Apart from the burst of excitement in Jefferies this morning, overall volume is relatively slow today and on pace for 15.6 million contracts, or 83% of the recent adv. Financial services are one sector that is busy, and Morgan Stanley (register to read more …) [...]

read more from this topic.....

Puts on SLM are busy for a second day. Shares are down $1.16 to $13.02 after the WSJ reported that the Obama adminstration is looking to cut student loan interest rates. SLM puts saw a flurry of activity yesterday in (register to read more …) [...]

read more from this topic.....

Schwab (SCHW) loses 18 cents to $12.47 and morning trades on the discount broker include a multi-exchange sweep of 5447 Nov $11 puts for 25 cents. Data indicate an opening buyer for a customer account. 6,320 now traded. Oct 13 (register to read more …) [...]

read more from this topic.....

Goldman Sachs (GS) adds 45 cents to $96.59 and Oct 105 – 110 call spreads were being bought on the investment bank multiple times this morning on ISE. 2500 traded for 57 cents about 9 minutes after the opening bell. (register to read more …) [...]

read more from this topic.....

Morgan Stanley (MS) adds 7 cents to $15.36 and options on the bank are actively traded today. 38,000 calls and 21,000 puts so far. One player sold 5000 Oct 14 puts at 47 cents and is possibly closing a position, (register to read more …) [...]

read more from this topic.....

Goldman Sachs (GS) came under pressure about 20 minutes before the closing bell after Reuters reported that the investment bank’s Chief Executive Lloyd Blankfein has hired a high profile defense attorney. Shares touched new 52-week lows and gave up (register to read more …) [...]

read more from this topic.....

Bullish trading continues in Etrade (ETFC). The action started Tuesday on unsubstantiated chatter that activist investor Icahn was taking a stake in the company and heavy trading continued Wednesday after Citadel disclosed a 9.8 percent position in the online broker (register to read more …) [...]

read more from this topic.....

Options on Etrade Financial (ETFC) are actively traded for a second day. Oct 17 calls on the online broker were busy yesterday (see 7/19 color). Open interest in the contract increased by 5,779 to 9,120 and is now the largest (register to read more …) [...]

read more from this topic.....

MGIC Investments (MTG) is taking another hit and options on the Milwaukee, WI surety and title insurance company are busy today after the company reported a quarterly loss of 75 cents per share — 62 cents worse than expected. Shares (register to read more …) [...]

read more from this topic.....

Goldman Sachs (GS) implied volatility is moving a bit higher today. Shares are down $2 to $135.23 and seeing relative weakness Monday morning after Citi lowered their price target on shares of the investment bank to $180 from $200. Options (register to read more …) [...]

read more from this topic.....