Financials
TD Ameritrade (AMTD) Attracts Big Spread Trade
TD Ameritrade (AMTD) is off 25 cents to $22.32 and 47,000 Aug 23 calls are sold on the online broker, down to 80 cents per contract. Separately, 25,600 Jan 26.5 calls traded on the stock for 65 cents per contract. Like last week, the flow seems to be rolling of positions opened in early-March, when [...]
CBOE Sees Call Buying on Heels of Supreme Court Decision
CBOE Holdings adds 47 cents to $39.78, new record highs, and a sweep of 500 May 40 calls trades on the stock for 30 cents, followed by another 500 for 34 cents. 1,084 now traded against 202 in open interest. Jun 28.25, Sep 40 and Sep 35 calls on CBOE Holdings are seeing interest as [...]
JP Morgan Chase and Company (JPM) Draws May Put Buyers
JP Morgan (JPM) drops 26 cents to $48.78 and May 48 puts on the bank are seeing interest today. Recent trades included a 10626-lot for 26 cents per contract when the market was 24 to 26 cents. A 12,000-lot traded earlier today for 27 cents per contract. More than 27K now changed hands against 36,333 [...]
Spread Trader Reaps Massive Win in MBIA (MBI)
MBIA shares gapped up and halted three times this afternoon, peaking near $15 (a 50% increase) on details of the settlement with BofA. While the litigation was widely watched, the magnitude of the payment is a positive surprise for shares, and appears to have netted one trader about $3.2 million on the largest call position [...]
Ocwen Financial Corp (OCN) $36.21 +2.26%
Ocwen Financial (OCN) is up 79 cents to $36.20 and one player sold 7,500 May 35 puts on the stock, down to $1.70 per contact, to open. Looks like May 37.5 puts are being sold as well, possibly closing, and 30-day implied volatility in the options on the Atlanta, GA savings and loan is down [...]
Blackstone Group LP (BX) $20.48 +1.59%
Blackstone (BX) is up 43 cents to $20.59 and deep out-of-the-money [DOOM] Jan 12 puts on the New York-based asset management and financial advisory firm are seeing interest today. A 3,200-lot traded this morning for 20 cents per contract on ISE when the market was 15 to 17 cents. A customer bought, to open, according [...]
Bank of America Corporation (BAC) $12.15 +3.67%
BofA leads the single stock option space this morning with shares up 3% to $12.08 following an upgrade by Morgan Stanley. 12 strike calls that expire Friday lead the flow, with nearly 35K trading at an avg price of 13.2cents and bullish buyers leading the charge. Largest block was a more defense move, as an [...]
Synovus Financial Corporation (SNV) $2.54 -0.12%
Synovus (SNV) is flat at $2.54 in active trading of 10.9 million shares after reporting earnings this morning. Options order flow on the regional bank is focused on Aug 2.5 puts and includes several smaller sweeps for 20 cents per contract when the market was 15 to 20 cents. 2,930 now traded and the flow [...]
Annaly Capital Management Inc (NLY) $15.65 -0.60%
Annaly Capital (NLY) is off 9 cents to $15.66 and several sweeps of May 15 puts traded on the New York REIT for 13, 14 and then 15 cents per contract. 10,255 traded against 16K in open interest. ISEE data indicating opening buyers and 30-day implied volatility is up 19 percent to 19.5. Bearish trading [...]
MetLife Inc (MET) $35.59 -2.09%
option volume relatively heavy led by 3000 Jan 45 50 call spreads trading on ISE. Cust sold 45 calls to open and bot 50 calls to close 41cent credit. OI in both lines is almost 40k.. The stock hit a 52 week high on 03/14 and has slowly drifted down since. Likely rolls short call [...]
