SchaeffersResearch.com Daily Market Blog

Option Players Continue to Place Bearish Bets on MGM Resorts International

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 18:31:00 GMT

After spending the last several days pinned between beneath the %249.50 level, MGM Resorts International (MGM) today vaulted higher, jumping past short-term resistance at its 10-day and 20-day moving averages, to its current perch at %249.95...(Read More)

Bears Bet on a Fall from Grace for First Solar, Inc.

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 16:09:00 GMT

First Solar, Inc. (FSLR) has been a favorite target of put buyers lately, despite the stock advancing roughly 10% during the past two weeks...(Read More)

Out-of-the-Money Calls Heat Up as China Considers Courting Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:53:00 GMT

Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan (POT) is once again the center of buyout buzz today...(Read More)

Call Players Emboldened by Alcoa Inc.'s Positive Price Action

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:24:00 GMT

U.S. stocks climbed on Thursday, boosted in part by an unexpected jump in pending home sales...(Read More)

Option Players Have Virtually Ignored Papa John's Int'l, Inc. -- But That Could Soon Change

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:12:00 GMT

It's hard to believe, but the NFL's regular season kicks off in just days. However, football fans aren't the only ones cheering the upcoming season, so is the NFL's "official pizza sponsor," Papa John's Int'l, Inc...(Read More)

Option Players React as Hewlett-Packard Company Wins Bidding War for 3PAR Inc.

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:49:00 GMT

And the winner is... Hewlett-Packard Company (HPQ)! This morning the bidding war for 3PAR Inc...(Read More)

Back-Month Traders Buy Out-of-the-Money Calls on Novartis AG

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:46:00 GMT

Call speculators have bombarded drug maker Novartis AG (NVS) today, with roughly 6,000 calls exchanged so far - more than 14 times its expected daily volume of fewer than 500 calls...(Read More)

As Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. Continues to Rally, Call Writers Likely Kicking Themselves

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:53:00 GMT

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (CMG) has been on a roll in 2010, adding over 80% year-to-date...(Read More)

Call Traders Take Profits, Place Bets Amid Apple, Inc.'s New Product Hype

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:28:00 GMT

If you haven't yet heard the latest news from Apple, Inc. (AAPL), you're obviously not a bona fide "fanboy." During its infamous "September event" on Wednesday, the Silicon Valley bigwig unveiled what Steve Jobs called the "biggest change in the iPod lineup ever," and the latest version of iTunes, which now hosts a social networking feature that allows users to recommend songs...(Read More)

Contract Could Boost 3Q Profits for TASER International, Inc., Analyst Says

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:22:00 GMT

After scoring a courtroom victory on Tuesday, TASER International, Inc. (TASR) is capitalizing on another round of positive headlines today...(Read More)

Option Player Targets QUALCOMM, Inc. for a Long Put Spread

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:02:00 GMT

QUALCOMM, Inc. (QCOM) has been range-bound lately, hovering in between the %2438 and %2440 levels since the end of July...(Read More)

Calls Heat Up as DryShips Inc. Sails Past Short-Term Resistance

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:11:00 GMT

DryShips Inc. (DRYS) has powered higher along with the broader equities market today, attracting the attention of call speculators in the process...(Read More)

Option Players Tune In to Broadcom Corporation

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:51:00 GMT

Broadcom Corporation (BRCM) hasn't had the easiest time on the charts lately...(Read More)

Put Writers Count on Technical Support for Yahoo! Inc.

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:50:00 GMT

Yahoo! Inc. (YHOO) has attracted a heavy dose of put activity today, with over 6,300 of these bearish bets changing hands so far -- four times the search engine stock's expected single-session put volume.However, a closer look at today's put volume indicates that this activity is not necessarily bearish...(Read More)

Post-Earnings Call Volume Surges on Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:00:00 GMT

This morning, Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ENER) stepped into the earnings spotlight...(Read More)

Electronic Arts Inc. Muscles Higher on Monthly ?Madden NFL 11' Sales

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:42:00 GMT

Late last night, videogame maker Electronic Arts Inc. (ERTS) estimated sales of its Madden NFL 11 jumped 5% in August, making it the top-selling videogame in North America...(Read More)

Strategist Employs LEAPS for a Long-Term Volatility Play on Suntech Power Holdings

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:24:00 GMT

It appears alternative-energy issue Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (STP) may have been the target of a long-term volatility play in the options pits today.Early this morning, a block of 200 January 2011 9-strike calls crossed the tape at the same time as a symmetrical block of January 2011 9-strike puts...(Read More)

The Gap Inc. Targeted for a Long Straddle

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 18:58:00 GMT

Wells Fargo this morning raised its outlook on The Gap Inc. (GPS) from "market perform" to "outperform," explaining that earnings should rise in the next year on occupancy leverage and stock buybacks...(Read More)

Call Volume Soars as Lululemon Athletica inc. Downgraded

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:26:00 GMT

Athletic apparel issue Lululemon Athletica inc. (LULU) saw a surge in call volume on Monday, with 6,680 contracts crossing the tape -- six times the equity's expected single-session call volume of around 1,100 contracts.LULU may have been on traders' radar due to the company's downgrade from Jefferies, which on Monday slashed its rating on the retailer from "hold" to "underperform." Turning to Monday's activity, the September 38 call took the top spot, with roughly 1,800 contracts changing hands at this strike -- the majority of which traded at the ask price, indicating they were likely purchased...(Read More)

Put Players Pounce on China-Biotics Inc.

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:58:00 GMT

China-Biotics Inc. (CHBT), which develops, manufactures, and distributes probiotics in China, announced last week that it is ranked 62nd on Fortune Magazine's 2010 "Fastest-Growing Companies" list...(Read More)

Bears Hedge Bets with Calls on Origin Agritech Limited

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:33:00 GMT

Origin Agritech Limited (SEED) announced that its fiscal third-quarter net income rose to %2415.48 million, or 67 cents per share, from %2410.97 million, or 48 cents per share, in the comparable period last year...(Read More)

Put Traders Load Up on Bearish Bets for DSW Inc.

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:22:00 GMT

The shares of DSW Inc. (DSW) are set to gap higher this morning after reporting a fiscal second-quarter profit that more than tripled, beating analysts' expectations despite a soaring tax bill...(Read More)

Put Players Bet on McDonald's Corporation to Pull Back

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:39:00 GMT

Option players have ordered up puts on McDonald's Corporation (MCD) today, with 12,000 of these bearish bets crossing the tape so far -- more than double the fast-food issue's expected single-session put volume of roughly 5,800 contracts.Today's heavy put volume is in line with the recent trend on the International Securities Exchange (ISE), where in the past two weeks, traders have bought to open 2.7 puts for every call...(Read More)

Call Shoppers Flock to Costco Wholesale Corporation

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:43:00 GMT

Calls have flown off the shelves at Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) today, with roughly 4,000 of these bullish bets changing hands so far -- more than three times the bulk retailer's expected single-session call volume of just 1,214 contracts.The October 57.50 has been the star of the show today, with 3,550 contracts changing hands on this strike -- 92% of which traded at the ask price, revealing they were likely purchased...(Read More)

Dissecting a Synthetic Short Stock Position on Family Dollar Stores, Inc.

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:42:00 GMT

Family Dollar Stores, Inc. (FDO) has been a favorite target among near-term options traders today...(Read More)