Tool guide
Sector Flow
See which sectors smart money is rotating into and out of, so you're early to the theme instead of chasing it after it's on CNBC.
Open the tool →What it is
Sector Flow monitors unusual options activity aggregated at the sector level using ETF proxies (XLK, XLF, XLE, XLV, etc.). Instead of chasing individual stocks, you are watching where institutional money is rotating at the macro level — often 1–2 days ahead of price.
How sector flow works
- Sentiment Score: A directional score from −100 (fully bearish) to +100 (fully bullish), based on the ratio of bullish vs bearish premium detected for each sector ETF. Above +10 = net bullish flow, below −10 = net bearish, in between = mixed/neutral.
- ETF Price Movement: Shows the current % change of the sector ETF alongside its flow score. The key signal is divergence — if XLK is down on the day but has a strong bullish flow score, smart money may be buying the dip before price recovers.
- Total Premium: The raw dollar amount of options premium flowing through each sector. High premium + bullish sentiment score = strong conviction. High premium + neutral sentiment = indecisive positioning, possibly hedging.
- Flow Count: How many individual unusual activity signals have triggered for that sector's ETF. Multiple signals in the same sector = sustained, not accidental, positioning.
The 11 tracked sectors
XLK (Technology), XLF (Financials), XLV (Health Care), XLE (Energy), XLI (Industrials), XLY (Consumer Discretionary), XLP (Consumer Staples), XLRE (Real Estate), XLB (Materials), XLU (Utilities), XLC (Communication Services).
How to use it
Pre-market rotation check: sort by Sentiment Score — the top bullish sector tells you where to look for long setups that day; the top bearish tells you where to avoid. A sector with a high bullish score but a red ETF price = institutions buying weakness (divergence play). Confirm individual stock setups: if you are trading NVDA, check that XLK has a bullish flow score.
- Spot risk-off shifts: A sudden spike in XLU (Utilities) or XLP (Staples) flow combined with XLK or XLY going bearish = defensive rotation. Consider reducing risk exposure.
Data note: sector flow is calculated from unusual activity detected on the sector ETFs themselves (XLK, XLF, etc.) — not the aggregate of all individual stocks within those sectors.
Watch it
Concepts used here
- Institutional accumulationMultiple flows at the same strike over several days — position building, not noise.
- Premium sizeThe total dollars spent on a trade — the headline conviction number.
- New moneyVolume far above open interest — fresh positioning, not closing an old trade.