Options Trade Portends Recovery In Oracle Shares
by Option Review - June 21st, 2013 1:41 pm
Today’s tickers: ORCL, MRK & WCG
ORCL - Oracle Corp. – Shares in software company, Oracle Corp., are getting crushed today, down as much as 9.5% to a seven-month low of $30.06, after the company reported fourth-quarter sales that missed estimates for a second consecutive quarter. The sharp move in the price of the underlying on this options expiration Friday sparked heavy trading traffic in ORCL calls and puts today, with volume rising above 108,500 contracts by 11:25 a.m. ET versus the stock’s average daily volume of around 43,000 contracts. Activity in the January 2014 expiry options during the first 20 minutes of the session suggests one strategist is positioning for shares in the largest maker of database software to rebound during the second half of the year. It looks like the trader picked up roughly 5,000 calls at the Jan ‘14 $31 strike for an average premium of $2.13 per contract. The upside calls make money at expiration next year as long as shares in Oracle Corp. rally more than 10% over today’s low of $30.06 to top the average breakeven point at $33.13.
MRK - Merck & Co., Inc. – Shares in drug maker, Merck, are bucking the trend today, up as much as 2.8% in the early going to $47.60 amid a second consecutive session of selling across U.S. equities. Merck’s shares are currently off their highest level of the session to stand higher by 1.0% on the day at $46.77 just before midday in New York. Options traders anticipating continued gains in Merck’s shares in the near term appear to be buying the Jun 28 ’13 expiry weekly calls on the stock today. A burst of activity in the Jun 28 ’13 $48 and $48.5 strike calls just after 9:37 a.m. ET this morning appears to be the work of one trader snapping up more than 500 contracts at each strike at average premiums of $0.32 and $0.19 apiece, respectively. The bullish stance on MRK may pay off should shares in the name rally another…
ACE Call Options in Demand – Option Implied Volatility Explodes
by Option Review - December 1st, 2009 4:17 pm
Today’s tickers: ACE, EFA, HAL, AMAT, WHR, DE, JTX & WCG
ACE – ACE Limited – The surge in demand for call options on the insurance company today drove option implied volatility up 19.75% to 28.67%, while shares gained more than 2% to $49.78 during the trading day. Investors populating the December contract exhibited bullish sentiment on ACE by selling puts and buying calls. Approximately 3,000 puts were shed at the December 50 strike for an average premium of 1.51 apiece, while some 2,100 calls were purchased at the same strike for roughly 89 cents each. Call volume at the January 50 strike sky-rocketed to 21,666 contracts – on previous existing open interest of just 1,402 calls – as traders scooped up about 20,000 lots for a premium of 1.42 per contract. Investors long the January contract call options are positioned to accrue profits if ACE’s shares trade above the breakeven price of $51.42 by expiration.
EFA – iShares MSCI EAFE Index ETF – The exchange-traded fund, which includes stocks from Europe, Australasia and the Far East, attracted bearish option players despite the 2.5% rise in shares today to $56.88. One investor, who may hold a long position in the underlying stock, unfurled a ratio put spread in the January 2010 contract. The trader purchased 10,000 puts at the January 55 strike for an average premium of 1.39 each, and sold 20,000 puts at the lower January 52 strike for about 70 cents apiece. The investor pockets a net credit of 1 penny per contract on the trade and establishes downside protection in case shares of the EFA decline ahead of expiration. The 1 cent credit is ‘free money’ for the trader as long as the shares remain above $55.00 through expiration in January.
HAL – Halliburton Co. – Options activity on the oil and gas company today suggests at least one investor is bracing for potential share price erosion through expiration in January. Halliburton’s shares rose 1% during the session to $29.57. The trader responsible for the bearish ratio put spread is likely holding a long position in the underlying stock. If this is the case, today’s transaction provides downside protection for the investor. It appears 5,000 puts were purchased at the January 29 strike for an average premium of 1.24 apiece, spread against the sale of 10,000 puts at the lower January 24 strike for 18 pennies each.…