Options Flow

Options flow is the real-time activity of options being bought and sold in the market—essentially tracking who's betting on what. You'll see it discussed on trading forums and financial sites because large options trades can signal what smart money thinks a stock will do next. When a big investor buys call options (bets the price will rise) or put options (bets it will fall), that activity shows up in the flow data. For example, if you notice unusual buying of call options on TechCorp before an earnings announcement, it might suggest insiders expect good news. Retail investors watch options flow to spot these clues and potentially get ahead of price moves.