Gamma Gone Wild

Friday, April 17, 2026

Smoke Pattern. Heat Gauge. Fuel Line. Draft.

Four criteria. When two or more align on the same stock at the same time, institutional algorithms are already piling in, quietly, before the headline hits.

Jeff Bierman spent 38 years building this, from the NASDAQ floor to a Beverly Hills hedge fund to Chief Market Technician at TD Ameritrade.

He already bagged +250% on ETSY options. Some members have paid for their subscription cost and then some.

Twice a week he runs the scan. When a real BURN fires, you get the ticker.

The BURN SIGNAL Masterclass runs Wednesday, April 22nd at 1pm EST.

👉 See the framework before the next signal drops

Don here…

The market just logged the largest gamma squeeze I have ever seen.

The S&P 500 moved 300 points this week against a $120 expected move. That adds up to almost three standard deviations and the third consecutive weekly breach to the upside.

I have recorded expected moves in the SPX all the way back to 2017. Three consecutive breaches in the same direction is completely unheard of in my data.

Microsoft tells the story best. The stock opened the week at $370 with an $11 expected move and closed at $422 for a 4.74 sigma move.

In tonight’s video, I walk through the data driving the squeeze:

  • The SPX traded 6 million option contracts today with calls slightly outnumbering puts. Institutions normally buy puts as hedges in this product, so this flip tells me retail is piling into call options.
  • Every SPX strike below 7175 held over 100,000 contracts in open interest from yesterday’s close. Move out to Monday’s expiration and the biggest strike shows only 13,000 contracts.
  • SPDRs added another 15 million contracts on top of the SPX’s 7 million for over 21 million combined. The QQQ kicked in another 8 million on the same day.
  • Next week’s SPX expected move sits at $110, only 10% below this week’s $120.Volatility did not collapse during this rally, with the VIX finding a floor near 18.

I am not playing this rally on the long side. My opportunities right now are all on the short side.

Financials remain down 4% on the year while the private credit squeeze keeps building at the major banks. Home builders got swept up in the move despite bond market pressure, and crypto continues to lag the broader index.

I walk through exactly how this gamma feedback loop works and break down three specific short setups I am watching next week.

👉 Click here to watch me break down the largest gamma squeeze ever recorded

To your success,

Don Kaufman
Chief Market Strategist, TheoTRADE

The Market’s No. 1 Trading Guide, Free

This is the perfect time to make sure you’re up to speed on your trading know-how. So I want to ensure you’ve read our free Rebel’s Guide to Trading Options – it covers all the basics of trading options. Like everything we do, the course is in plain  English. It’s specially geared toward beginners but all traders will get something out of it. Yours absolutely free, of course – right here…

Recent Media Appearances by TheoTrade

Jeff Bierman talks A.I. with YahooFinance LIVE

Click here to watch and read the interview >>>

Follow Us on Twitter for Free Market Updates Throughout the Day: https://twitter.com/TheoTrade

NEW MEDIA CHANNEL – JOIN TheoTRADE on RUMBLE

TheoTrade Rumble Channel

NEED HELP? LOOKING FOR MORE ADVANCED TRAINING? CALL OUR VIP CONCIERGE SUPPORT TEAM: (623) 244-5657

For live updates throughout the week join the TotalTheo® Unlimited Monthly Streaming: https://theotrade.com/all/

Get 6 Months Membership Access for FREE

Click Here to Open and Fund a NEW tastytrade Account

Follow these step by step directions:

1.  To open an account with tastytrade and enjoy an additional 6 months of TheoTRADE membership, start by clicking the button below..

2. Follow the directions on that page to open a new account.

3. Fund the account with a minimum of $2,000 in the next 30 days and keep open for at least 6 months.

4.  IMPORTANT: After the new account is open AND funded email support@theotrade.com so we can verify your new account.  Please note it may take us up to one week to verify your account from the time you email us.

5.  TheoTrade will then provide you membership access for 6 months!

Click here to get started now…

NEED HELP? LOOKING FOR MORE ADVANCED TRAINING? CALL OUR VIP CONCIERGE TEAM: (623) 244-5657

Warm regards,

Don Kaufman

Disclaimer: Neither TheoTrade or any of its officers, directors, employees, other personnel, representatives, agents or independent contractors is, in such capacities, a licensed financial adviser, registered investment adviser, registered broker-dealer or FINRA|SIPC|NFA-member firm. TheoTrade does not provide investment or financial advice or make investment recommendations. TheoTrade is not in the business of transacting trades, nor does TheoTrade agree to direct your brokerage accounts or give trading advice tailored to your particular situation. Nothing contained in our content constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, promotion, or endorsement of any particular security, other investment product, transaction or investment. Trading Futures, Options on Futures, and retail off-exchange foreign currency transactions involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. You should carefully consider whether trading is suitable for you in light of your circumstances, knowledge, and financial resources. You may lose all or more of your initial investment. Opinions, market data, and recommendations are subject to change at any time. Past Performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.

WARNING: If you UNSUBSCRIBE, you will be removed from ALL email lists, including any paid subscription emails. To opt out of this list only and keep other access, forward this email to support@theotrade.com and say “remove me from this particular email list.” Unsubscribe

TheoTrade
16427 N Scottsdale Rd
Suite # 410
Scottsdale, Arizona 85254
United States
1 (800) 256-8876

Unknown's avatar

Published by RJ Hamster

I was born on 6 August 1956 in San Francisco, California to Janet and (the late) Richard Hovis. I grew up in Santa Monica, California where I attended elementary, junior high school, and high school (graduating in 1974), in addition to involvement in sports and recreation (Little League +, the Boy’s Club ++). Further, it was in elementary school – St. Augustine’s By-the -Sea Parish School that I found, and made the choice to truly journey with God. I attended Arizona State University from 1974 to 1977 – seeking to become an architect, however, I was not accepted, and, as such, I graduated with a Liberal Arts degree. Upon graduation from Arizona State University, I attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and studied City and Regional Planning at the Master’s level. I successfully completed one (1) year in a two (2) year program – I did not complete the Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning – due to personal reasons. I returned to Santa Monica where I started (October 1979) my career as graphic designer with Exxon Company, USA. I spent five years with Exxon Company, USA. While working with Exxon Company, USA I was accepted into architectural school – Sci-Arc in Southern California, however, I did not attend preferring to stay with Exxon.. In 1982 I married Laura Flosi and in April 1983 we had our one and only child – Lauren Alain Hovis – a gift from God. We moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1984 from Los Angeles, where I went to work as a graphic designer with Kitchell CEM (from 1985 -1987). From 1987 – 1995 I was an independent contractor, and a registered representative in mortgage finance, financial management, graphic design, and drafting. Further, I attended the University of Phoenix and successfully obtained a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) in 1982. I was also a member of the Scottsdale Jaycees, where I became very involved in community events and projects. In 1994, I accepted a cartography position with the Defense Mapping Agency in Reston, Virginia. As such, I relocated from Phoenix to Reston. In 1998, I was accepted and worked as a Visual Information Officer with the Central Intelligence Agency. In 2002, I worked as a Support Officer until my retirement (due to a need for shoulder surgery) in September 2018. Away from my Federal Government service, I have been involved in various organizations and activities in Northern Virginia. In November of 2011, I married Rebecca Ouellette in Santa Monica, California. I reside in San Tan Valley, AZ with my two hamster - Jess and Timothy, our fish, our lizard - RJ Lizard., and our cats - Pearl and Grey. As to hobbies, I enjoy playing sports, attending sporting events, mentoring individuals from financial management to hamsters, building models, photography, travel, multimedia design, managing partner for RJ Hamster, and jazz – smooth jazz to a samba or a bossa nova. Love and God Bless, Peter – aka RJ Hamster Jo hi

Leave a Comment