Glossary of terms

Plain-English definitions for the terms used across the briefs, alerts and Portfolio 360.

TermMeaning
Unusual options activity (UOA)Options orders that are far larger or more urgent than normal for that contract, suggesting informed positioning.
SweepAn options order split across multiple exchanges to fill immediately. Signals urgency.
BlockA single large, often negotiated options print, typically institutional.
Open interestThe number of contracts currently outstanding in a given option.
Implied volatilityThe market's expectation of future movement, priced into an option.
GreeksDelta, gamma, theta and vega — how an option's price reacts to price, time and volatility.
Cost basisWhat you originally paid for a position, used to calculate gain or loss.
TWRTime-weighted return — strategy performance, ignoring the timing of deposits.
IRRMoney-weighted return — performance of your actual dollars, including timing.
DrawdownThe peak-to-trough decline in your portfolio value.
CorrelationHow closely two holdings move together. High correlation means less real diversification.
Tax-loss harvestingRealising a loss to offset gains, subject to wash-sale rules.
Wash saleRepurchasing a substantially identical security within 30 days, which disallows the loss for tax purposes.
Time in forceHow long an order stays live — for example day, or good-till-cancelled.
Paper tradingSimulated trading with no real money at risk.

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