The top options trade so far today is in BofA (BAC), which is up 7 cents to $7.14, after one investor bought 62,500 April 8 calls on the stock for 28 cents per contract. The hefty trade is tied to 2 million shares at $7.07 and looks opening. BAC is up 28.4 percent year-to-date and April 8 calls on the stock are now 12 percent OTM with 80 days of life remaniing and a delta of .33.

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

The top equity options trade so far today is in Pfizer (PFE). Shares are down 34 cents to $21.24 and one of 22 Dow stocks trading lower after the pharmaceutical giant posted better-than-expected fourth quarter earnings and revs, but then guided estimates lower for the 2012 fiscal year. Morning options trades on the stock include 16,000 January 22.5 calls, sold at $1.04 per contract, and possibly a liquidating trade on the heels of the disappointing earnings news. Overall, trading in PFE is brisk. 61,000 calls and 21,000 puts traded. Meanwhile, implied volatility in the options on the stock is down 13.5 percent and probing the 52-week lows of 17.3 seen in late-May 2011.

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

BP is seeing relative strength and high volume today. The stock is up 59 cents to $44.73 on volume of 6.3 million shares, which is almost 3X the typical volume. Meanwhile, 48,000 calls and 9,360 puts traded on the oil giant. The top trades are part of a spread, in which the strategist apparently sold 4,500 February 46 calls for 46 cents and bought 4500 March 46 calls at 99 cents. The timespread,, for a 53-cent debit, might be bet that shares will hold below $46 (~2.8%) through the Feb expiration (17 days) and then rally though mid-March. However, open interest is sufficient to cover, so it might be rolling or closing activity. Weekly 45, Feb 45, and Mar 50 calls on BP are actively traded as well and implied volatility is up 5.5 percent to 29. Bullish trading in BP comes ahead of a Feb 7 earnings release.

Baidu (BIDU) seems to have caused some confusion by deciding to release its earnings a month later than usual. Some sources had today as the earnings released date. Another source had Feb 6. Truth be told, the Internet giant will report two weeks after the Chinese New Year, or at some time in the second half of February. A date has not yet been determined. Trading in BIDU options is brisk today. Shares are down 33 cents to $131.03 and the Weekly 130 and 135 calls are the most actives. More than 10,000 traded in both and, with a lot of the flow (about 44 percent) trading on the bid, some short-term premium sellers might be active in the name since there is no earnings risk looming between now and the 2/3 expiration. Implied volatility in the options on the stock is down 7.5 percent to 50.

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