Triple Witching

Dictionary Says

Definition of 'Triple Witching'

An event that occurs when the contracts for stock index futures, stock index options and stock options all expire on the same day. Triple witching days happen four times a year on the third Friday of March, June, September and December.

This phenomenon is sometimes referred to as "freaky Friday".
Investopedia Says

Investopedia explains 'Triple Witching'

The final trading hour for that Friday is the hour known as triple witching. The markets are quite volatile in this final hour, as traders quickly offset their option/futures orders before the closing bell. If you are a long-term investor, triple witching will have a minimal impact on you.

Related Definitions

  • Double Witching

    Similar to triple witching, but instead of three classes of options or futures expiring on the same day, double witching is when only two classes (any two) are expiring. The three ...
    Read More »
  • Futures

    A financial contract obligating the buyer to purchase an asset (or the seller to sell an asset), such as a physical commodity or a financial instrument, at a predetermined future date ...
    Read More »
  • Index

    A statistical measure of change in an economy or a securities market. In the case of financial markets, an index is an imaginary portfolio of securities representing a particular market ...
    Read More »
    • Closing Bell

      A bell that rings to signify the end of a trading session. The closing bell occurs at 4:00 pm EST. Between 1870 and 1903, a gong was used. A bell was then introduced and is still in use ...
      Read More »
    • Quadruple Witching

      A day on which contracts for stock index futures, stock index options, stock options and single stock futures (SSF) all expire.
      Read More »
    • Standard & Poor's 500 Index - S&P 500

      An index of 500 stocks chosen for market size, liquidity and industry grouping, among other factors. The S&P 500 is designed to be a leading indicator of U.S. equities and is meant to ...
      Read More »
    • Volatility

      1. A statistical measure of the dispersion of returns for a given security or market index. Volatility can either be measured by using the standard deviation or variance between returns ...
      Read More »
    • Deferred Option Month

      The latter month or months of an option or futures contract. For example, when considering a three-month option at the time of purchase months two and three could be thought of as ...
      Read More »
    • Index Option

      A financial derivative that gives the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell a basket of stocks, such as the S&P 500, at an agreed-upon price and before a certain date. ...
      Read More »
    • Index Futures

      A futures contract on a stock or financial index. For each index there may be a different multiple for determining the price of the futures contract.
      Read More »

Articles Of Interest

Partner Links