How to Use the Market Scanner Fidelity Brokerage Services, Member NYSE, SIPC 627984.1.0 2010 FMR LLC. All rights reserved.
What is the Market Scanner? The Market Scanner is a tool that can help you find underlying securities whose options exhibit unique trading opportunities. Its searches are based on key variables such as price movement, volatility, and order flow. Investors can use the results generated from a scan as a starting point to conduct further research to validate a potential trading decision. The Market Scanner can be used alongside other sections of our options research tools, including Key Statistics, Strategy Ideas, Strategy Evaluator, Probability Calculator, and P/L Calculator, to help search for trading opportunities. 2
How do I run a scan? To begin running a scan, choose from among the available criteria shown on the left side of the page. You can choose whether you want to run a predefined scan or build your own scan using the Custom Scans Tool. If you prefer to use one of the many predefined scans, you can choose from the list on the left side of the page. Available categories are Top Scans, Top Options Scans, Implied Volatility (IV), IV vs. HV, Order Flow, and Time Spreads. Each category has several unique scans available. 3
What are Custom Scans? The Custom Scans Tool allows you to build your own scan using any of the specific filters available on the page. For instance, you could set the custom scan to identify stocks experiencing higher than average options volume and whose 30-day Implied Volatility (IV) is greater than the 30-day Historic Volatility (HV). 4
How do I work with Custom Scans? Once you create a custom scan that you like, you can save it to run at a later date. You are also able to edit scans to modify specific criteria. To edit a custom scan after it has been saved, roll over the desired scan in the list of custom scans on the left side of the page, then click the Edit button. Use the Save Scan As feature if you want to save both the original custom scan and the new scan. If you d like to delete a custom scan, select Delete Scan. Both custom and predefined scans deliver real-time results that may change throughout the day in response to changing market conditions. This minimizes the risk that the results you see are outdated. 5
How do I use the scan results? Once your scan is complete, you ll see a list of the securities that most closely match the filters you ve applied. To learn more about one of the securities, click the dropdown (+) sign to the left of the symbol. This will provide a real-time quote, IV statistics, and sector and industry information. You can also click the Action menu to the right of any symbol to reveal tools to conduct additional research. Depending on the scan that you select and your own preference, you may consider trading the underlying security or its options. 6
How do I export scan results? Since the results generated by a scan may change throughout the day, this tool offers the ability to export any set of results to an Excel spreadsheet. Just click Export Data in the top right corner of the results section of the page. 7 Options trading entails significant risk and is not appropriate for all investors. Prior to trading options, you must receive a copy of Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options, which is available from Fidelity Investments, and be approved for options trading. Supporting documentation for any claims, if applicable, will be furnished upon request.