All Symbols
Century Aluminum Co (CENX) $5.00 -32.04%
Century Aluminum (CENX, chart, volatility) is down $2.35 to $5 after announcing a $100 million common stock offering. Options activity is running at two times the usual, with Feb and March 5 puts hitting bid-side in recent trade. It looks like sell-to-close trades, as existing open interest easily exceeds today’s volume.
Mellanox Technologies Ltd (MLNX) $9.28 +0.98%
Mellanox (MLNX, chart, volatility) is up 16 cents to $9.53 and put activity is running at 5X the average daily levels, with some players showing interest in in June and September puts ahead of earnings after the close of trading. Looks like bearish positioning in the broadline semiconductor company.
Gen Probe Incorporated (GPRO) $44.26 +4.71%
Gen-Probe (GPRO, chart, volatility) is up $2 to $44.27 after extending its blood screen collaboration with Chiron, a Novartis company. Option volume is running at 20X the average daily levels, with some selling seen in March 40 puts. Looks like new positions, perhaps on the view the news will keep GPRO from probing the $40 [...]
Financial Select Sector (XLF) $9.85 +7.74%
Select Sector Financial (XLF) June 12 calls are the most actives early Wednesday. Shares are up 71 cents, or 7.8 percent, to $9.85 after Wells Fargo (WFC) said it was maintaining its dividend and didn’t need more TARP, while the Obama administration discussed a “bad bank” plan. XLF is up and more than 29K XLF [...]
AMR Corp (AMR) $6.24 -0.16%
AMR (AMR, chart, volatility) is down 4 cents to $6.21 and Mar and May calls at the 8 line are seeing some action early. Looks like opening call buys as 100% hitting offerside and volume exceeding open interest.
Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (RIO) $13.89 +0.00%
Companhia Vale do Rio (RIO, news, chart, volatility) Sep 16 calls saw open interest increase by more than 16,600 contracts. Yesterday’s trades included a block of 12,628 contracts at the offer for $2.46. With shares up 3.3 percent to $14.35 this morning, the new open interest looks like speculative call buying in anticipation of a [...]
PowerShares DB US Dollar Index Bearish Fund (UDN) $25.42 +0.00%
PowerShares DB US Dollar Index Bearish Fund (UDN) is an exchange-traded fund designed to track being short the US Dollar against the Euro, Japanese Yen, British Pound, Canadian Dollar, Swedish Krona and Swiss Franc. Some traders seemed to like the idea Tuesday, as options volume rose to two times the usual and today’s open interest [...]
Concur Technologies Inc (CNQR) $25.72 +0.00%
Concur Technologies (CNQR, chart, volatility) saw unusual action Tuesday. Shares fell $3.17 to $25.72 on no obvious news and options volume jumped to 3 times the typical levels. 3,640 puts and 400 calls traded. Today’s open interest data suggests investors were opening new positions in the Feb 25, 20, and 17.5 puts, perhaps on concerns [...]
WellPoint Health Networks (WLP) $42.79 +3.83%
Wellpoint (WLP, chart, volatility) puts are actively traded ahead of earnings due out tomorrow morning. Shares are up $1.45 to $42.66 and 8,600 puts traded, compared to 1,900 calls. Feb 40 and Feb 30 puts are the most actives, with opening put buys seen in the Feb 40s. Looks like defensive or bearish trading ahead [...]
Maxim Integrated Products Inc (MXIM) $13.68 +2.32%
Interest in Maxim Integrated (MXIM) continues. Total options volume is running at five times the average daily levels, with most of the action in March and May 12.5 and 15 puts. Shares are up 34 cents to $13.71. Today’s put buying marks the fourth consecutive day of heavy trading, which has pushed up open interest [...]
