Quadruple witching is a financial market phenomenon that occurs four times a year on the third Friday of March, June, September, and December. On these days, four types of derivative contracts expire simultaneously:
1. Stock Index Futures: Contracts to buy or sell a stock index at a predetermined price on a specific future date.
2. Stock Index Options: Options to buy or sell a stock index at a specific price before the option expires.
3. Stock Options: Options to buy or sell individual stocks at a specific price before the option expires.
4. Single Stock Futures: Contracts to buy or sell a specific stock at a predetermined price on a specific future date.
Key Points About Quadruple Witching
- Increased Volatility: The simultaneous expiration of these contracts often leads to increased trading volume and market volatility as traders and investors adjust or close out their positions.
- Market Impact: It can lead to significant price swings, especially towards the end of the trading day, as large institutional investors rebalance their portfolios and roll over their contracts.
- Opportunities for Traders: Some traders seek to capitalize on the increased volatility and trading opportunities presented during quadruple witching days.
Reasons for Market Volatility
- Portfolio Adjustments: Investors may need to rebalance their portfolios to reflect the expiration of these contracts.
- Arbitrage Opportunities: The differences in prices between the expiring contracts and the underlying assets can create arbitrage opportunities, driving additional trading activity.
- Option Exercises: The exercise of a large number of options contracts can result in significant buying or selling pressure on the underlying assets.
Historical Context
The term "quadruple witching" derives from "witching hour," which refers to a time of unpredictability. Originally, there were only three types of contracts expiring simultaneously (known as "triple witching"), but the addition of single stock futures in 2002 added a fourth component, leading to the term "quadruple witching."