Good morning, traders…

Most weeks, you can rely on a certain rhythm in the options market. 

Volume builds, premiums shift, and setups play out in familiar patterns. 

But this week is different. 

And if you’re not aware of why, you’re trading with blinders on.

I’m talking about something baked into the options calendar, a scheduled phenomenon that sneaks up quietly (but can throw off your trades if you’re not ready for it)…

• It messes with liquidity. 
• It pulls market makers into weird buying and selling patterns. 
• It creates fast, violent moves at the end of the week. 
• It catches a lot of traders off guard. 

But I want to make sure you aren’t one of them. 

Let Me Show You Why This Week Is Special (And How To Trade Accordingly)…

What Triple Witching Means

This week is one of only four Triple Witching events each year.

Triple Witching happens when stock options, index options, and index futures all expire on the same day — this Friday. 

That might sound like a technical detail, but it creates real ripple effects in the market.

Ahead of expiration, open interest swells as traders pile into contracts (many of which will need to be closed, rolled, or exercised). 

This Friday, volume will surge, especially in the last hour. You’ll see unusual spikes right before the open and again as the market closes.

Market makers will scramble to manage risk. Algorithms will kick in to match orders and hedge exposure. Price moves can get sharp and erratic. Liquidity might vanish in one spot and flood into another. 

And if you’re not paying attention, it’s easy to get chopped up in the crossfire…

Why Triple Witching Matters

Volume Spikes and Unpredictable Fills

This week, anyone who doesn’t know about triple witching will likely be caught staring slack-jawed at surprising price swings. 

The flood of orders can absorb normal levels of liquidity. That means slippage, choppy fills, or partial executions during key moments. 

If you’re not sizing and timing cautiously, you’re playing with fire. 

Implied Volatility Gets Weird

When traders rush to close or roll expiring positions, implied volatility (IV) can spike or collapse in narrow windows. 

That can distort prices for basic calls and puts. Contracts that look cheap can suddenly explode in value, while heavy premiums can erode in minutes. 

Friday Feels Different

If you’re holding calls or puts that need a big move, you need that move to happen fast (or time decay will eat your premium). 

Friday is a whole different ballgame. If you’re holding short-term in the wrong direction by Thursday, you’re in trouble.

Watch your exposure as we head into Friday. 

How to Trade Triple Witching Like a Pro

1. Expect Chop

Don’t assume your charts will hold to smooth, clear trends. This week is known for choppy moves.

Stacked expirations bring extra volatility due to rapid repositioning into the end of the week. 

Be selective. If it’s not getting big bets on my OMEN Scanner, don’t trade it. 

2. Play the Ranges

We’re likely to see range-bound action as market makers try to keep contracts from paying out. 

So, play those ranges. 

Find your support and resistance zones and trade between them. Don’t chase breakouts unless they confirm and hold. 

Let the key price levels do the hard work for you.

3. Take Profits Early

Don’t hold runners this week. If your trade goes green, lock in gains. 

Take the singles. Don’t wait around for home runs. 

4. Don’t Trade Every Day

If the action’s sloppy or you get a green trade early, pay yourself and walk. Reset. That mindset keeps you from overtrading or revenge trading when the tape’s acting weird.

5. Plan and Pay

Know your entries, exits, and risk before the trade. Don’t wing it. This week punishes sloppy planning. 

This is a rare week. 

And to add to the volatility, we’ve got the June Consumer Price Index (CPI) dropping today. Expectations are for a flat-to-mild increase, but any upside surprise (especially in core inflation) could shift rate-cut odds and shake the market. 

You need to be on your toes as options expiration pressure collides with market-moving economic data. 

But if you know what’s going on and respect the risk, some great trading opportunities can arise from the disruption. 

Prepare beforehand, execute your plan, and pay yourself quickly when the setup works.

Happy trading,

Ben Sturgill

P.S. We have a new trading challenge…

To make a 400% return on a new small account. 

$1000 → $5,000 by October 14.

Join me and Danny Phee TOMORROW, July 16 at 8:00 p.m EST to see how we plan on doing it. 

We already 3x’d a small account TWICE using my Earnings Edge system — Click here to watch us do it again.

*Past performance does not indicate future results