STOCKS | Nasdaq 100 and S&P 500 Put-Call Ratios Reach New Highs

On February 26, the put-call ratio for the Nasdaq 100 index rose to 1.2, marking the highest level since the bear market low of 2022. According to BlockBeats, this increase indicates heightened hedging by investors in technology stocks. The current ratio surpasses the peak seen in April 2025 and exceeds any other reading from the past 12 years, except for 2022 when the ratio reached 2.3. Additionally, the total put-call ratio for the S&P 500 index climbed to 0.9, the highest since April 2025. This level aligns with the market corrections of 3-5% observed since early 2024. Furthermore, the current volume of put options traded in dollar terms is the second highest in nearly two years, trailing only the levels seen before April 2025.