Big Prints In Sprint Put Options
by Option Review - February 6th, 2014 3:15 pm
Shares in Sprint (Ticker: S), which closed up more than 8.0% yesterday perhaps on reports the company may be closer to securing $45 billion in financing to make a bid for T-Mobile US Inc. (Ticker: TMUS), declined 8.5% on Thursday morning down to as low as $7.70.
The sharp moves in the price of the underlying amid continued deal chatter and the company’s upcoming fourth-quarter earnings report next week spurred heavier than usual trading traffic in Sprint options. As of the time of this writing, options volume on the stock is more than four times the average daily level. The largest trades in Sprint options today are in the Mar $50 strike puts, with around 50,000 contracts in play as of midday in New York. Time and sales data suggests most of the put options were purchased at a premium of $0.40 each. The puts may be profitable at March expiration in the event that shares in Sprint drop 18% from the current price of $8.02 to trade below the effective breakeven point at $6.60. Shares in Sprint last traded below $6.60 in October.
Bullish Action Detected In Macy’s Options Ahead Of Earnings Next Week
by Option Review - August 8th, 2013 1:40 pm
Today’s tickers: M, FSYS & TMUS
M - Macy’s Inc. – Call options changing hands on Macy’s during morning trading suggests at least one strategist is taking a bullish stance on the stock ahead of the retailer’s second-quarter earnings report next Wednesday. Shares in the name are slightly in the red today, down 0.20% at $47.74 just before midday in New York. The stock has slipped roughly 6.0% in recent weeks from a record high of $50.77 reached back in July. Trading traffic in Aug $48.5 strike calls initiated during the first 10 minutes of the session indicates one trader is preparing for shares to move higher ahead of expiration next week. It looks like the strategist purchased 1,500 of the $48.5 calls for a premium of $0.76 apiece. The bullish position makes money at expiration in the event that Macy’s shares rise more than 3.0% to exceed the breakeven price of $49.26.
FSYS - Fuel Systems Solutions, Inc. – Shares in Fuel Systems are soaring on Thursday, rising nearly 23% to touch a new 52-week high of $21.44, after the company posted better than expected second-quarter earnings ahead of the opening bell this morning. Options traders positioning for the price of the underlying to extend gains in the near term snapped up August expiry calls in the early going. The most traded front month options are the Aug $21 strike calls, with upwards of 870 lots in play versus open interest of 286 contracts. Time and sales data indicates most of the volume was purchased during the first 10 minutes of the session for an average premium of $0.30 apiece. Call buyers stand ready to profit at expiration next week in the event that FSYS shares settle above the average breakeven price of $21.30. Intraday gains in the price of the…