Author Archive: Fred Ruffy
Frederic Ruffy is a well-known trader, writer, and strategist who has spent years educating investors and creating intelligent, insightful, unbiased market observations that are frequently cited by the Wall Street Journal and other financial publications. As senior analyst, Fred provides frequent and regular notes and daily updates for activity of interest.
PulteGroup Inc (PHM) $18.04 -3.01%
Unusual options activity in Pulte Group (PHM). Shares are down 56 cents to $18.04 and one investor bought 4,890 Apr 19 puts on the stock for 5 cents per contract, to close. the contract is 5.3 percent out-of-the-money and expiring at the end of this week. They might have rolled to a May 20 and [...]
Microsoft (MSFT) Bear Wins with Big Put Position
Microsoft (MSFT) is off a nickel to $28.92 and 55000 Apr 29 puts are sold on the software-maker at 59 cents per contract. It probably covers a position opened Thursday, which was opened for 65 cents per contract and rolling out of a winning position in April 30 puts (see 4/11 color). Now, it appears [...]
iShares iBoxx Dollar High Yield Corporate Bond Fun (HYG) $94.59 -0.22%
iShares High Yield Corporate Bond Fund (HYG) drops 20 cents to $94.60 and 19000 Jun 91 puts trades for an average of 52.5 cents per contract when the market was 50 to 55 cents. Makes 33,000 on the day against 6,546 in open interest. Looks like put buying and the activity might replace some of [...]
Tyson Foods (TSN) $23.37 -1.27%
Tyson Foods (TSN) is off 28 cents to $23.39 and 4000 Apr 23 puts on the stock are swept for 15 cents per contract. Open interest is sufficient to cover, but ISE data hint at opening buyers. Peer SFD saw bearish flow yesterday (see 4/16 color) and is seeing interest again today (May 25 calls, [...]
American Capital Agency Corporation (AGNC) $31.83 -1.58%
American Agency Capital (AGNC) is down 49 cents to $31.85 and a 20000-lot of May 32 puts trades on the stock for 66 cents per contract when the market was 59 to 65 cents. Tied to 920K shares for $32.10. More than 25,000 now traded against 6977 in open interest. The position is being intiated [...]
Headwaters Inc (HW) $9.53 -1.95%
Headwaters (HW) drops 14 cents to $9.57 and an Aug 10 – 11 call spread trades on the stock for 27.5 cents, 3300X on AMEX. Looks like it was bought and adding to the positions opened Monday, when the May 10 – 11 call spread on HW saw opening activity (see 4/15 color). The bullish [...]
Financial Select Sector (XLF) $18.01 -1.91%
SPDR Financials (XLF) drops 35 cents to $18.02 and a 23900-lot of Apr 18 puts is sold-to-close on the ETF at 9 cents per contract on the ISE. More than 97K traded on the day and some of the premium selling probably covers part of the 100,000-lot of Apr 18 puts that was bought on [...]
SLM Corporation (SLM) $20.52 -1.44%
SLM drops 28 cents to $20.55 and one investor initiates a four-way trade on the stock, buying 7700 Apr 17 calls on SLM for $3.48 and 7,200 Apr 16 calls for $4.48, to sell the Jul 18 – 20 bearish risk-reversal at 81 cents, 14800X. The activity probably rolls Apr 15 – 17 bearish combos [...]
Aegerion Pharmaceuticals Inc (AEGR) $37.17 -4.03%
Aegerion Pharmaceuticals (AEGR) drops $1.28 to $37.45 and an Apr – May 35 call spread trades on the stock for $1.60, 3500X. The spread has traded 4000X on the day and appears to roll a position in in-the-money April calls that were opened on 3/6 and 3/11. The activity at that time was rolling out [...]
Eli Lilly and Co (LLY) $57.10 -0.14%
Eli Lilly (LLY) is 13 cents to $57.05 and one investor bought 9000 Apr 52.5 calls on the pharmaceutical maker for $4.33 and sold the Jul 47 – 55 bearish risk-reversal at $2.53, 9000X. The activity probably rolls a position in an April 44 – 52.5 and April 49 – 52.5 bearish risk-reversals opened on [...]
