IWM Options Key Levels — 2026-10-12 Expiration
As of 2026-10-09 18:03 ET, iShares Russell 2000 Index Fund (IWM) max pain for the 2026-10-12 expiration is $279 with the stock at $279.69; the gamma flip is $282.47; dealers are in negative gamma (net GEX -2.5M); options imply a ±2.49% move by expiration.
| Spot price | $279.69 |
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| Max pain | $279 |
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| Gamma flip | $282.47 |
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| Call Wall | $284 (773 open interest) |
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| Put Wall | $268 (887 open interest) |
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| Net gamma exposure (GEX) | -2.5M — negative gamma |
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| Implied move | ±2.49% (±$6.96) |
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| At-the-money implied volatility | 17.2% |
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| Put/call open interest ratio | 2.25 |
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| Call / put open interest | 2,202 / 4,953 |
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| Call / put volume | 433 / 822 |
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What is IWM max pain today?
$279 for the 2026-10-12 expiration, 0.2% below the current price of $279.69.
What is IWM gamma exposure (GEX)?
Net GEX is -2.5M (negative gamma), with the gamma flip at $282.47.
Where are the IWM call wall and put wall?
Call wall $284 (resistance), put wall $268 (support).
IWM Dealer Positioning Insights
- Negative Gamma Environment — Dealers are short gamma — they sell into dips and buy into rips, amplifying moves. Trend-following strategies favored. Expect larger directional moves.
- High Put/Call OI Ratio (2.25) — Put open interest dominates, indicating hedging/bearish positioning. Extreme readings can be contrarian bullish.
- Max Pain @ $279.0 — Spot is 0.2% above Max Pain. Gravitational pull may increase as expiry approaches.
- Support $268.0 / Resistance $284.0 — Put Wall at $268.0 acts as support. Call Wall at $284.0 acts as resistance. Net gamma concentration creates dealer hedging flows at these levels.
- Expected Move (Straddle-mid): ±2.49% ($6.96) — ATM straddle-mid implies a ±2.49% move by expiry. Range: $272.73 — $286.65
Largest IWM Open Interest Strikes
Calls: $284 (773), $279 (176), $291 (138), $289 (111), $290 (111). Puts: $265 (1,066), $268 (887), $271 (347), $276 (327), $267.5 (320).
Later IWM expirations: 2026-10-13, 2026-10-14, 2026-10-16, 2026-10-23, 2026-10-30, 2026-11-06, 2026-11-20, 2026-12-18.
Max pain is the strike at which option holders lose the most at expiration. Gamma exposure (GEX) estimates how much options dealers must hedge as the stock moves: positive gamma tends to dampen moves, negative gamma amplifies them, and the gamma flip is the price where net GEX changes sign. Call and put walls are the strikes where call and put gamma exposure is most concentrated, often read as resistance and support. Methodology
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