We’re excited about a new tool for Premium Subscribers, which we call “Flow Monitor”. It’s still under construction, but premium subscribers can begin fiddling with it over the weekend. What is Flow Monitor? It’s a service that allows users to retrieve real-time options news, data, and information on demand. It is available to premium subscribers, in addition to the content and tools already available to premium subscribers (Please Register for Information on WhatsTrading.com Premium).

Let’s do a brief demonstration. If you’re logged in to WhatsTrading.com Premium, you will see the Flow Monitor in the upper right:



To begin, simply enter a symbol and hit enter. You will see a list of menu options:



Select any of the options. For example, if you enter 2, you will see Sentiment for that stock — updated throughout the trading day. It tells you the number of puts and calls traded, as well as whether sentiment is directionally bullish/bearish (calls and puts trading bid and ask). Tracking sentiment can help you identify stocks with extreme bullishness or bearishness and or stocks that are ready to move!



Sentiment is just one menu option. Users can also get today’s stories and access archives (use + command), see sentiment by market (use @all) or sectors (try @it), see most actives, top open interest and a lot more.

To reiterate, this adds to the existing WhatsTrading premium, which includes charts, daily commentary, trading ideas, breaking news, and unusual trading activity updated throughout the trading day. This is an extremely good value for this type of options analytics. Plus, there’s a lot more coming!

Have a great weekend and thanks for visiting WhatsTrading.com!

Dow component Exxon Mobile (XOM) lost 42 cents $64.54 and afternoon trades include a Jan11 65- 75 call spread, apparently bought at $3.40, 14500X, on PHLX. The action comes ahead of earnings, Monday morning.

Qualcomm (QCOM) is seeing another day of options action, as the stock spends a second trading session taking a beating behind the woodshed. QCOM sank 14 percent Thursday after the co. posted earnings that beat estimates, but guided 2nd quarter numbers lower. Today, however, Hilliard Lyons analysts came to QCOM’s defense. They upgraded the stock to Buy, saying long-term secular trends towards wireless devices will benefit Qualcomm. Investors don’t seem convinced. Shares are down another $1.78 to $38.70 today and the ongoing volatility in the shares is driving heavy action in the options. 159K calls and 70K puts traded so far, or 3X the recent average daily.

*Scanning all single-stocks subject to 2500 contracts minimum call or put volume

Usec (USU), a supplier of low enriched uranium, is seeing relative strength and active call buying Friday on reports the Obama adminstration plans to increase government loan guarantees for new nuclear reactors. USU is up 29 cents to $3.98 and 7,800 call options traded through midday. The volume represents 14X the typical volume and compares to 380 puts. While Feb 4 calls are the most actives, some investors are showing interest in April 5 and 6 calls as well.

*Scanning all single-stocks subject to 2500 contracts minimum call or put volume

Apple Computer (AAPL) is down $1.89 to $197.40 and falling to new session lows. The stock is within striking distance of its Jan 22 “pre-iPad” support lows around $197 per share. Meanwhile, trading in the options market remains brisk, with 47K Apple calls and 28K puts traded so far. There have been no big prints, however. The top trade is 211 Feb 220 calls on the bid, or $1.14 per contract. Looks like a liquidation, as the contract is now 11.5 percent out-of-the-money with three weeks of life remaining.

Microsoft (MSFT) Feb 30 call option is the most actively traded contract in the first hour of Friday’s trading session. More than 35K traded. Shares made a run towards $30, hitting a high of $29.92, after the software maker posted better-than-expected earnings and revenues after the closing bell yesterday. However, shares are now flat at $29.16 and some investors are likely liquidating Feb 30 calls as the early advance fades. Investors might have been somewhat disappointed with the lack of guidance for future quarters. Meanwhile, implied volatiity has fallen about 12 percent to 25 now that the earnings event risk has passed.