The Symbol Field

The symbol field contains the instrument symbol you entered in the volatility skew window. How you enter a symbol is important. The following table summarizes symbol entry nuances.

Entry
Example
Function
<index_symbol>
<stock_symbol>
<future_symbol_root>
OEX
IBM
US
Displays all calls and puts on the future, index or stock for all expirations.

<future_symbol_root> + <expire_month> + <expire_year>
USM5
Displays all calls and puts on the future expiration you specify (no extension or rollover).

<symbol_root> + <wildcard>
<index_symbol> + <wildcard>
<stock_symbol> + <wildcard>
US#
OEX#
IBM#
Displays all calls, puts, on the expiration specified by the wildcard and sets up the skew parameters to rollover at expiration. The wildcard differentiates a future from a stock when the stock has a symbol that is identical to the future’s symbol root.

If you enter an index symbol, a stock symbol, or a future symbol root, you create an option expiration chain. An option expiration chain is a table of the all the expirations of the options on an underlying. If you enter a future symbol with a specific month and year code, the resulting chain contains only options on that future.

Entering a symbol (regardless of the method you use) in a skew window populates the fields in the definition section of the Volatility Skew dialog box. Depending on the type of symbol you enter, other fields may show up in the definition section. If you enter a stock, index, or foreign exchange instrument, fields for dividends and dividend dates, yields, or foreign interest rate, respectively, will appear. The Dividend menu is exactly same menu that comes up in options charts.

The wildcard is the number sign (#). The wildcard can be appended to a future symbol root to differentiate it from an identical stock symbol. The wildcard also turns on the rollover toggle.

Entry	Example	Function
<index_symbol> <stock_symbol> <future_symbol_root>	OEX IBM US	Displays all calls and puts on the future, index or stock for all expirations.
<future_symbol_root> + <expire_month> + <expire_year>	USM5	Displays all calls and puts on the future expiration you specify (no extension or rollover).
<symbol_root> + <wildcard> <index_symbol> + <wildcard> <stock_symbol> + <wildcard>	US# OEX# IBM#	Displays all calls, puts, on the expiration specified by the wildcard and sets up the skew parameters to rollover at expiration. The wildcard differentiates a future from a stock when the stock has a symbol that is identical to the future’s symbol root.