Triple witching day, which occurs quarterly on the third Friday of March, June, September, and December, is when stock options, stock index futures, and stock index options all expire on the same day. This event can lead to higher volatility in the market. On this particular triple witching day in June 2024, there are several notable occurrences that may impact investors.
Firstly, Nvidia has seen unprecedented options trading, particularly call options, with about one third of outstanding options tied to the company expiring on this day. Additionally, Nvidia's stock split and rebalancing into the $71 billion Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) on Friday will result in more cash being thrown at the company's stock than usual.
Secondly, U.S. business activity grew at its fastest pace in 26 months in June according to S&P Global's provisional PMI survey data. This is a positive sign for the economy and may indicate continued growth in certain sectors.
Thirdly, Apple may delay the rollout of AI features in Europe due to uncertainties over EU regulation and new laws. This could impact investors who hold shares of Apple or other technology companies that rely on European markets.
Lastly, Treasury yields were down, with the 10-year at 4.231%. This may indicate a decrease in investor confidence or a shift towards safer investments during this volatile period.
Investors should be prepared for potential market swings and volatility on this triple witching day. It is important to closely monitor the performance of individual stocks, particularly those with significant options trading activity, as well as broader market trends.