Options action is picking up in Medronic (MDT) ahead of the medical device maker’s earnings release. Shares are up 69 cents to $40.96 and today’s options volume of 13000 calls and 2500 puts is 2X the recent average daily volume. (register to read more …) [...]

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Clinical Data (CLDA) gapped up, to a high of $25.35, and is $8.37 higher to $23.40 after the FDA approved the company’s anti-depressant drug. Options are actively traded as well and includes a block of 3,432 Mar 30 calls at (register to read more …) [...]

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Aetna (AET) adds 90 cents to $32.40 and is running to session highs after Deutsche Bank upgraded the Managed Care group and a number of names in the sector, including AET. The firm cites pricing trends, valuations, and GOP gaining (register to read more …) [...]

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Tennet Healthcare (THC) adds $2.38 to $6.67 on news Community Health (CYH) made an unsolicited bid for the company. Options volume is running about 30X the recent average daily, with 42K calls and 17K puts traded so far. The top (register to read more …) [...]

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MELA is melting down Tuesday after the FDA said the company’s device for detecting skin cancer might be harmful due to the risk of mis-diagnosis. According to the regulators, the device “has not been studied adequately” and “puts the health (register to read more …) [...]

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Kinetic Concepts (KCI) shares lost $3.10 to $35 after a court decided that the company’s patents are invalid and ruled in favor of Advanced Wound Management, a division of Smith & Nephew, Inc. Shares are reeling on the news and (register to read more …) [...]

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Humana (HUM) options volume is 7X the average daily Friday after the company announced that it is teaming up with Wal-mart (WMT) to offer a Medicare prescription drug plan that will have have the lowest premiums in the US. The (register to read more …) [...]

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United Healthcare (UNH) hit a low of $30.82 early, but was recently up 96 cents to $32. In the options market, a noteworthy trade Wednesday morning is a Sep 31 straddle, sold at $1.95, 10000X on AMEX. It was tied (register to read more …) [...]

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A large diagonal call spread traded in Baxter International a moment ago, as a customer bought 20,000 Nov 47.5 calls and sold 20,000 Aug 45 calls for a 43cent debit on the CBOE. Shares are up 35cents on the day (register to read more …) [...]

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Hologic shares are up 30c to $15 and option volume is 22x the daily average driven by what the June $15 and September $17.50 calls which traded 8,900x each. The spread was done for a 20c net debt (June sold/Sep, (register to read more …) [...]

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