Daily digest / Finnifty / 2026-08-21 · this week
Finnifty · Friday 21 Aug 2026 · close
26,279
+3.7 (+0.01%)
2nd straight up dayExpiry Tue 25 Aug · 2 sessions
Quiet session pinned near max pain 26,300
Finnifty traded a narrow 80 pts range and closed at 26,279. Put writers added the most fresh OI at 25,800 (+1.4 L). Call writers built positions at 26,700–26,800, led by 26,750 (+1.2 L). Max pain held at 26,300 all session. PCR fell from 1.01 to 0.89.
Spot
Max pain
PCR
15-min · IST
Key levels into expiry
26,800
Fresh calls +0.4 L
cap
26,750
Call wall · 1.4 L OI · Fresh calls +1.2 L
resistance
26,300
Max pain
magnet
26,279
Close
●
25,800
Fresh puts +1.4 L · Put wall · 1.8 L OI
support
25,500
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 open256
Session range80
The session used 31% 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.