 L OI
floor
25,900
Fresh puts +0.3 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 open332
Session range254
The session used 77% 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.