Gamma Auctions

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Gamma Auctions represent a dynamic interplay between options market makers and underlying asset price movements, particularly pronounced in instruments with short-dated options. These auctions occur when market makers, hedging their exposure from selling options, simultaneously buy or sell the underlying asset, amplifying price volatility. The process is driven by the need to maintain delta neutrality, a state where the portfolio’s sensitivity to price changes is minimized, and is most visible around strike prices where open interest is concentrated. Consequently, Gamma Auctions can create temporary, localized price distortions that present opportunities for informed traders.