Procter & Gamble Weekly Call Volume Jumps Ahead Of Conference
by Option Review - February 22nd, 2012 1:52 pm
Today’s tickers: PG, CHS & FIRE
PG - Procter & Gamble Co. – A burst of call buying in the weekly options on consumer products giant Procter & Gamble appears to be a sizable bullish bet that shares will rally heading into the weekend. Shares in PG are up 0.30% today at $64.61 ahead of the Consumer Analyst Group of New York Conference in Boca Raton, Florida on Thursday. Statements from P&G’s top management, particularly regarding details of the Company’s cost cutting plans, could move the stock tomorrow. The investor or investors responsible for exchanging more than 16,000 calls at the Feb. ’24 $65 strike against open interest of 2,037 contracts for an average premium of $0.15 each, may profit at expiration should shares settle above the average breakeven price of $65.15.
CHS - Chico’s FAS, Inc. – Bullish traders who purchased Chico’s call options in advance of the retailer’s positive earnings surprise on Wednesday, in some cases, doubled their money overnight. Shares in the seller of women’s clothing and accessories rallied as much as 15.5% to $14.80 this morning after the Company beat top- and bottom-line fourth quarter estimates, and forecast higher than expected full year sales of $2.5 billion. Options players speculating shares in Chico’s could surge after earnings snapped up call options in the front month that today trade at substantially higher premiums. One strategist appears to have purchased around 1,400 calls at the Mar. $14 strike for a premium of $0.25 each yesterday afternoon. The sharp rise in CHS shares this morning now has the $14 strike calls trading at more than twice that amount, with a last traded price of $0.70. Call selling at the $14 strike today may represent profit taking on the position. Meanwhile, fresh call selling up at the April $15…
Escalating Pension Crisis Will Bankrupt San Diego
by ilene - January 21st, 2010 12:09 pm
Escalating Pension Crisis Will Bankrupt San Diego
Courtesy of Mish
The pension crisis is affecting budgets in city after city and in ever increasing amounts. Please consider the latest in San Diego: Millions needed for city pensions.
Just when San Diego city officials thought they had closed a $179 million budget gap, another has opened up because more money will be needed to pay for employee pensions.
The city will have to contribute $231.7 million to the retirement fund in the fiscal year that starts in July. That’s up $19 million from the forecast used when the last budget gap was closed in December.
The increase is a result of the fund’s investment losses and more employees signing up for pension benefits because of fears they will be cut.
The higher payment most likely will be funded by cutting more services in the next few months, as opposed to the 18-month balanced budget promised when a deal was reached to reduce library hours, lay off 200 workers and end public-safety programs such as horse-mounted patrols.
“This cutting and reducing is going to go on until somebody takes seriously the solutions for solving the city’s pension mess,” Councilwoman Donna Frye said yesterday.
A new report from the city’s pension system indicates that the city has 66.5 percent of the money it needs to cover promised pensions — the lowest level since 2004. The amount the city lacks to meet its long-term pension liability is $2.1 billion as of June 30, up from $1.3 billion in June 2008.
Frye said she sees a trend of pension obligations gobbling up more of the city’s general fund, which pays for fire, police, parks, libraries and recreation centers. Unless labor unions and the city come together to find solutions, “I believe the city will someday go into bankruptcy,” she said.
Mayor Jerry Sanders has resisted any such suggestion.
San Diego Already Bankrupt
San Diego is already bankrupt, they just don’t know it yet. There is no way it can fund its pension liabilities.
I commend Councilwoman Donna Frye. She should run for mayor.
Tax hikes and fees are not the answer. The core issue is unsustainable pension benefits. The system is broke. Toying around with little cuts here and there will not help. And as bad as…