Futures · Pro
Open interest
What does Open interest mean?
Open interest is the number of outstanding derivative contracts that remain open. Each outstanding contract has both a long side and a short side, counted once.
Example
When both sides of a trade establish new positions, open interest increases by one contract.
Illustrative example; not a provider’s quoted offer.Why it matters for prop traders
A change in open interest alone does not identify which direction prices will move.
Sources and further reading
The following primary sources support the terminology. Provider rules describe their own products and may change.