Expansion Macro

The expansion macro is represented by the @ sign. The expansion macro returns a class of instruments. Use the macro in place of a future or option expiration, an option strike, or in place of both an option expiration and. Aspen expects is a symbol root, one or two expansion macros, and an option type specifier.

You supply a specific future or option root, like SP, OEX, or HXK. You follow the symbol root with one or two macros.

Listing Futures

To list a future's lead-month and out-month contracts, append the expansion macro to the future's symbol root:

SP@

Listing Options

Where options are concerned, if you use one macro, Aspen Systems assumes you are specifying a list of all option strikes in the near month expiration. If you use two expansion macros, Aspen Systems assumes you want a list of all option strikes in all expirations. Finally, you include an option type specifier, C for calls, P for puts, or CP for both calls and puts. The expansion macro tells Aspen Systems to list all the option symbols that satisfy the syntactical elements you specify.

In the following symbol, the elements are the symbol root (SP), the macro (@), and the call symbol (C):

SP@C

If you enter this symbol, Aspen Systems returns a list of all the call options on the S & P 500 Index future.

The expansion macro enables you to list all the options that satisfy particular elements in an option symbol. The expansion macro enables you to forget about the particulars of the symbol, like the specific expiration codes and strike codes. As you begin using macros, try the following examples.

Listing Options of all Expirations

To view all S & P calls from all expiration months, enter

SP@@C

where SP is the symbol root, the first @ specifies a list of all expiration months, the second @ specifies a list of all strikes, and C specifies calls.

Using this same syntax, you can also view calls and puts with the expansion macro by entering CP after the @. You can only use CP with the expansion macro. For example, to view all S & P calls and puts from the all expiration months, you would type SP@@CP and press b. Your Omacro page contains many of these examples. Additional examples are available on your Omacro1 page.

Listing Options for a Specific Expiration

To view all S & P calls for the September expiration, enter

SPU5@C

where SP is the symbol root, U specifies September, 5 specifies 1995, the @ specifies a list of all strikes, and C specifies calls.

Limiting Expansion

If you use large fonts in your quote windows, you may find listing all options with the expansion macro is not useful because of space constraints. In such circumstances, you can get around these constraints by using an expansion macro delimiter. A macro delimiter enables you to specify the length of the listing produced by the macro. For example, you can limit expansion as follows:

SP@C5

This delimited macro lists the five options closest to the money in the lead month contract. Basically, this macro says, “list S&P options on the lead-month contract, but limit the list the five closest-to-the-money strikes.”

Modifying the Strike

You can use strike modifiers with the expansion macro to list the strikes you want. When used with the expansion macro, a strike modifier enables you to list options with a particular relationship to the at-the-money strike. As with any symbol, you must supply the symbol root. A modifier is either a plus sign (+) or a minus sign (-). The plus sign signifies in-the-money while the minus sign means out-of-the-money. Optionally, you can include a number to specify the number of strikes in or out of the money, as shown in the following table:

The in-the-Money Modifier

To view all in-the-money calls or puts, use the plus sign (+) when entering the options symbol. Use the following syntax to view in-the-money calls or puts with the in-the-money wildcard.

For example, to view all the S&P in-the-money calls from the near expiration month, you would type SP@+C, where SP is the symbol root, @ specifies the near expiration month, + signifies in-the-money, and C specifies calls. As with the expansion macro, you can view in-the-money calls and puts by entering CP together at the end of the symbol.

The out-of-the-Money Modifier

To view out-of-the-money calls or puts, use the minus sign (-) when entering your options symbol. Use the following syntax for the out-of-the-money wildcard.

For example, to view all out-of-the-money puts from the near expiration month, you would type SP@-P and press b, where SP is the symbol root, @ specifies the near expiration month, - specifies out-of-the-money, and P specifies puts. As with the expansion macro, you can view out-of-the-money calls and puts by entering CP together at the end of the symbol.

Macro Examples