First Flows identifies meaningful directional option flow developing early in the SPX trading session. Its assessments describe bullish or bearish structures supported by activity across multiple strikes, giving traders a focused starting point for evaluating an early opportunity.
Bullish alignment can develop through call buying and put selling across multiple strikes. Call buying adds bullish directional pressure, while put selling can provide seller-defined support. Their location and alignment help determine whether the activity forms a coherent bullish structure.
Bearish alignment can form through call selling and put buying across multiple strikes. Call selling can establish potential resistance, while put buying adds bearish directional pressure. The assessment depends on how those flows interact around SPX.
A directional read activates when the observed activity meets the First Flows program’s qualifying rules for meaningful multi-strike structure and alignment. An individual transaction or isolated strike does not establish the complete assessment. Traders should inspect the supporting activity on the Flow Map and Option Chain.
The active flow zone identifies the area of option activity supporting the assessment. The failure level provides a reference for evaluating whether key price structure has broken down. Together, they help traders relate the published read to price location and subsequent behavior.
Activation identifies a qualifying condition at that point in the session. Subsequent price behavior helps traders assess whether the anticipated response is developing, whether price is encountering containment, and whether the original supporting flow remains relevant.
Seller containment, deterioration in supporting flow, or failure of key structure can weaken or end the directional assessment. Traders should watch for changes in both price and option activity rather than assume an activated read remains valid throughout the morning.
Yes. Changing activity can produce a direct transition when the opposite directional structure qualifies. A weakening bullish read does not automatically establish a bearish read, or vice versa; the new assessment requires its own supporting evidence.