Community Forex Questions
How does open interest differ from trading volume?
Open interest and trading volume are both important metrics used in analyzing financial markets, but they represent different aspects of market activity.

Trading volume refers to the total number of shares or contracts traded within a specific period, such as a day or a trading session. It indicates the level of market activity and liquidity, reflecting the number of transactions executed. Trading volume provides insights into the intensity and frequency of buying and selling pressure.

On the other hand, open interest represents the total number of outstanding contracts or positions held by market participants at a specific point in time. It reflects the number of contracts that have not yet been closed out or settled. Open interest increases when new positions are created and decreases when existing positions are closed. It represents the potential for future trading activity, as open positions can be traded or offset in the future.

While trading volume measures the actual number of trades executed, open interest measures the number of contracts that are still open and have not yet been squared off or expired. Therefore, open interest is more focused on the cumulative number of outstanding contracts, providing insights into the overall market interest and potential liquidity in the future.

Both trading volume and open interest are important factors in market analysis. Trading volume helps gauge current market activity and liquidity, while open interest provides insights into market sentiment and the potential for future trading activity.
Open interest and trading volume are key metrics in derivatives markets, but they measure different activities. Trading volume refers to the total number of contracts traded in a session, counting every buy and sell transaction. High volume indicates active market participation but doesn’t reflect ongoing positions.

Open interest, however, represents the total number of outstanding (unsettled) contracts held by traders at the end of the day. It increases when new positions are opened and decreases when positions are closed. Rising open interest suggests new money entering the market, indicating trend strength, while declining open interest may signal trend weakness or liquidation.

In short, volume measures trading activity, while open interest tracks ongoing market commitments.

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