Index Options Trading

TradersPost supports cash-settled index options on major U.S. indexes. Index options are a separate asset class from stock and ETF options. To trade them, create a strategy with Asset class set to Index Options and send signals to that strategy's webhook URL.

Supported Indexes

Use the canonical underlying ticker in signals and subscription ticker lists:

Weekly and daily listings often use separate OCC roots (for example SPXW, NDXP, RUTW, VIXW). TradersPost maps the correct root when scanning the option chain and submitting orders. Prefer the canonical underlying (SPX, not SPXW) in webhook ticker values unless you are sending a full contract symbol.

Supported Brokers

• TradeStation
• E*TRADE
• tastytrade
• Tradier

Getting Started

1. Enable Options in your TradersPost account settings. That unlocks both stock/ETF options and index options.
2. Create a new strategy and set Asset class to Index Options.
3. Connect a supported broker subscription and allow the index tickers you want to trade (for example SPX).
4. Configure option chain scanning the same way you would for stock and ETF options — option type, expiration, intrinsic value, strikes away, and related settings.
5. Send webhook signals to the Index Options strategy URL.

How Index Options Differ From Stock Options

• Settlement — Index options are typically cash-settled. No shares change hands at expiration.
• Exercise style — Most broad-based index options are European-style (exercise at expiration only), unlike American-style equity options.
• Roots — Monthly AM-settled contracts and weekly/daily PM-settled contracts may use different OCC roots for the same underlying (for example SPX vs SPXW). TradersPost selects the root that matches the expiration you trade.
• Asset class — Index options require an Index Options strategy. Stock and ETF options use Stock Options.

Option chain scanning, directional entry/exit behavior, and contract symbol formats work the same as documented in Stock Options Trading.

Expiration Series Filters

When you configure option chain scanning (in subscription settings or the webhook signal), you can narrow expirations by series type. TradersPost uses the same filters on every supported broker:

0DTE and LEAPS can overlap the other filters. For example, a contract can be both 0DTE and Daily.

Which Contract Root Is Used

Many indexes list monthly and weekly-style contracts under different symbols for the same underlying:

When you choose a series filter, TradersPost picks the matching root for the chain scan:

• Monthly uses the monthly-style root.
• Weekly, Daily, End of Month, and Quarterly use the weekly / short-term root when one exists.
• 0DTE, LEAPS, or no series filter can consider both.

Prefer the canonical underlying (SPX, not SPXW) in webhook ticker values unless you send a full contract symbol. TradersPost maps the root from the expiration and filter you selected.

Same Friday, Two Products

On indexes such as SPX, the third Friday of the month often has both a standard monthly contract and a weekly-style contract. Choosing Monthly targets the monthly-style root; choosing Weekly targets the weekly-style root on that same calendar date when it is available.

Why Lists Can Differ By Broker

Brokers do not always classify the same calendar date the same way. TradersPost maps each broker’s expirations into the shared filters above so Weekly and Monthly mean the same thing in your strategy, but the dates you see under a filter can still differ from one broker to another.

In particular on E*TRADE, some Fridays that have weekly-style contracts are only classified as monthly by the broker. TradersPost may still show those near-term Fridays under Weekly so you can scan the weekly-style root (SPXW, NDXP, and similar). That can make the E*TRADE Weekly list a bit wider than tastytrade, TradeStation, or Tradier for the same underlying. If a date appears there but the broker has no weekly-style contracts for it, chain scanning will not find a matching weekly-style contract.

On Tradier, the same third Friday can appear for both the monthly-style and weekly-style roots. TradersPost keeps that date available under Weekly when you are scanning weekly-style contracts.

VIX

VIX short-dated expirations are often mid-week, so they usually fall under Daily, not Weekly. The Weekly filter can be empty even when other filters have dates. Monthly still covers standard VIX settlements. Empty Weekly, End of Month, Quarterly, or LEAPS results mean no expiration matched that filter — not a broken connection.

Webhook Signals

Send signals to your Index Options webhook the same way you would for stock options. Examples assume option type Both (long calls on action=buy, long puts on action=sell).

Enter Bullish

{
    "ticker": "SPX",
    "action": "buy"
}

Exit Bullish

{
    "ticker": "SPX",
    "action": "exit"
}

Enter Bearish

{
    "ticker": "SPX",
    "action": "sell"
}

Exit Bearish

{
    "ticker": "SPX",
    "action": "exit"
}

Chain Filters In The Signal

{
    "ticker": "SPX",
    "action": "buy",
    "expiration": "+0 days",
    "intrinsicValue": "atm",
    "optionType": "call",
    "strikesAway": 0
}

Explicit Contract

{
    "ticker": "SPX",
    "action": "buy",
    "expiration": "2026-03-20",
    "optionType": "call",
    "strikePrice": 5800
}

Or send a full contract symbol:

{
    "ticker": "SPX 260320C5800",
    "action": "buy"
}

See Webhooks for the full signal field reference.

Related

• Stock Options Trading — stock and ETF options setup, symbol formats, and chain scanning
• Webhooks — signal message reference
• Strategies — creating a strategy and choosing an asset class