Bearish options bets spike to highest level since US regional banking crisis
The more than 1% decline in the S&P 500 on its most volatile day of 2024 also featured most bearish derivatives bets in more than a year.
The total equity and equity index put options traded across US exchanges in the Options Price Reporting Authority surged to nearly 30 million on Wednesday, the highest level since the immediate aftermath of Silicon Valley Bank’s implosion in March 2023 and ensuing fears about the balance sheet strength of US regional banks.