F&O Action: Futures and Options market cues for trading on January 20

The Nifty 50 put call ratio (PCR) closed at 0.49 for the day.

Tracking global cues, the Indian equity market too saw weakness for the second consecutive day. In yesterday’s trade, we saw a huge cut in the US as well as the European market. There was a huge selloff in tech-heavy Nasdaq. Hence, the IT index remained the worst performer in today’s trade falling by two per cent. Nonetheless, we do not see much downside risk from hereon reflected in a muted rise in Nifty VIX of 0.21 per cent.  

Activity on the F&O front for weekly expiry on January 20 shows 18300 to act as a strong resistance now. Highest open interest contract of 163948 stood at this strike price. The second-highest call option open interest 146573 for Nifty 50 stood at a strike price of 18100. In terms of the highest addition of open interest in the call options front, it was at 18000 in the last trading session. A total of 124091 open interest was added at this strike price.

In terms of put activity, the highest put writing was seen at a strike price of 17900 (27715) open interest added on January 19, followed by 17700 where (25873) open interest was added. Highest total put open interest (94980) stood at a strike price of 17500. This is followed by a strike price of 17900, which saw a total put option open interest of 85286 contracts.

The Nifty 50 put call ratio (PCR) closed at 0.49 for the day. A PCR above 1 is considered bullish while a PCR below 1 is considered bearish.

Max pain at the end of today's trade stands at 18000.