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Russell 2000 Weekly Market Insights - Week of August 24th

  • Writer: Mike
    Mike
  • Aug 24
  • 2 min read

Here’s your market analysis for the week of August 24, 2025 focusing on Russell 2000 futures (RTY_F) and the IWM ETF options chain:


1. Russell 2000 Futures (RTY_F)


Current Price Snapshot

  • As of the latest data, the E‑mini Russell 2000 futures (ticker RTY=F) are trading around 2,368.9. This reflects a substantial +3.87% intraday gain. (Yahoo Finance, TradingView)


Key Technical Price Levels (from analysis dated August 15)


A technical breakdown highlights:

  • Major Resistance: ~2,477 (all-time highs)

  • Minor Near-term Support: 2,333–2,300

  • Strong Support Zones:

    • 2,212–2,189 (confluence of 50-day and 200-day moving averages)

    • 2,050 (pre-breakout base in June)

    • 1,900 (March lows; critical breakdown point) (OneUp Trader Blog, OneUp Trader Blog)


Short-Term Scenarios

  • Bullish Scenario (50% probability): Sustained momentum could see futures advancing toward 2,477, potentially testing new highs.

  • Pullback Scenario (35%): A short-term retracement to the 2,300–2,333 zone seems healthy before resuming upward trajectory.

  • Bearish Risk (15%): A decline below 2,212 would challenge the recent breakout structure. (OneUp Trader Blog)


2. IWM ETF – Options Chain Overview


While detailed strike-by-strike data wasn’t directly accessible via some major platforms as of August 24 (e.g., Nasdaq had issues showing chain data; MarketChameleon provides tool access but not easy inline data) (Nasdaq), we do have some useful insights:

From StockOptionsChannel:

  • IWM (last ~234.82) showing:

    • Put volume: 1.75M

    • Call volume: 1.14M

    • Put

       ratio: 1.54 (indicating a notable skew toward puts) (Stock Options Channel)


Options of interest (longer-dated, higher strike):

  • December 2027 $180 put – ~23.35% out-of-the-money

  • December 2027 $285 call – ~21.37% out-of-the-moneyBoth yield modest annualized “YieldBoost” returns (2.04% for the put, 2.91% for the call) (Stock Options Channel)


This suggests opportunities for income strategies or to express directional views:

  • The elevated put:call ratio (>1.5) may reflect hedging or bearish sentiment positioning.

  • The deeper-dated, out-of-the-money options with yield characteristics could appeal to income-oriented strategies with long-term perspective.


3. Summary: Market Outlook (Week of Aug 24)

Instrument

Key Levels/Highlights

RTY Futures

Current ~2,368.9; Resistance ~2,477; Support ~2,333–2,300 and ~2,212–2,189

IWM Options

Puts outnumber calls; Put:Call ~1.54; long-dated OTM options (Dec 2027) offer modest yield boosts

Sentiment

Momentum remains bullish but overbought risk looms — prudent to watch for pullbacks or continuation patterns

What to Watch This Week:

  • RTY Futures: Whether price targets the 2,477 resistance or dips back toward 2,300.

  • IWM Options Flow: Any shifts in put vs. call volume or unusual activity in near-term expirations.

  • Macro Data: Economic releases or Fed commentary could revitalize small-cap moves (RTY is particularly sensitive to inflation/employment data).


Actionable Insights


For Futures Traders:

  • Bullish traders could maintain long exposure while managing risk around the 2,333–2,300 support zone.

  • Potential new entries around a pullback could target a bounce off 2,300, with upside toward 2,477.

  • A break below 2,212–2,189 may warrant revisiting risk management or scaling back bullish exposure.


For Options Traders:

  • With the put-call skew, consider:

    • Protective strategies, such as buying short-term puts if holding IWM.

    • Income strategies using longer-dated, out-of-the-money calls or puts that offer modest yield (e.g., December 2027 strikes).

  • Keep an eye on implied volatility and expiration flow for early signs of sentiment shifts.

 
 
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