>>>We’ll cover how to spot unusual options activity before the headlines, the biggest trades hitting the tape, turning flow into real-time trade ideas you can use this week, some live trading of course — and the party starts on Stonkamania at 1:30 PM ET!<<<
The first couple of signals of the day are usually the best performers, and there’s a solid reason for this pattern.
Think about what happens overnight — institutions are analyzing earnings, economic data, geopolitical events and positioning for the next session. When that opening bell rings, all that pent-up analysis and positioning hits the market at once. The options flow in those first 30 minutes reflects the most informed institutional moves based on fresh information.
That’s why I pay extra attention to those early signals. They’re not random — they’re the result of serious money making calculated decisions based on overnight developments.
The Closing Bell Rush: Urgent Money in Motion
But here’s where it gets really interesting — right before the close is usually when you see the most urgent institutional activity.
I’ve seen trades hit just seconds before the 4 p.m. bell that absolutely exploded the next morning. Why?
Because institutions often get time-sensitive information or need to position ahead of after-hours news. They can’t wait for tomorrow — they need to move now.
This creates some of the most powerful setups you’ll find. When big money is rushing to get positioned before the close, the moves can be swift and substantial.
Now, this isn’t the end all be all, and you still have to do your due diligence — check the market maker move, don’t chase, an out-of-the-money put could still be a hedge, etc. — before diving into a trade, but the pattern is clear…
Morning signals capture overnight analysis and positioning, while end-of-day trades reflect urgent, information-based moves. Both windows consistently outperform the choppy middle-of-the-day action where volume dies and momentum stalls.
These windows don’t guarantee success — everyone should know by now there are NO guarantees in trading — but this is what I’ve discovered after many years of trading these signals.
So if you’re looking to improve your timing, focus on orders coming in during these two windows. The opening 30 minutes and the final 30 minutes are where the smart money makes its most decisive moves.
If you want more info on the News Flow Scanner, just go here!
Order Flow:
This is for informational and educational purposes only. These are not official alerts issued by Lance, but rather some interesting orders picked by the team at Lance Ippolito Trading.
When you look at these plays, always take the market maker move into consideration.
You can be right on the direction but still lose money if the stock doesn’t move enough. That’s where the market maker move comes in clutch.
With puts, they’re often downside hedges in case a stock tanks, especially around earnings. The further out of the money they are, the more likely they are to be hedges.
Also be sure and check when the company’s earnings date is because many of the plays we post here are centered around earnings!
If a stock is really expensive, consider a spread to lower the cost.
And finally, always remember the golden rule when it comes to buying calls: Buy dips, sell rips — and don’t chase!
If a stock’s moved a ton already today, maybe wait for a pullback.
There is inherent risk in trading. Trade at your own risk.
Note: If no date is listed after the month, it’s the monthly expiration (third Friday).
The team at Lance Ippolito Trading
Lance doesn’t want the CCP spying on him, so you’ll never find him on TikTok. Same goes for other social media sites, which are filled with impersonators, scammers and crypto bros.
You can only find him on his personal YouTube Channel — smash that Subscribe button! https://www.youtube.com/@LanceIppolito
And in his private Telegram channel: https://t.me/+-gVwEIwGJhplMTgx
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*This is for informational and educational purposes only. There is inherent risk in trading, so trade at your own risk.
P.S. My No. 1 Scanner Just Flagged Some Fresh Tickers
If you’d like to get your hands on these names, as well as see the trade idea you can use to capitalize…
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