PSW Holiday Shopping Survey
by Phil - December 22nd, 2009 3:40 pm
I finally went to the mall yesterday.
I guess that makes me part of 2 trends. I am one of those last-minute shoppers that finally went out and got done yesterday while Tina bought EVERYTHING on-line this year and I don’t even think she’s waiting for any more shipments at this point. If you get used to cyber-shopping, it’s easy to see why the trend is growing but on-line retail is still nothing more than a speck (5%) on overall retail sales and that’s AFTER being up more than 20% this year.
So I went to the trenches on Saturday, where the real people shop (well, the real, upper-middle class people, anyway) at the Garden State Plaza in Paramus, New Jersey – one of America’s larger and busier malls made even more so on a Saturday because Bergen County has blue laws and retail is closed on Sundays so yesterday was do or die in Paramus with just 3 more shopping days until Christmas.
I took the kids at about 10 am and the first sign of trouble was that we got a pretty good parking spot. On a normal Saturday at the Garden State Plaza, you can’t get a good spot anyway and on a normal Christmas you can expect a half-mile hike from your car to the mall. When I got inside, it was even stranger, there were so few children in the mall that the carousel was empty so my kids jumped right on that as we spend our first dollar of the day. Riding around the carousel I saw something that didn’t cost anything – there was a MSFT XBox demo station set up with very cool driving set-ups with seats and wheels and big screens and full band set-ups for playing Guitar Hero on a little stage and about 6 other game demo areas – right in the middle of that part of the mall AND IT WAS EMPTY.
If nothing else had worried me about Christmas before, that would have been it because who doesn’t want to play free video games on big-screen high-def TVs with all the coolest attachments (they had sports-car seats and a wheel/pedals combo that they said cost $100 (not the seat) and was sold out at Game Stop)? Something was very wrong. Leggo land was also empty so maybe people just didn’t want to bring kids to the mall this weekend but…
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DiggCAT-Bears Brace for Rocky Start to 2010
by Option Review - December 15th, 2009 4:34 pm
Today’s tickers: CAT, MS, UUP, STI, WFC, MCO, M, ROK, BBY, JAVA & HMY
CAT – Caterpillar, Inc. – Bearish option traders are bracing for potential CAT-share price erosion through expiration in February 2010. Shares edged nearly 0.75% lower in late afternoon trading to stand at $57.94. One pessimist purchased a put spread to prepare for potential declines. The transaction involved the purchase of roughly 7,000 puts at the February 55 strike for a premium of 2.35 apiece, marked against the sale of 7,000 puts at the lower February 35 strike for 49 cents premium each. The net cost of the trade amounts to 1.86 per contract. The investor responsible for the spread probably holds a long position in the underlying. Under this assumption, the trader has established downside protection, which kicks in if Caterpillar’s shares fall beneath the breakeven price of $53.14 by expiration day in February.
MS – Morgan Stanley – Analysts at Barclays Capital slashed fourth-quarter earnings estimates for Morgan Stanley to 40 cents from 90 cents today. Perhaps the bearish options activity observed on MS during the trading session was partly inspired by the significant profit-forecast revision at Barclays. Either way, investors populating Morgan Stanley’s January 2010 contract appear pretty pessimistic on the second-largest U.S. securities firm. Traders threw in the towel on MS by shedding nearly 20,000 calls at the January 31 strike for an average premium of 75 cents apiece. Some investors may be closing out previously established long call positions. Analysis of the existing open interest at that strike suggests traders are likely cutting their losses by selling the calls today. Investors abandoning bullish bets do not paint a rosy picture of where MS’s share price may settle during the first weeks of 2010.
UUP – PowerShares DB US Dollar index Bull Fund – The U.S. dollar is brimming with confidence on the first of a two-day FOMC meet in Washington and while investors are not expecting any signs of a policy change, there is certainly a firmer tone underlying the dollar in the past 72 hours or so. Option traders placed extremely bullish bets using call options on the bullish dollar index fund, whose shares currently stand 0.9% higher on the day at $22.82. Investors bought a huge chunk of 100,000 long-dated options reserving buying rights over the dollar at a fixed $24.00 before the contract expires in January 2011. That leaves…
Put Volume Explodes on iShares MSCI Hong Kong Index ETF
by Option Review - December 2nd, 2009 4:38 pm
Today’s tickers: EWH, HPQ, M, GLD, LCC, KRE, BBY, WAG & DYAX
EWH – iShares MSCI Hong Kong Index Fund – The EWH popped onto our ‘most active by options volume’ market scanner today after one investor traded 70,000 put options on the fund. Shares of the ETF are up 0.25% this afternoon to stand at $16.22. It appears the trader shed 35,000 puts at the January 14 strike for 10 cents apiece in order to partially offset the cost of purchasing 35,000 puts at the June 14 strike for 65 cents each. The net cost of the protective play amounts to 55 cents per contract. The nearer-term short put position in the January contract implies the investor does not expect shares to dip below $14.00 by expiration in less than two months. The investors stands ready to have a whopping 3,500,000 shares of the underlying put to him at $14.00 apiece in the event that the put options do land in-the-money. The long put position in the June 2010 contract suggests the trader is already long the stock. He is most likely extending downside protection on the underlying position for the next seven months before expiration. Shares of the EWH would need to fall 17% from the current price in order for downside protection to kick in beneath the breakeven point at $13.45. We note that shares of the fund have traded above $14.00 since July 15, 2009.
HPQ – Hewlett-Packard Co. – Medium-term bullish trading graced the global technology company’s February 2010 contract despite a 1% decline in HPQ shares this afternoon to $49.06. A risk reversal by one option player suggests shares could increase significantly by expiration in February. The trader sold 12,000 puts at the February 40 strike for an average premium of 27 cents apiece, and bought the same number of calls at the higher February 60 strike for 8 pennies each. The transaction yields a net credit of 19 cents per contract. The investor retains the full credit as long as HPQ’s shares remain above $40.00 through expiration day. Additional profits accumulate if the stock surges 22% higher than the current price to surpass the $60-level. The long call position probably serves more as a stop loss, or insurance policy, on the trade in the unlikely event that shares do jump more than 22% in the next three months. The reversal was more likely…
Bullish Ddollar Index ETF Intrigues Once Again
by Option Review - November 12th, 2009 4:14 pm
Today’s tickers: UUP, VIX, FSLR, HMY, M, GMCR, CTRP & DOW
UUP – PowerShares DB US Dollar Bullish Fund – A pair of bullish risk reversals on the PowerShares US Dollar Bullish Fund suggests today’s sharp rally for the dollar will likely continue over the next several months. We observed massive bullish plays on the UUP over the past couple of weeks, some tied to machinations of whether or not the fund had enough shares in circulation. But today’s activity predicts far more extreme movements in the price of the dollar index. The UUP is current up 1.4% to $22.80, while the dollar index, which it supposedly tracks, is up just 0.7%. Investors sold 4,700 deep in-the-money put options at the December 29 strike for an average premium of 6.30 apiece, spread against the purchase of 4,700 calls at the same strike for one nickel each. The high-delta put options hold very little extrinsic value because expiration is just over one month away. Thus, investors are expecting the intrinsic value of the puts to decline. The only way this will occur is if the dollar rallies forcing the UUP to increase. If traders’ bullish predictions are correct, the value of the long calls will appreciate, while premium on the short puts erodes. Such a scenario allows investors to profit by buying back the puts for less than the 6.25 net premium received on the reversal. A similar uber-bullish strategy was employed at the January 2010 28 strike price where investors sold 4,250 deep-in-the-money puts short for about 5.30 each, and purchased the same number of calls for 5 cents apiece.
VIX – CBOE Vix index – With the equity market down and the dollar on the rise, investors across different asset classes today appear to be blaming one another for prevailing direction. No one seems to know why anything is moving in the fashion it is. The suggestion of course is that risk appetite is on the demise and fear is picking up. Compounding such indecision in the volatility class are trades suggesting ongoing disparate views on the fortunes for equities going forward. The so-called fear gauge is 5% higher at 24.90 today while trading has been two way. In the November options one investor loaded up on 25,000 call options at a 25 cent premium suggesting that the index will be above 25 when options expire next Tuesday. The…
Wells Fargo Put Spreaders Back in Town
by Option Review - November 11th, 2009 4:27 pm
Today’s tickers: WFC, AMR, PG, DRYS, DTV, M, EMC, WYNN, TOL & SFD
WFC – Wells Fargo & Co. – A popular option strategy frequently employed on Wells Fargo, the ratio put spread, appeared once again in the January 2010 contract. The bearish play was initiated despite the more than 2% rally in shares during the trading session to $28.75. The ratio spread involved the purchase of 7,500 puts at the January 27.5 strike for an average premium of 1.60 apiece, marked against the sale of 15,000 puts at the lower January 24 strike for 67 cents each. The net cost of the protective play amounts to 26 cents per contract. Thus, downside protection will kick in if shares decline beneath the breakeven price of $27.24 by expiration in January.
AMR – AMR Corp. – American Airlines operator, AMR Corp., attracted a large bullish play by one investor targeting the January 2010 contract. Shares of AMR are up more than 4% to $5.83 with just under one hour remaining in the trading day. An AMR-optimist initiated a call spread by purchasing 15,000 calls at the January 7.5 strike for an average premium of 35 cents each, marked against the sale of 15,000 calls at the higher January 9.0 strike for 10 cents premium apiece. The net cost of the bullish transaction amounts to 25 cents per contract. Profits are available to the call-spreader if shares of AMR rally at least 33% to breach the breakeven point at $7.75 by expiration. Maximum potential profits of 1.25 per contract for a total of $1.875 million are attained by the trader if shares surge 54% to $9.00.
PG – The Proctor & Gamble Co. – Options activity in the January 2011 contract on the consumer products company today indicates one investor expects little fluctuation in shares over the next 14 months. Shares of PG are slightly up by less than 0.25% to stand at $61.90. The trader initiated a sold strangle by selling 2,000 puts at the January 60 strike for 5.73 each, and by selling 2,000 calls at the higher January 65 strike for a premium of 3.82 apiece. The gross premium pocketed on the sale amounts to 9.55 per contract. The strangle-seller retains the full premium if shares of PG remain ‘strangled’ within the parameters of the strike prices described. The investor will benefit from lower option implied volatility on the…
General Electric Sees Bears Jump to Options Defense
by Option Review - September 24th, 2009 4:32 pm
Today’s tickers: GE, EEM, SLV, F, VALE, FCX, M, ABX & C
GE - The more than 3% decline in shares of GE today inspired bearish options activity to unfold in the November contract. One investor chose to employ a put spread by purchasing 5,500 puts at the November 16 strike for 67 cents apiece, spread against the sale of the same number of contracts at the lower November 13 strike for 14 cents each. The net cost of the pessimistic play amounts to 53 cents per contract. If the investor is long shares of the underlying stock, downside protection on the put play will kick in if shares decline beneath the breakeven price of $15.47 by expiration day. The strike prices selected by the trader indicate that while he is bracing for further declines in the stock, he does not expect GE to decline much beneath $13.00 in the next few months. – General Electric –
EEM - The EEM jumped higher on our ‘most active by options volume’ market scanner following bullish options action in the January contract. Shares of the ETF are currently down 2% to $37.85. The investor responsible for the transaction looked to the January 38 strike to purchase 6,500 calls for an average premium of 2.78 apiece. The calls were spread against the sale of 6,500 in-the-money puts at the same strike for which the trader received 2.91 each. The risk reversal results in a net credit of 13 cents to the investor. The credit is retained by the trader if shares settle at $38.00 by expiration day. Additional profits will accumulate if shares of the ETF rally through $38.00. – iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index –
SLV - Large-volume chunks of calls traded on the silver exchange-traded fund today by one investor who appears to be taking a bullish stance in the face of a more than 3.5% decline in shares to $15.96. The trader looked to the near-term October 16 strike to purchase 30,000 calls for an average premium of 65 cents apiece. The purchase was spread against the sale of the same number of calls at the January 2011 18 strike for a premium of 2.35 each. The transaction results in a net credit of 1.70 to the investor. Perhaps this individual expects the near-term calls to land in-the-money by expiration. If this occurs, he may exercise the options and take delivery of…
Cemex Share Issue Has Bears Target Option Risk-Reversals
by Option Review - September 22nd, 2009 4:31 pm
Today’s tickers: CX, RIMM, FCX, LAVA, XLF, M, MBI, JDSU & SHPGY
CX - The Mexican cement company’s shares have edged slightly lower by less than 0.5% to $13.04 this afternoon due to the firm’s plan to issue stock to pay down debt. Option traders have braced for further declines by employing bearish risk reversals in the October contract. It appears investors shed 6,500 calls at the October 14 strike for 43 cents apiece in order to partially finance the purchase of 6,500 puts at the lower October 12 strike for 45 cents each. The net cost of picking up protective put options is reduced to just 2 pennies per contract. If traders are long the underlying stock, downside protection will kick in if shares slip beneath the breakeven point at $12.98 by expiration next month. – Cemex SAB de CV –
RIMM - Blackberry producer, Research in Motion, attracted bullish investors who initiated call spreads on the stock today. Shares are slightly higher by less than 0.25% to stand at the current price of $84.25. One investor targeted the November contract where it appears put options were sold to offset the cost of purchasing a call spread. The spread involved the purchase of 6,000 calls at the November 105 strike for 1.28 each against the sale of 6,000 calls at the higher November 120 strike for 33 cents per contract. Finally, the November 70 strike had 6,000 puts shed for an average premium of 1.87 apiece. The investor receives a net 91 cent credit on the three-legged strategy. He will retain the full premium as long as shares of RIMM remain higher than $70.00 by expiration day. Additional profits are available to the trader if the stock surges 25% from the current price to breach the $105.00 level. Maximum potential profits of 15.00 per contract would be attained if Research in Motion skyrocketed 42% to $120.00. Another trader put on a ratio call spread in the January contract. The bullish trade was established through the purchase of 1,500 calls at the January 90 strike for 6.81 spread against the sale of 3,000 calls at the higher January 115 strike for a premium of 1.42 apiece. The net cost of the transaction amounts to 3.97 per contract. The investor will begin to garner profits if shares rise through the breakeven point at $93.97 by January’s expiration. – Research in Motion Limited…
Bearish Plays Surround Caterpillar Options
by Phil - August 10th, 2009 4:48 pm
Today’s tickers: CAT, JWN, TIBX, XLI, FXI, M, C, FRE & PCLN
Simon Properties upgrade leaves option traders with butterflies
by Option Review - April 15th, 2009 5:11 pm
Today’s tickers: SPG, AMR, EEM, MDR, EFA, EWZ, IP & M
SPG Simon Property Group, Inc. – The real estate investment trust (REIT) has experienced a significant rally of more than 9% to $42.16 today and was added to the ‘conviction buy’ list at Goldman Sachs. SPG appeared on our ‘most active by options volume’ market scanner after one investor established a long butterfly spread in the July contract. The purchase of 5,000 puts at the July 20 strike for 90 cents apiece (wing 1) and the purchase of 5,000 puts at the July 40 strike for 6.70 each (wing 2) were spread against the sale of 10,000 puts at the July 30 strike price for a premium of 2.80 per contract (body). The net cost of the transaction amounts to 2.00 (0.90 [wing 1] + 6.70 [wing 2] – (2.80*2 [body]) = 2.00). This investor will gain the maximum potential profit of 8.00 if shares settle at $30.00 by expiration. This strategy implies that he is hoping shares will fall from the current level through the breakeven point located at $38.00, at which point profits begin to amass to the downside. Should shares continue to rally rather than plummet, the most this trader can lose is the 2.00 he paid for the strategy. In order to reel in the full 8.00 of potential profits, shares would need to decline by 29% from the current price.
AMR AMR Corporation – American Airlines parent corporation, AMR, has experienced a huge share price rally as the stock jumped by more than 16% today to $4.90 after the company revealed narrower than expected first-quarter losses. AMR continues to struggle in this recessionary climate, but looks for travel demand to rise by the middle of the year. Option investors welcomed the better-than-expected results and were seen taking bullish stances on the company. At the May 5.0 strike price, 10,800 calls were purchased for an average premium of 70 cents per contract. One investor sold 6,850 puts at the May 4.0 strike price for 30 cents apiece in order to fund the purchase of 6,850 of the calls picked up at the May 5.0 strike. Finally, bullish investors looking to fly higher selected the May 6.0 strike where more than 3,400 calls were coveted for an average premium of 28 cents. Shares would need to continue on the up-and-up and gain another 22% in order…
Which Way Wednesday
by Phil - February 25th, 2009 6:48 am
Well I’m uplifted!
We had a fantastic day in the markets yesterday as we went bottom fishing in earnest early in the morning, picking up entries on JPM, X, IP, VNO, HMY, M and IYR early in the day, ahead of my 12:48 observation to members: "BAC breaking up along with their preferred stock – that’s a good sign. SKF back at $192 test area, XLF at $7.45 so just a little push and maybe we can get somewhere!" Indeed watching our levels paid off and we went flying up after that. As I often say, you NEED to make these buy decisions at the bottom, it’s too late once the train starts moving. We did grab a momentum play on BAC as they crossed $4.40 but, other than adjusting our DIA cover play, we had no need to make adjustments during the run-up because it’s what we were playing for.
We went into the close fairly neutral (a very slight bearish bias on our DIA puts), having accomplished our mission and not being sure what kind of speech Obama would be giving. It turned out to be a great one and the Republican response by Gov. Bobby Jindal was so mind-blowingly awful that Rachel Maddow was stunned to the point where she was unable to speak and I will leave my own commentary at that! On this same clip, Cris Matthews had the comment of the week, saying that the Republicans were so mired in responsibility for this crisis that they had to outsource the response (Jindal is Indian). I found that very funny…
As we expected, there is no "quick fix" in Obama’s speech and we’ll see how well the markets hold yesterday’s gains. We would have been more bullish had we not had so much trouble with our two critical levels I said we should watch in yesterday’s morning post: Russell 411 and NYSE 4,790. As I said in the morning, these were just the levels we needed to break in order to consider the day’s action anything more than a weak bounce off the horrendous drop of the past two weeks. That’s why we do not jump on the bandwagon once the rally gets going – we do our bottom fishing at the bottom and we sell or cover into the rallies. If it’s a real rally, we have a long, long way to go and we…
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Philip R. Davis is a founder Phil's Stock World, a stock and options trading site that teaches the art of options trading to newcomers and devises advanced strategies for expert traders...
Ilene is editor and affiliate program
coordinator for PSW. She manages the Favorites backup site
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