Fixed Line Telecommunications
Qwest Communications International Inc (Q) $5.53 +1.65%
Qwest (Q) is up 9 cents to $5.53 and on investor pays an average of 57.5 cents per contract for Oct 5 calls, 20000X. It was tied to stock and might close, as the contract is 53 cents in-the-money and has 26K in existing open interest. The company is due to release results on Aug [...]
Verizon Communications Inc (VZ) $28.78 +0.24%
Verizon (VZ) is flat at $28.71 and saw a spike about 30 minutes ago on news the phone company will begin offering iPhones in January. Options action is heating up as well, to 3X the average daily. Recent trades include 6500 Oct 31 calls at the 44-cent ask price. 10K now traded. July 29 calls [...]
AT&T (T) $25.36 -0.31%
AT&T (T) shares finished up 8 cents to $25.44 Wednesday and noteworthy trade in the Jan2012 calls was a 22.5 – 30 spread apparently bought at $3.10, 5900X on AMEX. Open interest indicates a new positions opened in both contracts. The potential pay-off from the spread is $4.40 (excluding commissions) if shares settle at $30 [...]
Frontier Communications Corporation (FTR) $7.79 -0.83%
Frontier Communications (FTR) is off a nickel to $7.81 and the Aug 5 – 7.5 put spread trades at 40 cents, 20000X, and the July 5 – 7.5 put spread at 20, cents 20000X. Both spreads traded on ISE and appear to be a firm buyer initiating new positions. The spreads were probably tied to [...]
Frontier Communications Corporation (FTR) $7.80 -0.70%
Frontier Communications shares are up 2c to $7.89 and notable transactions as both the July and August $5/$7.50 put spreads trades 20,000x in what looks like opening purchases in both cases.
CenturyTel Inc (CTL) $33.20 -1.37%
Centuryel (CTL) is down 41 cents to $33.25 and now flat on the week despite a positive mention in the weekly Barron’s. According to an article in the latest issue, CTL might rise another 20 percent in 2011 and, thanks to acquisitions in the past few years, should show strong revenues and profits in the [...]
CenturyTel Inc (CTL) $35.22 -2.71%
CenturyTel (CTL) is down 93 cents to $35.27 and options volume is running 12X the recent average daily after the company announced plans to buy Denver’s Qwest Communications (Q), to create the nation’s third biggest local phone service and Internet company. CTL shares are down on the news and the top trade of the day [...]
Verizon Communications Inc (VZ) $31.23 +2.56%
Verizon (VZ) is up 2.5 percent to $31.21 and the second best gainer in the Dow Jones Industrial Average (behind MMM) after the Wall Street Journal reported that Apple Computer (AAPL) is working on an iPhone compatible with the Verizon wirless network. VZ shares are up and 30K calls and 8000 puts traded in the [...]
Qwest Communications International Inc (Q) $4.81 +0.94%
Qwest Comm (Q) has seen two days of bullish trading. The top trade yesterday was a block of 750 Jan 5 puts on the bid of 75 cents. Oct 5 calls were the most actives, with 7080 traded (44% Mid / 49% Ask) and 5000 contracts of new open interest created. Today, shares are up [...]
Windstream Corp (WIN) $10.72 +1.04%
Windstream (WIN), the Little Rock, AK wireless telecomm company, is up a dime to $10.71 and options volume is 4X the recent average daily, led by buyers of April 10 puts. 6060 contracts traded vs. 1593 in open interest. 39 percent traded bid and 51 percent ask. Meanwhile, ISEE data indicate that 600 contracts, or [...]
