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Multiple-Group Strategies

Multiple group strategies enable you to analyze calendar spreads and other strategies involving different underlying instruments. A group can have only one underlying instrument; therefore, to create a strategy using options with different underlying instruments, you must create multiple groups. Because you can have only one underlying price series on the X axis, you need to define the relationship between the different underlying instruments. For every point along the X axis that represents a price for one underlying, we must derive the price for the every other underlying instrument.

The Spread Type field enables you to define the relationship between different underlying instruments. In a multiple group strategy, the underlying used to establish the X axis scale is called the master. There can be only one master underlying instrument in a strategy. All other underlying instruments are, therefore, slaves. The Spread Type field identifies the method used to calculate the value of the slave at each point on the X axis, which is the master underlying price series. Selecting the Spread Type field displays the Spread Type menu.